Overview
Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country located in South Asia. It is primarily situated in the Himalayas but also encompasses parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. The country is bordered by the Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the north and by India to the south, east, and west. Nepal is also narrowly separated from Bangladesh by the Siliguri Corridor and from Bhutan by the Indian state of Sikkim.
Geography
Nepal possesses remarkably diverse geography, featuring fertile plains, subalpine forested hills, and eight of the world's ten highest mountains, including Mount Everest—the highest point above mean sea level on Earth. Kathmandu serves as the nation's capital and largest city.
Culture and Language
Nepal is a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-religious, and multi-cultural sovereign state. Nepali is the official language of the country. Different regions of Nepal have historically been influenced by distinct cultural traditions. Northern parts of Nepal were intertwined with Tibetan culture, while the Kathmandu Valley developed connections with Indo-Aryan cultures and served as the center of the prosperous Newar confederacy known as Nepal Mandala. This cosmopolitan region developed distinct traditional art and architecture.
Historical Development
The Kathmandu Valley was historically known as Nepal before the unification of the entire country. The Himalayan branch of the ancient Silk Road was dominated by the valley's traders. By the 18th century, the Gorkha Kingdom achieved the unification of Nepal. The Shah dynasty subsequently established the Kingdom of Nepal and later formed an alliance with the British Empire under its Rana dynasty of premiers.
Nepal was never colonized but served as a buffer state between Imperial China and British India. Parliamentary democracy was introduced in 1951, though it was suspended twice by Nepalese monarchs—in 1960 and 2005. The Nepalese Civil War in the 1990s and early 2000s resulted in the establishment of a secular republic in 2008, which ended the world's last Hindu monarchy. The Constitution of Nepal, adopted in 2015, established the country as a federal parliamentary republic divided into seven provinces.
Government and Recent Events
Nepal operates as a federal parliamentary republic. In September 2025, protests against economic inequality and corruption caused riots that resulted in casualties and the resignation of the prime minister.
Foreign Relations
Nepal's foreign policy emphasizes neutrality, sovereignty, and multilateral cooperation. The country was admitted to the United Nations in 1955 and signed friendship treaties with India in 1950 and China in 1960. Nepal hosts the permanent secretariat of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), of which it is a founding member. The country is also a member of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Bay of Bengal Initiative. Nepal's foreign relations further emphasize development assistance, trade partnerships, and promoting peace and stability in South Asia.