Moving to Nepal: visas, cost of living & immigrant guide

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Population

30,327,877

Population Growth Rate

1.81%

Urban Population

17.000000

Population in Major Urban Areas

KATHMANDU (capital) 1.015 million

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Age Structure

30.930000

Median Age

22.400000

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population

21

Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population

6.68

Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman

2.36

Contraceptive Prevalance Rate - female 12-49

49.7%

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate - female 12-49

49.7%

Mean Age for Mother's First Birth (age 25-49)

20.1

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.1

Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female

1.040000

Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population

3.3

Ethnic Groups

Brahman, Chetri, Newar, Gurung, Magar, Tamang, Rai, Limbu, Sherpa, Tharu, and others (1995)

Language Note

As many as twenty major languages are spoken with many different dialects. The Nepali language is related to Hindi, which is the official language.

Nationality Noun

Nepalese (singular and plural)

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Literacy - total population

48.6%

Literacy - male

62.7%

Literacy - female

34.9%

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP

4.7%

Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)

12.000000

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Life Expectancy at Birth

66.860000

Infant Mortality Rate

41.760000

Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births

41.760000

Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births

170

Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population

21

Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population

4.7

Health Expenditures - percent of GDP

5.4%

Major Infectious Diseases - degree of risk

high

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

1.4%

Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved

90.300000

Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved

51.200000

Underweight - percent of children under five years

29.1%

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Economic Overview

• Dominance: Agriculture remains a significant sector, employing a large portion of the population and contributing substantially to the GDP. However, it faces challenges such as low productivity, dependence on monsoon rains, and limited access to modern technology.
• Tourism: Nepal's natural beauty, including the Himalayas and Mount Everest, attracts tourists worldwide. Tourism plays a crucial role in the economy, providing employment opportunities and foreign exchange earnings. However, political instability and natural disasters like the 2015 earthquake have impacted tourism.
• Remittances: Nepal receives substantial remittances from its citizens working abroad, particularly in countries like India, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Remittances contribute significantly to household incomes and the overall economy, but concerns about their sustainability and long-term impact on domestic productivity exist. Infrastructure
• Development: Nepal faces challenges in infrastructure development, including transportation, energy, and telecommunications. Investment in infrastructure is essential for economic growth and improving the country's connectivity with regional and global markets. Political
• Instability: Political instability and frequent changes in government have been a persistent challenge for Nepal. This instability can deter foreign investment, hinder policy implementation, and contribute to economic uncertainty. Trade and Economic
• Integration: Nepal's geographic location between India and China presents trade and economic integration opportunities. However, trade imbalances, border disputes, and transit challenges can hinder Nepal's ability to capitalize on its strategic position fully. Development
• Challenges: Nepal faces numerous development challenges, including poverty, inequality, access to education and healthcare, and environmental degradation. Addressing these challenges requires sustained investment in human capital, social infrastructure, and sustainable development initiatives.

Industries

• tourism, carpet, textile
• small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills
• cigarette
• cement and brick production

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$3,417.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

7.9%

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GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP)

$110,720,000,000 (USD)

GDP Per Capita

$3,417.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

7.9%

GDP - official exchange rate

$24,880,000,000 (USD)

GDP - composition, by end use

• consumption: 77.2% government
• consumption: 12.4% investment in fixed
• capital: 24.4% investment in
• inventories: 12.3% exports of goods and
• services: 9.9% imports of goods and
• services: -36.2%

GDP by Sector- agriculture

27%

GDP by Sector- Industry

13.5%

GDP by Sector- services

59.5%

Industrial Growth Rate

12.4%

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Inflation Rate

8.6%

Exchange Rate per US Dollar

Nepalese rupee (NPR)

Currency Name and Code

Nepalese Rupee (NPR)

Fiscal Year

16 July - 15 July

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

9%

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Labor Force

16,810,000

Unemployment Rate

3%

Major Industries

• tourism, carpet, textile
• small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills
• cigarette
• cement and brick production

