Facts About Nepal
- Eight of the ten tallest mountains in the world are in Nepal including Mount Everest.
- It is a land-locked country surrounded by China and India.
- Approximately 29 million people live in Nepal.
- Only 50 years ago, Nepal opened it's door to the outside world which allowed foreign missions to enter the country. Today, about one million Nepalese people follow Christ.
- Nepal was a Hindu Kingdom for centuries. In 2008 the monarchy was abolished and Nepal became a secular Republic.
- The major religions are Hinduism and Buddhism.
- Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal.
- Nepal really needs the Gospel of salvation since Nepal is a secular country and Hinduism is the largest religion. Hinduism is followed by 81.3% of the population, followed by Buddhism at 9%. Small segments of the remaining population follow Islam at 4.4%, Kirat (a sort of animist religion) at 3.1%, and Prakriti (nature worship) 0.5%. Christianity makes up only 1.4% of the population.
- Today, about one million Nepalese people follow Christ. The Christian population of Nepal is between 5-7% and growing.
- Nepal is integrated with diverse culture of more than 30 languages and dozens of dialects which create unique cultural and religious ceremonial differences
- Literacy Rate: Approx. 57% among males and only 37% among females.
- Per capita monthly income $420 annually. Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world with nearly half of its population living below poverty line.
- The hills and the mountains cover 85% of Nepal’s Land.
- Climate: Subtropical in the south to cool summers and severe winter in the north. Monsoon rains are from June through September
- Major natural hazards include severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought, as well as famine resulting from the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons. Nepal is also an earthquake prone area due to the Himalayas.