opulation (2002 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07
male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over:
0.97 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 72.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: 58.2 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility
rate: 4.48 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult 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.)

Government Nepal

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 Sher
Bahadur DEUBA (since 22 July 2001) 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 i