Agriculture Products

rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops; milk, water buffalo meat

Population Below Poverty Line

25.2%

Child Labor - # of children ages 5-14

2,467,549

Child Labor - % of children ages 5-14

34%

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Labor Force By Occupation- agriculture

69%

Labor Force By Occupation- industry

12%

Labor Force By Occupation- services

19%

Annual Budget

$5,925,000,000 (USD)

Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP

23.8%

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Full Country Name

none

Country Name

Nepal

Local - Long

none

Local - Short

Nepal

Etymology- history of name

the Newar people of the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding areas apparently gave their name to the country; the terms "Nepal," "Newar," "Nepar," and "Newal" are phonetically different forms of the same word

Independence

1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan SHAH)

National Holiday

• Constitution Day, 20 September (2015)
• note - marks the promulgation of Nepal’s constitution in 2015 and replaces the previous 28 May Republic Day as the official national day in Nepal
• the Gregorian day fluctuates based on Nepal’s Hindu calendar

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Government Type

federal parliamentary republic

Constitution

• history: several previous; latest approved by the Second Constituent Assembly 16 September 2015, signed by the president and effective 20 September 2015
• amendments: proposed as a bill by either house of the Federal Parliament; bills affecting a state border or powers delegated to a state must be submitted to the affected state assembly; passage of such bills requires a majority vote of that state assembly membership; bills not requiring state assembly consent require at least two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses of the Federal Parliament; parts of the constitution on the sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence, and sovereignty vested in the people cannot be amended; amended 2016, 2020

Legal System:

English common law and Hindu legal concepts; note - new criminal and civil codes came into effect on 17 August 2018

Executive Branch:

• chief of state: President Ram Chandra POUDEL (since 13 March 2023)
• head of government: Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma OLI (since 15 July 2024)
• cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister; cabinet positions shared among Nepali Congress, Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Centre, and various coalition partners election/appointment
• process: president indirectly elected by an electoral college of the Federal Parliament and the state assemblies for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term) most recent election
• date: 9 March 2023
• election results: 2023: Ram Chandra POUDEL elected president; electoral college vote - Ram Chandra POUDEL (NC) 33,802, Subash Chandra NEMBANG (CPN-UML) 15,518 2018: Bidhya Devi BHANDARI reelected president; electoral vote - Bidhya Devi BHANDARI (CPN-UML) 39,275, Kumari Laxmi RAI (NC) 11,730 expected date of next
• election: 2028

Legislative Branch:

• Description: bicameral Federal Parliament consists of: National Assembly (59 seats; 56 members, including at least 3 women, 1 Dalit, 1 member with disabilities, or 1 minority indirectly elected by an electoral college of state and municipal government leaders, and 3 members, including 1 woman, nominated by the president of Nepal on the recommendation of the government; members serve 6-year terms with renewal of one-third of the membership every 2 years) House of Representatives (275 seats; 165 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 110 members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by closed-list proportional representation vote, with a threshold of 3% overall valid vote to be allocated a seat; members serve 5-year terms);
• Note: the House of Representatives was dissolved on 22 May 2021, but on 13 July, the Supreme Court directed its reinstatement
• Elections: - National Assembly - last held on 26 January 2022 (next to be held in 2024) House of Representatives - last held on 20 November 2022 (next to be held in November 2027)
• Election Results: - National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPN-UML 42, NC 13, FSFN 2, RJPN 2;
• Composition: men 37, women 22, percent of women 37.3% House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NC 89, CPN-UML 78, CPN-MC 32, RSP 20, RPP 14, PSP-N 12, CPN (Unified Socialist) 10, Janamat Party 6, Loktantrik Samajwadi Party 4, other 10;
• Composition: men 184, women 91, percent of women 33.1%

Judicial Branch:

