_#_Terrain: Terai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central
hill region, rugged Himalayas in north

_#_Natural resources: quartz, water, timber, hydroelectric potential,
scenic beauty; small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore

_#_Land use: arable land 17%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 13%; forest and woodland 33%; other 37%; includes irrigated 2%

_#_Environment: contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks;
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution

_#_Note: landlocked; strategic location between China and India

_*_People
_#_Population: 19,611,900 (July 1991), growth rate 2.4% (1991)

_#_Birth rate: 39 births/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Death rate: 15 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Infant mortality rate: 98 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

_#_Life expectancy at birth: 51 years male, 50 years female (1991)

_#_Total fertility rate: 5.5 children born/woman (1991)

_#_Nationality: noun--Nepalese (sing. and pl.); adjective--Nepalese

_#_Ethnic divisions: Newars, Indians, Tibetans, Gurungs, Magars,
Tamangs, Bhotias, Rais, Limbus, Sherpas, as well as many smaller groups

_#_Religion: only official Hindu state in world, although no sharp
distinction between many Hindu (about 90% of population) and Buddhist
groups (about 5% of population); Muslims 3%, other 2% (1981)

_#_Language: Nepali (official); 20 languages divided into numerous
dialects

_#_Literacy: 26% (male 38%, female 13%) age 15 and over can
read and write (1990 est.)

_#_Labor force: 4,100,000; agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry 2%;
severe lack of skilled labor

_#_Organized labor: Teachers' Union and many other nonofficially
recognized unions

_*_Government
_#_Long-form name: Kingdom of Nepal

_#_Type: 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 Prithyi Narayan Shah

_#_Constitution: 9 November 1990

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

_#_National holiday: Birthday of His Majesty the King, 28 December
(1945)

_#_Executive branch: monarch, prime minister, Council of