Natural resources: quartz, water, timber, hydropower potential, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
Land use: arable land: 17% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 15% forests and woodland: 42% other : 26% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 8,500 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought, and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons
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)
Environment - international agreements: party to : Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note: landlocked; strategic location between China and
India; contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks
@Nepal:People
Population: 23,107,464 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 42% (male 4,994,992; female 4,692,691) 15-64 years: 55% (male 6,458,616; female 6,205,947) 65 years and over: 3% (male 376,962; female 378,256) (July 1997 est.)