Nepal Travel Guide
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Nepal Introduction
Grafik Nepal Information
Human Development Indicators
Cultural Setting Nepal at a glance
Ecologically The former Royal Family
Economy more information
Nepal Visitor Guide
Grafik
Ecologically
The country is divided into three regions: the high mountain region, with the Himalayas peaking at 8,839 meters above sea level to the north; the midhill region, with altitudes ranging between 610 and 4,877 meters in the Mahabharat range and the Gangetic plains; and the Terai, ranging between 152 and 610 meters to the south.

This topographical diversity is matched by climatic diversity, with climatic conditions ranging between those of the extremely cold tundra to those of the hot humid tropics.

Currently Nepal's population is estimated to be about 27.8 (2007, estimated) million. Over the 1981-1991 period, it grew by 2.2 percent annually, up from 15 million in 1981 to 18.4 million by 1991. A major consequence of this was increased population density.

National census 2001 estimations: Nepal's population reached 23.4 million coinciding with the 10th National Census day. The kingdom's population was 18.4 million 10 years ago in 1991. The country's population is growing at an estimated 2.4 percent annually.

October, 2005: Nepal's population has reached 27.1 million, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA.

In 1991, the average population density was 125.6 persons per square kilometer (skm), with the heaviest population pressure in the Kathmandu Valley. While this may not be as high as in many countries , it is important to note that it increased from 56 persons per skim in 1952-1954 to 102 persons per skim in 1981, and to 126 persons per skim in 1991.

Moreover, population pressure on cultivated land is much higher than these averages suggest. The population density also varies from region to region.

The Terai is the most densely populated, while the mountains are sparsely populated The Terai population density has almost doubled in the last two decades as a result of the north-south movement of the population and immigration.

In terms of its composition, the population is becoming younger.

The proportion of the population under 15 years of age has been increasing in the past 20 years, with boys under 15 increasing from 40.9 percent of the male population to 43.5 percent, and girls under 15 from 40 percent of the female population to 41.3 percent. At the other end of the age curve, the 1991 census reveals that 5.9 percent of the total population was 60 years of age and above, compared with 5.7 percent of the female population . Accordingly, the age-specific sex ratios have also been changing. In addition, the sex composition of the population is changing in favour of women.

Nepal's Topography

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Human Development Indicators

Nepal has made much progress in building social infrastructure and has achieved much in terms of human development. For example, health facilities at the grassroots level have expanded rapidly; universal immunization against smallpox, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, etc. has been achieved; and the overall literacy rate increased threefold between 1971 and 1996. Nevertheless, over half of the population is still illiterate and, according to the Human Development Report ( 1998), Nepal's human development index (HDI) ranking is just above that of Bhutan, which has the lowest HDI ranking in the region.

Moreover, the health and sanitation situation in the country remains poor. Only 9.2 percent of households have access to modern sanitation facilities (sewerage and waste disposal), and 21.6 percent to toilets .

The problem is even more acute in rural areas where only 5.8 percent of households have access to sanitary systems. Access to protected drinking water-including piped and covered water sources is 96 percent in urban areas and 68 percent in rural areas, but the quality of even the piped water is questionable, as indicated by the poor water quality in Kathmandu. Only about one quarter of households were collecting water from fully protected supply sources, one half from partially protected sources and one quarter from unprotected sources. Malnutrition among children is widespread. In 1996 a survey found stunting among 64 percent of children. A large proportion of children have problems of Vitamin A deficiency. The major cause is the problem in feeding patterns combined by infection, diarrhoea, and lack of access to clean water and sanitation. Infant mortality rate (IMR), although declining over the years, is still one of the highest in the region. The most recent report puts overall IMR at 78.5 per 1000 live births, 61.1 for urban areas and 95.3 for rural areas. Under-five mortality rate also shows a declining trend, but remains at the fairly high level of 125 per 1.000 children under five. The crude death rate for the population as a whole has also declined substantially during the last three decades. This is reflected in increasing life expectancy rates.

Nepal Economic and Social Statistics

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Cultural Setting

Nepal's cultural landscape is extremely diverse and is composed of more than 50 known language groups and subgroups. These groups can be divided largely into two groups on the basis of the languages they speak, i.e., Indo-Aryan and Tibeto-Burman. As far as the social relations governing the status of women are concerned, however, there is a large variation within each of these groups.

The politically and culturally predominant Indo-Aryan ethnic group lives mostly in the hills and the Tersi. In terms of attitudes towards women, the Maithili and the Abadhi are the most conservative communities of the Indo-Aryan group, with the mobility of women outside the household being highly restricted in Maithili and other Terai communities. Women wear purdah (veil) and they may not mix freely with the opposite sex. Although other subgroups within the Indo-Aryan culture do not all practice strict purdah, where it is practised, it is considered proper for women to restrict their activities to the household. Sexual purity of women is extremely important for the lndo-Aryan group. Child marriage, a restriction on widows remarrying and arranged marriages are still followed widely. Property is inherited only through the male line and therefore, women's economic status both in the household and in the community is lower than that of men.

Similarly, due to restrictions on their mobility, women's access to education and training-and, consequently, modern avenues of income-are limited.

The Tibeto-Burman group mostly live in the hills and the mountains. Women from these groups are free to engage in various income-generating activities or businesses outside the household, and they are respected for undertaking such activities. They travel widely for trading and business, and operate lodges and teahouses along the trekking routes and major roads and in tourist areas. Women have relative freedom in their choice of marriage partners, and premarital sexual relations and social mixing occur. Child marriages are rarer than with their counterparts in the Indo-Aryan group.

In spite of this cultural diversity, land is universally inherited in all communities from father to son, with women lagging far behind men in terms of access to knowledge, economic resources, and modern avenues of employment.

Nepal Religon
Social Life Dalits, Minorities, Women ...
Nepal People
Grafik

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The Economy

The Nepalese economy is still predominantly agricultural, with 86 percent of the population living in rural areas and 81 percent deriving their livelihoods from agriculture. Agricultural productivity is low: US$114 value added per worker per annum. An estimated 4-50 percent of the population do not have adequate income to meet their basic minimum needs of food, clothing, shelter, primary education, and health care.

Nepal has a virtually open border with India, and it maintains two separate exchange rate regimes: one with India and another with overseas countries. Its major exports to overseas countries comprise carpets and garments, both of which have faced international market problems in recent years; while its exports to India consist mostly of primary products. The country's manufacturing sector is small and at an early stage of development, and its demand for developmental goods and industrial hat be met entirely from imports. Its tourism industry, while contributing substantially to the economy, is still underexploited in terms of its potential.

Nepal Economic and Social Statistics
Grafik

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more information
The Himalayas around Pokhara
Nepal's Topography
Nepal's Foothills
Nepal's Geology
Kali Gandaki Graben
Cross-section of Nepal
Grafik
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