Economy Of Nepal

Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world, with about one-quarter of its population living below the poverty line. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for three-fourths of the population and accounting for a little over 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 feasible capacity, but political instability hampers foreign investment. Additional challenges to Nepal's growth include its landlocked geographic location, civil strife and labor unrest, and its susceptibility to natural disaster.
GDP (purchasing power parity):	GDP (purchasing power parity): $41.22 billion (2012 est.) $39.4 billion (2011 est.) $37.93 billion (2010 est.)  note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):	GDP (official exchange rate): $19.42 billion (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:	4.6% (2012 est.) 3.9% (2011 est.) 4.8% (2010 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):	GDP - per capita (PPP): $1,300 (2012 est.) $1,300 (2011 est.) $1,300 (2010 est.)  note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP - composition, by end use:	household consumption: 76% government consumption: 10.7%  investment in fixed capital: 20%  investment in inventories: 14.9%  exports of goods and services: 10%  imports of goods and services: -33.4% (2012 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:	household consumption: 76% government consumption: 10.7%  investment in fixed capital: 20%  investment in inventories: 14.9%  exports of goods and services: 10%  imports of goods and services: -33.4% (2012 est.)
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:	3% (2012 est.)
Labor force:	18 million note: severe lack of skilled labor (2009 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:	agriculture: 75% industry: 7%  services: 18% (2010 est.)
Unemployment rate:	46% (2008 est.) 42% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:	25.2% (2011 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:	lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 29.5% (2011)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:	32.8 (2010) 47.2 (2008 est.)
Budget:	revenues: $3.5 billion expenditures: $4.7 billion (FY11/12)
Taxes and other revenues:	18% of GDP (FY11/12)
Fiscal year:	16 July - 15 July
Inflation rate (consumer prices):	Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.5% (2012 est.) 9.5% (2011 est.)
Current account balance:	$93 million (2012 est.) $49 million (2011 est.)
Exports:	$1.066 billion (2012 est.) $998.9 million (2011 est.)
Exports - commodities:	clothing, pulses, carpets, textiles, juice, pashima, jute goods
Exports - partners:	India 55.7%, US 10.1%, Germany 4.4% (2012)
Imports:	$5.92 billion (2012 est.) $5.665 billion (2011 est.)
Imports - commodities:	petroleum products, machinery and equipment, gold, electrical goods, medicine
Imports - partners:	India 51%, China 34.5% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:	$3.631 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $2.925 billion (2010 est.)
Debt - external:	$3.956 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $3.673 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:	$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:	$NA
Market value of publicly traded shares:	$4.529 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $4.843 billion (31 December 2010) $5.485 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:	Nepalese rupees (NPR) per US dollar - 85.197 (2012 est.) 74.02 (2011 est.) 73.16 (2010 est.) 77.44 (2009) 65.21 (2008)