Area : 140,800 sq km total

land : 136,800 sq km

water : 4,000 sq km

Population : 27,676,547 (July 2005 est.)

Nationality : Noun, Nepalese (singular and plural)

Adjective : Nepalese

Religions : Hindu 80.6%, Buddhist 10.7%, Muslim 4.2%, Kirant 3.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census)
note: only official Hindu state in the world

Country name : conventional long form: Kingdom of Nepal conventional short form: Nepal

Capital : Katmandu

Independence : 1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah)

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

Currency (code) : Nepalese rupee (NPR)

Exchange rates : Nepalese rupees per US dollar - 73.674 (2004), 76.141 (2003), 77.877 (2002), 74.949 (2001), 71.094 (2000)

Railways : total: 59 km

Narrow gauge : 59 km 0.762-m gauge (2004)

Highways : total: 13,223 km

Paved : 4,073 km

Unpaved : 9,150 km (1999 est.)