lt prevalence rate: 0.29% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 34,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: 2,500 (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Nepalese (singular and plural)

adjective: Nepalese

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

Religions: Hinduism 86.2%, Buddhism 7.8%, Islam 3.8%, other 2.2%

note: only official Hindu state in the world (1995)

Languages: 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 (1995)

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 27.5%

male: 40.9%

female: 14% (1995 est.)

Nepal Government

Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Nepal

conventional short form: Nepal

Government type: parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy

Capital: Kathmandu

Administrative divisions: 14 zones (anchal, singular and plural);
Bagmati, Bheri, Dhawalagiri, Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi,
Lumbini, Mahakali, Mechi, Narayani, Rapti, Sagarmatha, Seti

Independence: 1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah)

National holiday: Birthday of King GYANENDRA, 7 July (1946)

Constitution: 9 November 1990

Legal system: based on Hindu legal concepts and English common law;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: King GYANENDRA Bir Bikram Shah
(succeeded to the throne 4 June 2001 following the death of his
nephew King DIPENDRA Bir Bikram Shah)

head of government: Prime Minister Girija Prasad KOIRALA (since 22
March 2000)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of
the prime minister

elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority
coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch

note: King BIRENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev died in a bloody shooting
at the royal palace on 1 June 2001 that also claimed the lives of
most of the royal family; King BIRENDRA's son, Crown Price DIPENDRA,
is believed to have been responsible for the shootings before
fatally wounding himself; immediately following the shootings and
while still clinging to life, DIPENDRA was crowned king; he died
three days later and was succeeded by his uncle