• office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the Constitutional Council, a 5-member, high-level advisory body headed by the prime minister; other judges appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the Judicial Council, a 5-member advisory body headed by the chief justice; the chief justice serves a 6-year term; judges serve until age 65
• subordinate courts: High Court; district courts

Regions or States:

7 provinces (pradesh, singular - pradesh); Bagmati, Gandaki, Karnali, Koshi, Lumbini, Madhesh, Sudurpashchim

Political Parties and Leaders:

• Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) or CPN-MC [Pushpa Kamal DAHAL]
• Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) or CPN-UML [Khadga Prasad OLI]
• Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialist) or CPN-US [Madhav Kumar NEPAL]
• Janamat Party [Chandra Kant RAUT]
• Janata Samajbaadi Party or JSP [Upendra YADAV]
• Loktantrik Samajwadi Party or LSP [Mahantha THAKUR]
• Naya Shakti Party, Nepal [Baburam BHATTARAI]
• Nepali Congress or NC [Sher Bahadur DEUBA]
• Nepal Mazdoor Kisan Party (Nepal Workers' and Peasants' Party) or NWPP [Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE]
• Rastriya Janamorcha (National People's Front) [Chitra Bahadur K.C.]
• Rastriya Prajatantra Party (National Democratic Party) or RPP [Rajendra Prasad LINGDEN]
• Rastriya Swatantra Party or RSP [Rabi LAMICHHANE]

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship Criteria:

• birth: yes citizenship by
• descent: yes dual citizenship
• recognized: no residency requirement for
• naturalization: 15 years

Capital Name

Kathmandu

Capital - geographic coordinate

27 43 N, 85 19 E

Capital Time Difference

UTC+5.75 (10.75 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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International Organization Participation:

• ADB
• BIMSTEC
• CD
• CP
• FAO
• G-77
• IAEA
• IBRD
• ICAO
• ICC (NGOs)
• ICRM
• IDA
• IFAD
• IFC
• IFRCS
• ILO
• IMF
• IMO
• Interpol
• IOC
• IOM
• IPU
• ISO
• ITSO
• ITU
• ITUC (NGOs)
• MIGA
• MINURSO
• MINUSMA
• MINUSTAH
• MONUSCO
• NAM
• OPCW
• SAARC
• SACEP
• UN
• UNAMID
• UNCTAD
• UNDOF
• UNESCO
• UNIDO
• UNIFIL
• UNMIL
• UNMISS
• UNOCI
• UNTSO
• UNWTO
• UPU
• WCO
• WFTU (NGOs)
• WHO
• WIPO
• WMO
• WTO

International Law Organization Participation:

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Diplomatic Representation from US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador Dean R. THOMPSON (since October 2022)
• Embassy: Maharajgunj, Kathmandu
• Mailing Address: 6190 Kathmandu Place, Washington DC 20521-6190
• Telephone: [977] (1) 423-4000
• FAX: [977] (1) 400-7272
• Email: usembktm@state.gov
• Website: https://np.usembassy.gov/

Diplomatic Representation in the US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador Sridhar KHATRI (since 19 April 2022)
• Chancery: 2730 34th Place NW, Washington, DC 20007
• Telephone: [1] (202) 667-4550
• FAX: [1] (202) 667-5534
• Email: info@nepalembassyusa.org
• Website: https://us.nepalembassy.gov.np/
• Consulate(s) General: New York

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Geographic Location

Asia

Geographic Coordinates

28 00 N, 84 00 E

Total Area

56,827 Square Miles 147,181 Square Kilometers

Land Area

55,348 Square Miles 143,351 Square Kilometers

Water Area

1,479 Square Miles 3,830 Square Kilometers

Land Boundaries

1,818 Miles 2,926 Kilometers

Border Countries

China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km

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Terrain

Terai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north

Highest Point

8,850 Meters

Highest Point Location

Mount Everest 8,850 m

Lowest Point

70 Meters

Lowest Point Location

Kanchan Kalan 70 m

Natural Resources

quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore

Irrigated Land

4,510 Square Miles 11,680 Square Kilometers

Time Zone

UTC+5.75 (10.75 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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Climate

Kathmandu’s climate is pleasant.

