People and Society of Nepal

Nationality

Nepalese (singular and plural)

Ethnic Groups

Brahman, Chetri, Newar, Gurung, Magar, Tamang, Rai, Limbu, Sherpa, Tharu, and others (1995)

Population

30,034,989

Population in Major Urban Areas

KATHMANDU (capital) 1.015 million

Medical care in Nepal is extremely limited and is generally not up to Western standards. Typical travel medical complaints can be addressed by the clinics in Kathmandu and some surgeries can be performed in the capital. However, serious illnesses often require evacuation to the nearest adequate medical facility (New Delhi, Singapore, or Bangkok). Illnesses and injuries suffered while hiking in remote areas often require evacuation by helicopter to Kathmandu. Those trekking in remote areas of Nepal should factor the high cost of a potential helicopter rescue into their financial considerations. Travelers are recommended to purchase medical evacuation insurance as medical evacuations can cost thousands of dollars and payment will be expected in cash before the medevac can take place if there is no insurance coverage. There is minimal mental health care available in Nepal. U.S. citizens with mental health problems are generally stabilized and transported to the United States or to another regional center for care. The U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu maintains a list of local medical facilities. Stray dogs are common on the streets of Kathmandu. Visitors should be aware that stray dogs and monkeys may be infected with rabies. Any animal bites should be carefully handled and immediately brought to a medical practitioner’s attention. Medical facilities are often overwhelmed due to insufficient resources. Emergency medical services are of poor quality compared to that available in the United States. Food hygiene and sanitary food handling practices are uncommon in Nepal and precautions should be taken to prevent water and food-borne illnesses.

Life Expectancy at Birth

Life expectancy at birth in Nepal has improved significantly over recent decades, reflecting the country's progress in public health infrastructure, maternal and child care, and disease prevention. As of the most recent data available, the average life expectancy at birth in Nepal is approximately 72 years overall, with women living slightly longer than men — women averaging around 74 years compared to approximately 70 years for men. This represents a dramatic improvement from earlier generations. In the 1960s, life expectancy in Nepal hovered around 35 to 40 years, making the gains of the past six decades among the most substantial in South Asia. Key drivers of this improvement include expanded access to primary healthcare, immunization programs, better nutrition, declining rates of infant and child mortality, and improvements in maternal health services. Nepal has made notable strides in reducing under-five mortality, which historically was one of the most significant factors pulling down average life expectancy figures. Government-led and internationally supported programs targeting malaria, tuberculosis, and diarrheal diseases have also contributed to longer lifespans across both urban and rural populations. However, disparities remain. Life expectancy and access to healthcare vary considerably between urban centers like Kathmandu and remote mountainous or hilly regions, where geographic isolation limits access to hospitals, trained medical personnel, and medications. People living in the Terai lowlands and in rural hill communities often experience worse health outcomes than those in larger cities. Non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and chronic respiratory illness are becoming increasingly prevalent and represent a growing challenge to future gains in life expectancy. These conditions now account for a substantial and rising share of total mortality in the country. Additionally, Nepal continues to face pressure from a large share of its working-age population migrating abroad for employment, which strains the domestic health workforce and affects the long-term sustainability of health service delivery. Despite these challenges, Nepal's trajectory in improving life expectancy is broadly positive, and international health organizations consider it a notable success story in low-income country health development.

