Nepal at a glance

Total Area
140 thousand sq. km

Population
30 million

Languages
 124 languages

A black rectangular plate with an assortment of Indian appetizers: spicy vegetable cutlets, grilled paneer discs, onion and tomato stuffed peppers, and several steamed dumplings.

Facts about Nepal

  • The official name is the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.

  • The total area is 140 thousand sq. km.

  • The estimated population of 30 million people.

  • Nepali is the officially recognized language. But there are 124 other spoken languages.

  • Nepal shares its borders with India and China.  The land has the biggest elevation change of any country in the world.  The lower regions are at sea level, and the highest peak is Mount Everest at 29,035 feet.

  • Mount Everest was named after British surveyor Sir George Everest in 1863. It is called Chomolungma, which means “Goddess Mother of the World” by the local Sherpa, and the Nepali word for Everest is Sagarmatha, which means “Forehead of the Sky”.

A brown cow with large horns standing in a field with pink flowers in the foreground and mountains in the background.

  • Up until 2008, Nepal was governed as a monarchy. King Gyanendra, stepped down after taking the throne in 2001.  Soon after, Nepal’s parliament chose its first president.

  • The current Prime Minister of Nepal is KP Sharma Oli.  The current President is Ram Chandra Poudel

  • The capital of Nepal is Kathmandu

  • Other Notable Facts:

    • Himalayas: Nepal contains eight of the world's ten highest peaks, including Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth.

    • Birthplace of Buddha: Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, was born in Lumbini, Nepal. 

    • Hindu Majority: Hinduism is the dominant religion at around 80%.

    • Kumari: Nepal is home to the Kumari, a living goddess chosen from young girls.

    • Unique Flag: The Nepali flag is the only non-rectangular flag in the world. 

    • Rich Cultural Heritage: Nepal has a diverse range of ethnic groups and languages, with over 80 ethnic groups and 124 languages. 

    • The national animal is the cow, and the flower is the rhododendron.

Colorful prayer flags hanging in front of snow-capped mountains and blue sky.
People celebrate a traditional festival with a performer in vibrant yellow dress and a detailed mask, surrounded by crowd, drums, and colorful flower petals on the ground, outdoors with a bright blue sky.
Close-up of iconic white marble domes and minarets of the Taj Mahal in India during sunset.