During the fall to winter season (October-March), temperatures range from 30°F to 75°F.

This season is characterized by morning fog, sunny days, and cold nights.

It may rain occasionally, but Kathmandu has had no snow since 1939.

A temperature range from 40°F to 90°F, with intermittent rain, warm days, and usually comfortable nights, marks the spring season (March-May).

Near the end of the spring season and before the rainy season begins, dust gathers heavily throughout the Kathmandu Valley, causing a haze that obscures the mountains.

The monsoon season begins in June and continues until late September.

Temperatures in the rainy season range from 55°F to 90°F, and rainfall is from 30 to 60 inches.

Rain showers occur almost daily.

Terrain

Terai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north

Location

Southern Asia, between China and India

Total Area

56,827 Square Miles 147,181 Square Kilometers

Border Countries

China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km

Environment - Current Issues

• deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives)
• contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents)
• wildlife conservation
• vehicular emissions

Environment - International Agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

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Exports

$818,000,000 (USD)

Imports

$10,000,000,000 (USD)

Major Exports

carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain

Major Imports

gold, machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer

Top Export Partners

India 68%, United States 10%

Top Import Partners

India 70%, China 15%

Export Partners

India 68%, United States 10%

Import Partners

India 70%, China 15%

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Country Description

Nepal is a developing country with extensive tourist facilities, which vary widely in quality and price.

The capital is Kathmandu.

Nepal ended a ten-year Maoist insurgency in November 2006 and established an interim government in January 2007.

Since that time, the major political parties have been unable to come to an agreement on a new constitution.

This stalemate has created an environment of political uncertainty.

However a caretaker government is in place and the major political parties continue to negotiate to resolve this constitutional crisis.

Safety & Security

Fueled by an unstable political environment, there are periodic small-scale improvised explosive device (IED) incidents throughout the country and youth wings of political parties continue to engage in violent extortion efforts.

Bandhs (General Strikes):"Bandhs" (forced closure of businesses and schools and halting of vehicular traffic) occur in Nepal frequently and are commonly used as a form of political agitation.

Bandhs tend to be unpredictable, may include violent incidents, and may take place without any prior notice.

In past years, bandhs have lasted for periods as short as a few hours to as long as several days or even weeks, causing acute shortages of daily food supplies and bringing vehicular traffic to a complete halt.

Individuals who do not comply with a bandh may be harassed by bandh organizers.

In the past year, bandhs have been most frequent in the Terai, with fewer significant bandhs in the Kathmandu Valley.

Bandhs in the principal trekking areas are infrequent but do occur from time to time.

Although bandh activity generally is not directed at foreign travelers, tourists attempting to defy bandhs may be subject to intimidation and/or violence.

During bandhs, U.S. citizens are urged to avoid all unnecessary travel.

If travel is necessary, you can check with the U.S.

Embassy, with local police by dialing “100,” or with traffic control by dialing “103.” The police can advise which routes and forms of transportations are advisable to use.

If you are planning air travel to or from Nepal during scheduled bandhs, be aware that transportation to and from airports throughout Nepal could be affected, although bandh organizers often allow passage of specially marked buses operated by the Nepal Tourism Board to circulate between the airport and major tourist hotels.

Consult the U.S.

Embassy website for security-related messages for U.S. citizens, as well as the Nepal Ministry of Tourism for the latest security information.

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Crime

Although still relatively low, crime in Kathmandu and throughout the country has risen in some categories and declined in others.

In a number of recent cases, criminals were found to have used sophisticated scams to commit crimes, particularly in Kathmandu.

In addition, there continue to be reports of robberies, burglaries, and sexual assaults involving foreigners, including in the popular tourist districts of Thamel and Bouddha in Kathmandu.

Police also report that foreigners have from time to time had sedative drugs placed in their food or drink by individuals who seek to rob or otherwise take advantage of them.

Visitors should avoid walking alone after dark, especially in areas experiencing power cuts, and should avoid carrying large sums of cash or wearing expensive jewelry.

In addition, visitors should consider exchanging money only at banks and hotels.

There have been several reported incidents in which tourists have had their belongings stolen from their hotel rooms while they were asleep or away from their room.

Valuables should be stored in the hotel safety deposit box and should never be left unattended in hotel rooms.

Travelers should be especially alert at or near major tourist sites, including the Thamel district of Kathmandu, where pick-pocketing and bag-snatching are most common.

It is recommended that passports and cash be carried in a protected neck pouch or money belt, not in a backpack or handbag.

Visitors to Nepal should also be vigilant against various scams.

One of the most prevalent involves a request to carry jewelry to a business contact in another country.

This scam often results in the unsuspecting tourist being forced to withdraw large sums of cash from his or her bank account and creates the risk of further penalties at the border.

Please also see the section on Special Circumstances below regarding scams suffered by individuals coming to Nepal to volunteer at orphanages or other organizations.

Nepali police forces have limited resources and lack sufficient manpower to effectively enforce law and order, as well as to pursue claims of fraud or petty crime.

Their services are not up to Western standards.

Many cases reported to the police remain unresolved.

Criminal activity in the Terai, the southern plains region of Nepal bordering India, remain at levels higher than the country as a whole.

In the Terai, criminal groups sometimes extort funds and kidnap people, although this activity generally is not directed at U.S. citizens.

Extortion tactics used by armed groups in the region include assault, vandalism, and low-level IED attacks.

Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available.

Purchase of bootlegged goods is illegal in the United States, and may be illegal as well under local law.

Do not agree to carry or store any packages from a stranger.

There have been instances in which the packages concealed contraband material or drugs, and the foreigner who accepted the package was arrested by police for possessing the illegal substance.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Nepal, you are subject to its laws.

Foreign laws and legal systems are vastly different from our own.

In some places you may be taken in for questioning if you do not have your passport with you.

In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings.

Driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail.

These criminal penalties will vary from country to country.

There are also some things that might be legal in Nepal, but still illegal in the United States.

Keep in mind that you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods in Nepal and bring them back to the United States.

Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country are crimes prosecutable in the United States.

If you break local laws in Nepal, your U.S. passport will not help you avoid arrest or prosecution.

It is very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going.

Under the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, bilateral agreements with certain countries, and customary international law, if you are arrested in Nepal, you have the option to request that the police, prison officials, or other authorities alert the U.S.

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Medical Facilities

Medical care in Nepal is extremely limited and is generally not up to Western standards.

Typical travel medical complaints can be addressed by the clinics in Kathmandu and some surgeries can be performed in the capital.

However, serious illnesses often require evacuation to the nearest adequate medical facility (New Delhi, Singapore, or Bangkok).

Illnesses and injuries suffered while hiking in remote areas often require evacuation by helicopter to Kathmandu.

Those trekking in remote areas of Nepal should factor the high cost of a potential helicopter rescue into their financial considerations.

Travelers are recommended to purchase medical evacuation insurance as medical evacuations can cost thousands of dollars and payment will be expected in cash before the medevac can take place if there is no insurance coverage.

There is minimal mental health care available in Nepal.

U.S. citizens with mental health problems are generally stabilized and transported to the United States or to another regional center for care.

The U.S.

Embassy in Kathmandu maintains a list of local medical facilities.

Stray dogs are common on the streets of Kathmandu.

Visitors should be aware that stray dogs and monkeys may be infected with rabies.

Any animal bites should be carefully handled and immediately brought to a medical practitioner’s attention.

Medical facilities are often overwhelmed due to insufficient resources.

Emergency medical services are of poor quality compared to that available in the United States.