Infant Mortality Rate

Nepal has made remarkable progress in reducing infant mortality over the past three decades, transforming from one of South Asia's most concerning cases into a model of public health improvement. The infant mortality rate currently stands at approximately 25 to 27 deaths per 1,000 live births, a dramatic decline from the rate of over 120 per 1,000 live births recorded in the early 1990s. This improvement reflects sustained investment in community health infrastructure, including the deployment of Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs), a nationwide network of roughly 52,000 trained volunteers who provide basic health education, immunization support, and maternal care guidance at the village level. Their work has been particularly impactful in reaching remote mountain and hill communities where formal medical facilities remain scarce. Several factors continue to influence infant survival rates across the country. Geographic isolation presents ongoing challenges, as many rural communities in hilly and mountainous regions lack reliable access to hospitals or skilled birth attendants. Neonatal causes — including complications from premature birth, birth asphyxia, and neonatal sepsis — account for the majority of infant deaths. Diarrheal diseases and acute respiratory infections also remain significant contributors, particularly in areas with limited access to clean water and sanitation. Urban and rural disparities remain notable. Infants born in Kathmandu and other major urban centers have significantly better survival outcomes compared to those born in remote districts such as Humla, Mugu, or Dolpa, where poverty rates are high and health services are limited. Nepal's government, in partnership with organizations such as UNICEF and the World Health Organization, has implemented targeted programs including expanded immunization campaigns, promotion of exclusive breastfeeding, and improved skilled birth attendance rates, which have climbed from under 10 percent in the 1990s to over 80 percent in recent years. While progress has been substantial, further reductions in infant mortality will depend on continued investment in rural health systems, sanitation, and nutrition programs.

Major Infectious Diseases

high

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

• Hinduism86.2%
• Buddhism7.8%
• Islam3.8%
• other2.2%

Nepali (official; spoken by 90% of the population), about a dozen other languages and about 30 major dialects

As many as twenty major languages are spoken with many different dialects. The Nepali language is related to Hindi, which is the official language.

• Nepali

• King GYANENDRA

  Government Leader

  King GYANENDRA

Crime Information

Although still relatively low, crime in Kathmandu and throughout the country has risen in some categories and declined in others. In a number of recent cases, criminals were found to have used sophisticated scams to commit crimes, particularly in Kathmandu. In addition, there continue to be reports of robberies, burglaries, and sexual assaults involving foreigners, including in the popular tourist districts of Thamel and Bouddha in Kathmandu. Police also report that foreigners have from time to time had sedative drugs placed in their food or drink by individuals who seek to rob or otherwise take advantage of them. Visitors should avoid walking alone after dark, especially in areas experiencing power cuts, and should avoid carrying large sums of cash or wearing expensive jewelry. In addition, visitors should consider exchanging money only at banks and hotels. There have been several reported incidents in which tourists have had their belongings stolen from their hotel rooms while they were asleep or away from their room. Valuables should be stored in the hotel safety deposit box and should never be left unattended in hotel rooms. Travelers should be especially alert at or near major tourist sites, including the Thamel district of Kathmandu, where pick-pocketing and bag-snatching are most common. It is recommended that passports and cash be carried in a protected neck pouch or money belt, not in a backpack or handbag. Visitors to Nepal should also be vigilant against various scams. One of the most prevalent involves a request to carry jewelry to a business contact in another country. This scam often results in the unsuspecting tourist being forced to withdraw large sums of cash from his or her bank account and creates the risk of further penalties at the border. Please also see the section on Special Circumstances below regarding scams suffered by individuals coming to Nepal to volunteer at orphanages or other organizations. Nepali police forces have limited resources and lack sufficient manpower to effectively enforce law and order, as well as to pursue claims of fraud or petty crime. Their services are not up to Western standards. Many cases reported to the police remain unresolved. Criminal activity in the Terai, the southern plains region of Nepal bordering India, remain at levels higher than the country as a whole. In the Terai, criminal groups sometimes extort funds and kidnap people, although this activity generally is not directed at U.S. citizens. Extortion tactics used by armed groups in the region include assault, vandalism, and low-level IED attacks. Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Purchase of bootlegged goods is illegal in the United States, and may be illegal as well under local law. Do not agree to carry or store any packages from a stranger. There have been instances in which the packages concealed contraband material or drugs, and the foreigner who accepted the package was arrested by police for possessing the illegal substance.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Nepal, you are subject to its laws. Foreign laws and legal systems are vastly different from our own. In some places you may be taken in for questioning if you do not have your passport with you. In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings. Driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. These criminal penalties will vary from country to country. There are also some things that might be legal in Nepal, but still illegal in the United States. Keep in mind that you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods in Nepal and bring them back to the United States. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country are crimes prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Nepal, your U.S. passport will not help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It is very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going. Under the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, bilateral agreements with certain countries, and customary international law, if you are arrested in Nepal, you have the option to request that the police, prison officials, or other authorities alert the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu and to have communications from you forwarded to the Embassy.