Page last updated on February 11, 2013
Economy - overview:
Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world, with with about one-quarter of its population living below the poverty line. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for three-fourths of the population and accounting for a little over one-third of GDP. Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of agricultural products, including pulses, jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain. Nepal has considerable scope for exploiting its potential in hydropower, with an estimated 42,000 MW of feasible capacity, but political instability hampers foreign investment. Additional challenges to Nepal's growth include its landlocked geographic location, civil strife and labor unrest, and its susceptibility to natural disaster.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$40.49 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
$38.7 billion (2011 est.)
$37.25 billion (2010 est.)
note:
data are in 2012 US dollars
[see also:
GDP country ranks ]
GDP (official exchange rate):
$19.42 billion (2012 est.)
[see also: GDP (official exchange rate) country ranks ]
GDP - real growth rate:
4.6% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
3.9% (2011 est.)
4.8% (2010 est.)
[see also:
GDP - real growth rate country ranks ]
GDP - per capita:
$1,300 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
$1,300 (2011 est.)
$1,200 (2010 est.)
note:
data are in 2012 US dollars
[see also:
GDP - per capita country ranks ]
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 38.1%
[see also: GDP - composition by sector - agriculture country ranks ]
industry:
15.3%
services:
46.6% (2012 est.)
Labor force:
18 million
country comparison to the world: 33
note:
severe lack of skilled labor (2009 est.)
[see also: Labor force country ranks ]
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 75%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - agriculture country ranks ]
industry:
7%
services:
18% (2010 est.)
Unemployment rate:
46% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
42% (2004 est.)
[see also:
Unemployment rate country ranks ]
Population below poverty line:
25.2% (2011 est.)
[see also: Population below poverty line country ranks ]
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.2%
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10% country ranks ]
highest 10%:
29.5% (2011)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
32.8 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 99
47.2 (2008 est.)
[see also:
Distribution of family income - Gini index country ranks ]
Budget:
revenues: $3.5 billion
[see also: Budget revenues country ranks ]
expenditures:
$4.7 billion (FY11/12)
Taxes and other revenues:
18% of GDP (FY11/12)
country comparison to the world: 176
[see also: Taxes and other revenues country ranks ]
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-6.2% of GDP (FY11/12)
country comparison to the world: 176
[see also: Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) country ranks ]
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.3% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
7.7% (2011 est.)
[see also:
Inflation rate (consumer prices) country ranks ]
Central bank discount rate:
6% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
6.5% (31 December 2009 est.)
[see also:
Central bank discount rate country ranks ]
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
8% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
8% (31 December 2011 est.)
[see also:
Commercial bank prime lending rate country ranks ]
Stock of narrow money:
$2.983 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
$2.884 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
[see also:
Stock of narrow money country ranks ]
Stock of broad money:
$12.12 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
$12.14 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
[see also:
Stock of broad money country ranks ]
Stock of domestic credit:
$9.618 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
$11.28 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
[see also:
Stock of domestic credit country ranks ]
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$4.529 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
$4.843 billion (31 December 2010)
$5.485 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
[see also:
Market value of publicly traded shares country ranks ]
Agriculture - products:
pulses, rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, jute, root crops; milk, water buffalo meat
Industries:
tourism, carpets, textiles; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills; cigarettes, cement and brick production
Industrial production growth rate:
2.9% (FY11/12)
country comparison to the world: 108
[see also: Industrial production growth rate country ranks ]
Current account balance:
$93 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
