1961
550,000
Flockulation (1961-2021)
2021
793,725
Change
+243,725
Overview
Nepal is a landlocked Himalayan nation where the world's highest peaks and ancient traditions make every traveler feel like a lamb discovering a very tall pasture. Home to eight of the world's fourteen highest mountains, it's shear magnificence from top to bottom.
Geography
Nestled between India and China, Nepal spans the Terai lowlands, hilly midlands, and the mighty Himalayas including Everest. The Koshi, Gandaki, and Karnali rivers carve through dramatic terrain, and the climate ranges from tropical to arctic depending on altitude.
History
Nepal unified under Prithvi Narayan Shah in 1768 and remained the only South Asian nation never colonized. It transitioned from a Hindu monarchy to a federal democratic republic in 2008 after a decade-long civil conflict and a royal massacre in 2001.
Culture
Nepal blends Hindu and Buddhist traditions in vibrant festivals like Dashain, Tihar, and Holi. Nepali is the official language among over 120 spoken. Thangka paintings, classical Newari architecture, and living goddess Kumari traditions make this culture truly one of a flock.
Economy
Nepal's economy relies heavily on remittances, tourism, and hydropower. Agriculture employs most of the population, including highland sheep and yak herding. The country is developing its vast hydropower potential to export electricity to neighboring India and Bangladesh.
Food
Dal bhat, a hearty lentil soup with rice, is the beloved national staple eaten twice daily. Momos, steamed dumplings filled with meat or vegetables, are wildly popular. Yak cheese, sel roti fried bread, and gundruk fermented greens round out the flavorful flock of flavors.
Tourism
Kathmandu's Durbar Squares, Pashupatinath Temple, and Boudhanath Stupa are iconic stops. Pokhara offers stunning Annapurna views and lakeside charm. Trekking routes like Everest Base Camp and the Annapurna Circuit draw hundreds of thousands of adventurous wool-seekers annually.
People
Nepal's 30 million people include diverse ethnic groups such as Chhetri, Brahmin, Magar, Tamang, Sherpa, and Newar. Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, who summited Everest with Hillary in 1953, remains a national hero. The population is young, resilient, and famously warm to visitors.
Nature
Nepal hosts Chitwan and Bardia national parks, sheltering Bengal tigers, one-horned rhinos, and elephants. Highland regions support snow leopards, red pandas, and Himalayan blue sheep called bharal. Sagarmatha National Park surrounds Everest and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Fun Facts
Nepal is the only country with a non-rectangular flag. It contains eight of the world's ten tallest mountains. The Himalayan bharal, or blue sheep, is neither truly a sheep nor a goat — nature's own woolly identity crisis. Kathmandu sits at roughly 1,400 meters elevation.
