Page last updated on February 28, 2018

Location:
Southern Asia, between China and India

Geographic coordinates:
28 00 N, 84 00 E

Map references:
Asia

Area:
total: 147,181 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 143,351 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 3,830 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 96

Area - comparative:
slightly larger than New York state

Land boundaries:
total: 3,159 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (2): China 1,389 km, India 1,770 km

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

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

Terrain:
Tarai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south; central hill region with rugged Himalayas in north

Elevation:
mean elevation: 2,565 m
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
elevation extremes: lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m highest point: Mount Everest 8,848 m (highest peak in Asia and highest point on earth above sea level)

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

Land use:
agricultural land: 28.8% arable land 15.1%; permanent crops 1.2%; permanent pasture 12.5%
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
forest: 25.4%
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 45.8% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
13,320 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population - distribution:
most of the population is divided nearly equally between a concentration in the southern-most plains of the Tarai region and the central hilly region; overall density is quite low

Natural hazards:
severe thunderstorms; flooding; landslides; drought and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons

Environment - current issues:
deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives); contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents); wildlife conservation; vehicular emissions

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:
landlocked; strategic location between China and India; contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga - the world's tallest and third tallest mountains - on the borders with China and India respectively