Economy - overview:
Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world, with about one-quarter of its population living below the poverty line. Nepal is heavily dependent on remittances, which amount to as much as 29% of GDP. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for almost 70% of the population and accounting for about one-third of GDP. Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of agricultural products, including pulses, jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain.Nepal has considerable scope for exploiting its potential in hydropower, with an estimated 42,000 MW of commercially feasible capacity. Nepal and India signed trade and investment agreements in 2014 that increase Nepal’s hydropower potential, but political uncertainty and a difficult business climate have hampered foreign investment.Nepal was hit by massive earthquakes in early 2015, which damaged or destroyed infrastructure and homes and set back economic development. Political gridlock in the past several years and recent public protests, predominantly in the southern Tarai region, have hindered post-earthquake recovery and prevented much-needed economic reform. Additional challenges to Nepal's growth include its landlocked geographic location, persistent power shortages, and underdeveloped transportation infrastructure.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$71.52 billion (2016 est.) $71.12 billion (2015 est.) $69.24 billion (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
country comparison to the world: 98
[see also: GDP country ranks ]

GDP (official exchange rate):
$21.15 billion (2015 est.)
[see also: GDP (official exchange rate) country ranks ]

GDP - real growth rate:
0.6% (2016 est.) 2.7% (2015 est.) 6% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
[see also: GDP - real growth rate country ranks ]

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,500 (2016 est.) $2,500 (2015 est.) $2,500 (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
country comparison to the world: 200
[see also: GDP - per capita country ranks ]

Gross national saving:
37.9% of GDP (2016 est.) 43.8% of GDP (2015 est.) 45.7% of GDP (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
[see also: Gross national saving country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption: 82%
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - household consumption country ranks ]
government consumption: 10.9%
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - government consumption country ranks ]
investment in fixed capital: 25%
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in fixed capital country ranks ]
investment in inventories: 10.8%
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in inventories country ranks ]
exports of goods and services: 10.7%
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - exports of goods and services country ranks ]
imports of goods and services: -39.4% (2016 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - imports of goods and services country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 29.4%
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 13%
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - industry country ranks ]
services: 50.4% (2016 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - services country ranks ]

Agriculture - products:
pulses, rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, jute, root crops; milk, water buffalo meat

Industries:
tourism, carpets, textiles; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills; cigarettes, cement and brick production

Industrial production growth rate:
-6.3% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
[see also: Industrial production growth rate country ranks ]

Labor force:
15.2 million
note: severe lack of skilled labor (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
[see also: Labor force country ranks ]

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 69%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 12%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - industry country ranks ]
services: 19% (2014 est.)
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - services country ranks ]

Unemployment rate:
46% (2008 est.) 42% (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
[see also: Unemployment rate country ranks ]

Population below poverty line:
25.2% (2011 est.)
[see also: Population below poverty line country ranks ]

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.2%
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10% country ranks ]
highest 10%: 29.5% (2011)
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - highest 10% country ranks ]

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
32.8 (2010) 47.2 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
[see also: Distribution of family income - Gini index country ranks ]

Budget:
revenues: $4.848 billion
[see also: Budget revenues country ranks ]
expenditures: $5.452 billion (2016 est.)
[see also: Budget expenditures country ranks ]

Taxes and other revenues:
22.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
[see also: Taxes and other revenues country ranks ]

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-2.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
[see also: Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) country ranks ]

Public debt:
30% of GDP (FY 2012/13 est.) 32% of GDP (2013 est.) (FY11/12)
country comparison to the world: 145
[see also: Public debt country ranks ]

Fiscal year:
16 July - 15 July

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.1% (2016 est.) 7.9% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
[see also: Inflation rate (consumer prices) country ranks ]

Central bank discount rate:
8% (31 July 2015) 8% (31 July 2014)
country comparison to the world: 40
[see also: Central bank discount rate country ranks ]

Commercial bank prime lending rate:
9.8% (31 December 2016 est.) 9.8% (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
[see also: Commercial bank prime lending rate country ranks ]

Stock of narrow money:
$5.202 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $4.762 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
[see also: Stock of narrow money country ranks ]

Stock of broad money:
$23.04 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $18.99 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
[see also: Stock of broad money country ranks ]

Stock of domestic credit:
$17.54 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $14.92 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
[see also: Stock of domestic credit country ranks ]

Market value of publicly traded shares:
$11.81 billion (31 October 2015 est.) $9.574 billion (31 October 2014 est.) $5.235 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
[see also: Market value of publicly traded shares country ranks ]

Current account balance:
$831 million (2016 est.) $1.067 billion (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
[see also: Current account balance country ranks ]

Exports:
$898.4 million (2016 est.) $813.1 million (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
[see also: Exports country ranks ]

Exports - commodities:
clothing, pulses, carpets, textiles, juice, jute goods

Exports - partners:
India 61.3%, US 9.4% (2015)

Imports:
$7.116 billion (2016 est.) $6.511 billion (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
[see also: Imports country ranks ]

Imports - commodities:
petroleum products, machinery and equipment, gold, electrical goods, medicine

Imports - partners:
India 61.5%, China 15.4% (2015)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$8.054 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $7.945 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
[see also: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold country ranks ]

Debt - external:
$4.99 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $4.609 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
[see also: Debt - external country ranks ]

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$103 million (31 July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
[see also: Stock of direct foreign investment - at home country ranks ]

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
[see also: Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad country ranks ]

Exchange rates:
Nepalese rupees (NPR) per US dollar - 108.8 (2016 est.) 102.41 (2015 est.) 102.41 (2014 est.) 99.53 (2013 est.) 85.2 (2012 est.)