Some economic overview of the country

Economy - overview

Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world, with with about one-quarter of its population living below the poverty line. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for three-fourths of the population and accounting for a little over one-third of GDP. Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of agricultural products, including pulses, jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain. Nepal has considerable scope for exploiting its potential in hydropower, with an estimated 42,000 MW of feasible capacity, but political instability hampers foreign investment. Additional challenges to Nepal's growth include its landlocked geographic location, civil strife and labor unrest, and its susceptibility to natural disaster.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$40.49 billion (2012 est.)
$38.7 billion (2011 est.)
$37.25 billion (2010 est.)
note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$19.42 billion (2012 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.6% (2012 est.)
3.9% (2011 est.)
4.8% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,300 (2012 est.)
$1,300 (2011 est.)
$1,200 (2010 est.)
note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 38.1%
industry: 15.3%
services: 46.6% (2012 est.)

Population below poverty line

25.2% (2011 est.)

Labor force

18 million
note: severe lack of skilled labor (2009 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 75%
industry: 7%
services: 18% (2010 est.)

Unemployment rate

46% (2008 est.)
42% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 29.5% (2011)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

32.8 (2010)
47.2 (2008 est.)

Budget

revenues: $3.5 billion
expenditures: $4.7 billion (FY11/12)

Taxes and other revenues

18% of GDP (FY11/12)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-6.2% of GDP (FY11/12)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

8.3% (2012 est.)
7.7% (2011 est.)

Central bank discount rate

6% (31 December 2010 est.)
6.5% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

8% (31 December 2012 est.)
8% (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of money

$2.53 billion (31 July 2009)
$2.106 billion (31 December 2008)

Stock of narrow money

$2.983 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
$2.884 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of quasi money

$7.49 billion (1 April 2009)
$6.99 billion (31 December 2008)

Stock of broad money

$12.12 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
$12.14 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$9.618 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
$11.28 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$4.529 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
$4.843 billion (31 December 2010)
$5.485 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Agriculture - products

pulses, rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, jute, root crops; milk, water buffalo meat

Industries

tourism, carpets, textiles; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills; cigarettes, cement and brick production

Industrial production growth rate

2.9% (FY11/12)

Current Account Balance

$93 million (2012 est.)
$49 million (2011 est.)

Exports

$1 billion (2012 est.)
$998.9 million (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

clothing, pulses, carpets, textiles, juice, pashima, jute goods

Exports - partners

India 57.4%, US 9.6%, Germany 5.4% (2011)

Imports

$6.15 billion (2012 est.)
$5.665 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

petroleum products, machinery and equipment, gold, electrical goods, medicine

Imports - partners

India 57%, China 25.9% (2011)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.631 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
$2.925 billion (2010 est.)

Debt - external

$3.774 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
$3.673 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Exchange rates

Nepalese rupees (NPR) per US dollar -
85.16 (2012 est.)
74.02 (2011 est.)
73.16 (2010 est.)
77.44 (2009)
65.21 (2008)

Fiscal year

16 July - 15 July