Area: 143 000 square kilometres
Population: 23.4 million (1999)
Capital city: Kathmandu
Official languages: Nepali, and some 60 regional languages
Gross national product per capita: US$ 223 (2000)
Population growth: 2.4 per cent per annum
Life expectancy: 46 years
Infant mortality: 79 per 1 000 live births
Child mortality: 15 per cent
Rate of illiteracy: 72 per cent (men 61 %, women 88 %).