World Factbook
Nepal
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: crimson red with a blue border, in the shape of two overlapping right triangles; the smaller upper triangle has a stylized white moon, and the larger lower triangle has a 12-pointed white sun meaning: red stands for the rhododendron (the national flower) and victory and bravery, and the blue border for peace and harmony; the two triangles are a combination of two pennants that originally symbolized the Himalaya Mountains, but today they refer to Hinduism and Buddhism, the country's two main religions; the moon stands for the serenity of the people, as well as Himalayan shade and cool weather, and the sun for the heat and higher temperatures in the rest of the country
note: Nepal is the only country with a flag that is not rectangular or square
Capital
name
Kathmandu
etymology
the name comes from the Nepalese words kath (wooden) and mandu (temple), referring to the local temples that are often still built from wood
time difference
UTC+5.75 (10.75 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
27 43 N, 85 19 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
yes
citizenship by descent only
yes
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
15 years
Constitution
history
several previous; latest approved by the Second Constituent Assembly 16 September 2015, signed by the president and effective 20 September 2015
amendment process
proposed as a bill by either house of the Federal Parliament; bills affecting a state border or powers delegated to a state must be submitted to the affected state assembly; passage of such bills requires a majority vote of that state assembly membership; bills not requiring state assembly consent require at least two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses of the Federal Parliament; parts of the constitution on the sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence, and sovereignty vested in the people cannot be amended
Country name
etymology
the name probably comes from the Sanskrit term nepala , from the words for "fly down" and "house," which would refer to the villages at the base of the mountains
local long form
none
local short form
Nepal
conventional long form
none
conventional short form
Nepal
Independence
1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan SHAH)
Legal system
English common law and Hindu legal concepts
Government type
federal parliamentary republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and up to 20 judges)
subordinate courts
High Court; district courts
judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Constitutional Council, a 5-member, high-level advisory body headed by the prime minister; other judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial Council, a 5-member advisory body headed by the chief justice; the chief justice serves a 6-year term; judges serve until age 65
Executive branch
note
note: KARKI was sworn in as interim prime minister on 12 September 2025 after Khadga Prasad Sharma OLI resigned on 9 September following violent protests; KARKI will serve until elections are held in March 2026
cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister; cabinet positions shared among Nepali Congress, Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Centre, and various coalition partners
chief of state
President Ram Chandra POUDEL (since 13 March 2023)
election results
2023: Ram Chandra POUDEL elected president; electoral college vote - Ram Chandra POUDEL (NC) 33,802, Subash Chandra NEMBANG (CPN-UML) 15,518
head of government
Prime Minister Sushila KARKI (since 12 September 2025)
most recent election date
9 March 2023
election/appointment process
president indirectly elected by an electoral college of the Federal Parliament and the state assemblies for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)
expected date of next election
5 March 2026
National holiday
Constitution Day, 20 September (2015)
note: replaces the previous Republic Day on 28 May as the official national day in Nepal; the Gregorian date fluctuates based on Nepal’s Hindu calendar
National color(s)
red
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
4 (2 cultural, 2 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Kathmandu Valley (c); Sagarmatha National Park (n); Chitwan National Park (n); Lumbini, Buddha Birthplace (c)
Political parties
Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) or CPN-MC Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) or CPN-UML Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialist) or CPN-US Janamat Party Janata Samajbaadi Party or JSP Loktantrik Samajwadi Party or LSP Naya Shakti Party, Nepal Nepali Congress or NC Nepal Mazdoor Kisan Party (Nepal Workers' and Peasants' Party) or NWPP Rastriya Janamorcha (National People's Front) Rastriya Prajatantra Party (National Democratic Party) or RPP Rastriya Swatantra Party or RSP
Legislative branch
note
note: violent student-led protests in early September 2025 led to the resignation of the Prime Minister; the President dissolved Parliament on 12 September 2015 following the swearing in of an interim prime minister and set elections for 5 March 2026; the major political parties have demanded reinstatement of the Parliament
legislature name
Federal Parliament (Sanghiya Sansad)
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"Sayaun Thunga Phool Ka" (Hundreds of Flowers)
history
adopted 2007
lyrics/music
Pradeep Kumar RAI/Ambar GURUNG
National symbol(s)
rhododendron blossom
Administrative divisions
7 provinces ( pradesh , singular - pradesh ); Bagmati, Gandaki, Karnali, Koshi, Lumbini, Madhesh, Sudurpashchim
Legislative branch - lower chamber
note
note: Parliament was dissolved by the President on 12 September following violent protests, the resignation of the Prime Minister, and the appointment of an interim prime minister with new elections set for March 2026
chamber name
House of Representatives (Pratinidhi Sabha)
term in office
5 years
number of seats
275 (all directly elected)
electoral system
mixed system
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
11/20/2022
expected date of next election
5 March 2026
percentage of women in chamber
0%
parties elected and seats per party
Nepali Congress (NC) (89); Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist, UML) (78); Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Centre (CPN-MC) (32); Rastriya Swatantra Party (20); Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal (RPP) (14); People's Socialist Party, Nepal (12); Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialist) (10); Janamat Party (6); Democratic Socialist Party, Nepal (4); People's Freedom Party (3); Nepal Workers Peasants Party (1); Rastriya Janamorcha (1); Independents (5)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
National Assembly (Rastriya Sabha)
term in office
6 years
number of seats
59 (56 indirectly elected; 3 appointed)
scope of elections
partial renewal
most recent election date
1/25/2024
expected date of next election
January 2026
percentage of women in chamber
37.3%
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 667-5534
chancery
2730 34th Place NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone
[1] (202) 667-4550
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Sharad Raj ARAN (since November 2025)
consulate(s) general
New York
email address and website
info@nepalembassyusa.org https://us.nepalembassy.gov.np/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[977] (1) 400-7272
embassy
Maharajgunj, Kathmandu
telephone
[977] (1) 423-4000
mailing address
6190 Kathmandu Place, Washington DC 20521-6190
chief of mission
Ambassador Dean R. THOMPSON (since October 2022)
email address and website
usembktm@state.gov https://np.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ADB, BIMSTEC, CD, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNSOM, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt