Government and Politics of Nepal

Government Type

parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy

Administrative Divisions

14 zones (anchal, singular and plural); Bagmati, Bheri, Dhawalagiri, Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi, Lumbini, Mahakali, Mechi, Narayani, Rapti, Sagarmatha, Seti

Legal System

based on Hindu legal concepts and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent: yes dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 15 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: President RAM CHANDRA PAUDEL (took office 13 March 2023); Vice President PURNA BAHADUR KHAM (took office 20 March 2023) head of government: Prime Minister KP SHARMA OLI (took office 15 July 2024); Deputy Prime Ministers BISHNU PRASAD PAUDEL and RABI LAMICHHANE cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by an electoral college consisting of members of the federal parliament and the provincial assemblies for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 9 March 2023; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president election results: RAM CHANDRA PAUDEL elected president; electoral college vote — RAM CHANDRA PAUDEL (NC) 33,802, SUBASH CHANDRA NEMBANG (CPN-UML) 15,518 note: Nepal was officially declared a federal democratic republic on 28 May 2008, formally abolishing the 240-year-old Shah monarchy. The transition ended the reign of King GYANENDRA Bir Bikram Shah, who had assumed direct executive control in February 2005 after dismissing the government. The royal palace massacre of 1 June 2001, in which King BIRENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev and most of the royal family were killed, had preceded this era of political upheaval; Crown Prince DIPENDRA is believed to have been responsible for the shootings before fatally wounding himself, and was briefly crowned king before dying three days later, after which GYANENDRA succeeded him.

Legislative Branch

Nepal operates under a federal democratic republican system established by the 2015 Constitution. The legislative branch is a bicameral Parliament consisting of the National Assembly (upper house) and the House of Representatives (lower house). The National Assembly has 59 seats. Of these, 56 members are elected by an electoral college comprising members of the House of Representatives, Provincial Assemblies, and local government bodies, with 8 members elected from each of Nepal's 7 provinces. The remaining 3 members are nominated by the President on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers. Members serve six-year terms, with one-third of the membership renewed every two years. The House of Representatives has 275 seats. Of these, 165 members are elected through a first-past-the-post system from single-member constituencies, and 110 are elected through a proportional representation system. Members serve five-year terms. Elections: House of Representatives - last held on 20 November 2022. The National Assembly most recently held elections in January 2025 to renew one-third of its membership. Election results: House of Representatives (2022) - seats by party - CPN-UML 78, Nepali Congress 89, CPN (Maoist Centre) 32, Rastriya Swatantra Party 20, Rastriya Prajatantra Party 14, Janajati Samajwadi Party 12, Janamat Party 6, others 24. Following the election, a coalition government was formed with Nepali Congress emerging as the single largest party.

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court or Sarbochha Adalat (chief justice is appointed by the monarch on recommendation of the Constitutional Council; the other judges are appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Judicial Council)

Political Parties

Communist Party of Nepal/United Marxist-Leninist or CPN/UML [Madhav Kumar NEPAL, general secretary]; National Democratic Party or NDP (also called Rastriya Prajantra Party or RPP) [Pashupati Shumsher RANA, chairman]; Nepali Congress-Democratic [Sher Bahadur DEUBA, president]; Nepali Congress or NC [Girija Prasad KOIRALA, party president, Sushil KOIRALA, vice president]; Nepal Sadbhavana (Goodwill) Party or NSP - Mandal [Bhadri Prasad MANDAL, party president]; Nepal Sadbhavana Party - Ananda Devi [Ananda DEVI, president]; Nepal Workers and Peasants Party or NWPP [Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE, party chairman]; People's Front Nepal (Rastriya Jana Morcha) [Amik SHERCHAN, chairman]; Rastriya Janashakti Party or RJP [Surya Bahadur THAPA, chairman]; note - split from RPP in March 2005; Samyukta Janmorcha Nepal [leader NA]; note - merged with People's Front Nepal or PFN in 2002

Head of State

President RAM CHANDRA PAUDEL (took office 13 March 2023)

Head of Government

Prime Minister KP SHARMA OLI (took office 15 July 2024)

Cabinet

cabinet formed in August 2008 by a majority coalition made up of the Communist Party Nepal (Marxist), Communist Party Nepal-United Marxist-Leninist, and Mahdesi Jana Adhikar Forum

Elections

House of Representatives - last held on 20 November 2022. The National Assembly most recently held elections in January 2025 to renew one-third of its membership.

Election Results

House of Representatives (2022) - seats by party - CPN-UML 78, Nepali Congress 89, CPN (Maoist Centre) 32, Rastriya Swatantra Party 20, Rastriya Prajatantra Party 14, Janajati Samajwadi Party 12, Janamat Party 6, others 24. Following the election, a coalition government was formed with Nepali Congress emerging as the single largest party.

Constitution

9-Nov-90

Independence

1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah)

National Holiday

Birthday of King GYANENDRA, 7 July (1946)

International Organization Participation

AsDB, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMISET, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Kedar Bhakta SHRESTHA chancery: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 667-4550 FAX: [1] (202) 667-5534 consulate(s) general: New York

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador James F. MORIARTY embassy: Pani Pokhari, Kathmandu mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [977] (1) 411-1179 FAX: [977] (1) 441-9963

Capital City

Kathmandu

Location

27 43 N, 85 19 E

Time Difference

UTC+5.75 (10.75 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

name derives from the Kasthamandap temple that stood in Durbar Square; in Sanskrit, kastha means "wood" and mandapa means "pavilion"; the three-story structure was made entirely of wood, without iron nails or supports, and dated to the late 16th century; it collapsed during a 2015 earthquake

The U.S. Embassy is located in the Maharajgunj neighborhood of Kathmandu, telephone 977-1-400-7200. (The “ ” sign refers to your international dialing prefix, which is “011” in the United States, and “00” in most other countries. Thus, to call the Embassy from the United States, dial 011-977-1-400-7200.) The Embassy’s website has information on the Embassy’s operating hours and holidays. The Embassy’s Consular Section can also be reached at the same telephone number, or via email. (Nepal local time is 9hours and 45 minutes ahead of Eastern Time during summer months, and 10 hours and 45 minutes ahead of Eastern Time in winter months.)

Military Branches

Nepal Army

Service Age and Obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription