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NEPAL

@Nepal:Geography

Location: Southern Asia, between China and India

Map references: Asia

Area:
total area: 140,800 sq km
land area: 136,800 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Arkansas

Land boundaries: total 2,926 km, China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none; landlocked

International disputes: none

Climate: varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to
subtropical summers and mild winters in south

Terrain: Terai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central
hill region, rugged Himalayas in north

Natural resources: quartz, water, timber, hydroelectric potential,
scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore

Land use:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 13%
forest and woodland: 33%
other: 37%

Irrigated land: 9,430 sq km (1989)

Environment:
current issues: the almost total dependence on wood for fuel and
cutting down trees to expand agricultural land without replanting has
resulted in widespread deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution
(use of contaminated water presents human health risks)
natural hazards: severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought,
and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the
summer monsoons
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical
Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Marine Life Conservation

Note: landlocked; strategic location between China and India; contains
eight of world's 10 highest peaks

@Nepal:People

Population: 21,560,869 (July 1995 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (female 4,479,950; male 4,692,575)
15-64 years: 55% (female 5,778,107; male 5,994,147)
65 years and over: 2% (female 305,502; male 310,588) (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.44% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 37.31 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 12.9 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 81.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 53.09 years
male: 52.86 years
female: 53.34 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: