Facts and Figures

Full name: Nepal

Nationality
      noun: Nepalese (singular and plural)
      adjective: Nepalese  
 

 
Area:
        total: 140,800 sq km
        water: 4,000 sq km
        land: 136,800 sq km

Population: 27,676,547 (July 2005 est.)

Ethnic groups
        Brahman
        Chetri
        Newar
        Gurung
        Magar
        Tamang
        Rai
        Limbu
        Sherpa
        Tharu
        and others 

Capital:  Kathmandu (590 000)

Largest Cities
        Biratnagar (160 000)
        Pokhara (115 000)
        Patan

Official Language
        Nepali (official; spoken by 90% of the population), about a dozen other languages and about 30 major dialects
        note: many in government and business also speak English

Religion
        Hinduism 86.2%
        Buddhism 7.8%
        Islam 3.8%
        other 2.2%
        note: only official Hindu state in the world

Political system:  parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy

GDP:  purchasing power parity - $39.53 billion (2004 est.)  

GDP per head:  purchasing power parity - $1,500 (2004 est.) 

Annual growth:   3% (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
        agriculture: 40%
        industry: 20%
        services: 40% (2002 est.)

Inflation:  2.9% (2002 est.)

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