Economy - overview:
Nepal is among the 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 30% of GDP. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for almost two-thirds of the population but accounting for less than a 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 has signed trade and investment agreements with India, China, and other countries, but political uncertainty and a difficult business climate have hampered foreign investment. The United States and Nepal signed a $500 million Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact in September 2017 which will expand Nepal’s electricity infrastructure and help maintain transportation infrastructure.

Massive earthquakes struck Nepal in early 2015, which damaged or destroyed infrastructure and homes and set back economic development. Although political gridlock and lack of capacity have hindered post-earthquake recovery, government-led reconstruction efforts have progressively picked up speed, although many hard hit areas still have seen little assistance. Additional challenges to Nepal's growth include its landlocked geographic location, inconsistent electricity supply, and underdeveloped transportation infrastructure.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$79.19 billion (2017 est.)
$73.39 billion (2016 est.)
$72.96 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 95
[see also: GDP country ranks ]

GDP (official exchange rate):
$24.88 billion (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP (official exchange rate) country ranks ]

GDP - real growth rate:
7.9% (2017 est.)
0.6% (2016 est.)
3.3% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 9
[see also: GDP - real growth rate country ranks ]

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,700 (2017 est.)
$2,500 (2016 est.)
$2,500 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 195
[see also: GDP - per capita country ranks ]

Gross national saving:
45.4% of GDP (2017 est.)
40.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
44% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 7
[see also: Gross national saving country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption: 78% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - household consumption country ranks ]
government consumption: 11.7% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - government consumption country ranks ]
investment in fixed capital: 33.8% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in fixed capital country ranks ]
investment in inventories: 8.7% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in inventories country ranks ]
exports of goods and services: 9.8% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - exports of goods and services country ranks ]
imports of goods and services: -42% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - imports of goods and services country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 27% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 13.5% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - industry country ranks ]
services: 59.5% (2017 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:
12.4% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 7
[see also: Industrial production growth rate country ranks ]

Labor force:
16.81 million (2017 est.)
note: severe lack of skilled labor
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 37
[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% (2015 est.)
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - services country ranks ]

Unemployment rate:
3% (2017 est.)
3.2% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 36
[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 (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 115
[see also: Distribution of family income - Gini index country ranks ]

Budget:
revenues: 5.925 billion (2017 est.)
[see also: Budget - revenues country ranks ]
expenditures: 5.945 billion (2017 est.)
[see also: Budget - expenditures country ranks ]

Taxes and other revenues:
23.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 122
[see also: Taxes and other revenues country ranks ]

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-0.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 48
[see also: Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) country ranks ]

Public debt:
26.4% of GDP (2017 est.)
27.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 171
[see also: Public debt country ranks ]

Fiscal year:
16 July - 15 July

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.5% (2017 est.)
9.9% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 168
[see also: Inflation rate (consumer prices) country ranks ]

Central bank discount rate:
7% (30 July 2017)
7% (30 July 2016)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 52
[see also: Central bank discount rate country ranks ]

Commercial bank prime lending rate:
11.3% (31 December 2017 est.)
8.9% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 73
[see also: Commercial bank prime lending rate country ranks ]

Stock of narrow money:
$5.505 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$4.857 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 98
[see also: Stock of narrow money country ranks ]

Stock of broad money:
$5.505 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$4.857 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 101
[see also: Stock of broad money country ranks ]

Stock of domestic credit:
$21.99 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$17.94 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 89
[see also: Stock of domestic credit country ranks ]

Market value of publicly traded shares:
$17.57 billion (31 October 2017 est.)
$19.4 billion (31 October 2016 est.)
$11.37 billion (31 October 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 67
[see also: Market value of publicly traded shares country ranks ]

Current account balance:
-$93 million (2017 est.)
$1.339 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 84
[see also: Current account balance country ranks ]

Exports:
$818.7 million (2017 est.)
$761.6 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 168
[see also: Exports country ranks ]

Exports - partners:
India 53.1%, US 11.8%, Turkey 7.2% (2017)

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

Imports:
$10 billion (2017 est.)
$8.764 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 101
[see also: Imports country ranks ]

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

Imports - partners:
India 70.2%, China 7.5% (2017)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$9.091 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$8.506 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 76
[see also: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold country ranks ]

Debt - external:
$5.849 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$4.321 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 129
[see also: Debt - external country ranks ]

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$103 million (31 July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 138
[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 -
104 (2017 est.)
107.38 (2016 est.)
107.38 (2015 est.)
102.41 (2014 est.)
99.53 (2013 est.)