Food hygiene and sanitary food handling practices are uncommon in Nepal and precautions should be taken to prevent water and food-borne illnesses.

Traffic Safety

While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.

The information below concerning Nepal is provided for general reference only and may not apply in every situation.

In Nepal, vehicles are driven on the left-hand side of the road.

Travel via road in areas outside the Kathmandu Valley remains dangerous.

In general, roads in Nepal are in poor condition and lack basic safety features, resulting in significant numbers of accidents and fatalities.

Deaths from motorcycle accidents have risen dramatically in recent years and U.S. citizens should consider avoiding riding motorcycles in Nepal, particularly on highways.

It is dangerous to travel on the roof of buses as live electrical and other communications wires hang low in many places.

Traffic police also impose fines and detain individuals for riding on the roof of buses.

Long-distance buses often drive recklessly and bus accidents involving multiple fatalities are not uncommon.

Visitors throughout Nepal, including in Kathmandu, are encouraged to use metered taxis and avoid public buses and microbuses.

Many taxi drivers will refuse to use the meter, insisting on negotiating the price instead.

In addition, there have been instances of taxi drivers tampering with the meters in an attempt to charge higher than normal fares.

If you believe that you are being overcharged, you may wish to file a complaint with the traffic police on the street or at the nearest local police station.

In the Kathmandu Valley, traffic jams are common on major streets, particularly between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. as most offices in Kathmandu are open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Traffic is poorly regulated, and the volume of vehicles on the roads continues to increase faster than improvements in infrastructure.

Many drivers are neither properly licensed nor trained, vehicles are poorly maintained, and public vehicles are often overloaded.

Sidewalks are nonexistent in many areas and many drivers do not yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in marked crosswalks.

A road expansion project, begun in earnest in 2012, has left considerable debris along many roads in Kathmandu.

Pedestrians are forced either to walk over the debris, or walk into the roadway to avoid it.

Pedestrians account for a considerable portion of all traffic fatalities in Nepal.

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Airports - total

47

Airports with Paved Runways

11

Roadways- total

6,738 Miles 10,844 Kilometers

Roadways- paved

3,077 Miles 4,952 Kilometers

Ports and Terminals

none

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Telephones

820,500

Cell Phones

1,157,000

Internet Users

337,100

Internet Country Code

.np

Internet Hosts

43,928

Broadcast Media

• state operates 2 TV stations as well as national and regional radio stations
• roughly 30 independent TV channels are registered with only about half in regular operation
• nearly 400 FM radio stations are licensed with roughly 300 operational

Telephone System

• assessment: poor telephone and telegraph service; fair radiotelephone communication service and mobile-cellular telephone network
• domestic: mobile-cellular telephone subscribership base is increasing with roughly 90% of the population living in areas covered by mobile carriers
• international: country code - 977; radiotelephone communications; microwave and fiber landlines to India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

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Electricity Consumption- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

2,243,000,000

Electricity Imports- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

213,000,000

Electricity Production- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

2,600,000,000

Oil Consumption- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

18,430

Anthem History

Rastriya Gaan ("May Glory Crown You, Courageous Sovereign" or "May Glory Crown Our Illustrious Sovereign"), adopted in 1962, is a hommage to the ruler of Nepal and the country's national anthem.

The music is composed by Bakhat Bahadur Budhapirthi in 1899, and the lyrics are by Sri Chakra Pani Chalise in 1924.

Anthem Lyrics

Rastriya Gaan Shri mân gumbhira nepâli prachanda pratâpi bhupati Shri pânch sarkâr mahârâjâdhirâja ko sadâ rahos unnati Rakhun chirâyu eeshale prajâ phailiyos pukâraun jaya premale Hâmi nepâli bhaee sârâle.

Anthem Lyrics English

May glory crown you, courageous Sovereign, You, the gallant Nepalese, Shri Pansh Maharajadhiraja, our glorious ruler, May he live for many years to come And may the number of his subjects increase. Let every Nepalese sing this with joy.