Nepal
About Nepal
Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a sovereign country located in Asia, specifically within the Southern Asia subregion. Its capital and largest urban centre is Kathmandu, and the country is home to approximately 29.9 million people. In its native language, the country is known as βΰ€¨ΰ₯ΰ€ͺΰ€Ύΰ€²β. Nepali serves as the primary official language, shaping daily communication, education, government, and media throughout Nepal. The official currency in circulation is the Nepalese rupee (β¨), used for all domestic transactions and price-tagged goods. Nepal is widely recognised for Mount Everest, Buddhist heritage and the Kathmandu Valley. People from Nepal are referred to as Nepalese.
Geography & climate
Nepal covers approximately 147,181 kmΒ² of territory, making it a mid-sized country by land area. It shares land borders with 2 neighbouring countries β a position that has historically influenced migration patterns, regional politics, and cross-border commerce. Geographically, Nepal sits in the Northern and Eastern Hemisphere, at roughly 28.0Β° N, 84.0Β° E. Standard civil time follows UTC+05:45 year-round, simplifying scheduling for residents and visitors alike. The prevailing climate of Nepal can be summarised as: himalayan mountains & lowlands with cool peaks, warm valleys. Local weather patterns naturally vary by altitude, latitude, and proximity to oceans or mountain ranges.
People, language & society
With roughly 29.9 million inhabitants, Nepal is a country of significant population size. The principal spoken language is Nepali, which dominates public life, schooling, signage, and the workplace. Locals refer to their homeland as βΰ€¨ΰ₯ΰ€ͺΰ€Ύΰ€²β, a name with linguistic and historical roots that long predate modern borders. Citizens are formally known in English as Nepalese, a demonym that appears in passports, official documents, and international reporting. Economically, the Nepalese rupee (β¨) is the medium of exchange used by households and businesses, with exchange rates monitored by the country's central monetary authority.
Quick facts at a glance
- ποΈ CapitalKathmandu
- π Official nameFederal Democratic Republic of Nepal
- π£οΈ Native nameΰ€¨ΰ₯ΰ€ͺΰ€Ύΰ€²
- π§ DemonymNepalese
- π RegionSouth Asia
- π SubregionSouthern Asia
- π Area147,181 kmΒ²
- π₯ Population29.9 million
- π‘οΈ ClimateHimalayan mountains & lowlands Β· Cool peaks, warm valleys
- πΊοΈ Land borders2
- π¬ LanguageNepali
- π° CurrencyNepalese rupee (β¨)
- π Calling code+977
- π Internet TLD.np
- π Drives onleft side
- π Time zoneUTC+05:45
- πΊπ³ UN memberYes
Practical travel & daily-life info
Visitors planning a trip to Nepal should familiarise themselves with the capital, Kathmandu, the local time zone (UTC+05:45), the local currency (Nepalese rupee). The international dialling prefix is +977, which is required when phoning a Nepal number from abroad. Vehicles drive on the left side of the road, an important detail for anyone renting a car or crossing a land border by vehicle. The country's top-level internet domain is .np, used by local businesses, government sites, and many news organisations. The working week traditionally starts on Sunday, which affects business hours, banking, and public holidays.
Government & global standing
Nepal is recognised internationally as a sovereign, independent state. It is a member state of the United Nations, participating in the General Assembly and various specialised UN agencies. On the global stage, Nepal is generally classified within the Asia region and more specifically the Southern Asia subregion, alongside neighbouring states with shared geographic, historical, or economic ties. GlobeIQ groups it under "South Asia" for the purposes of the game's regional hint.
Bordering countries
Nepal shares land borders with 2 countries. Click any neighbour to read about it:
Did you know?
Nepal has the only non-rectangular national flag in the world β two stacked triangular pennons β and is home to 8 of the world's 14 peaks above 8,000 metres, including Everest.
Nepal in the GlobeIQ atlas
Inside the GlobeIQ game, Nepal appears as a moderately challenging puzzle, suited to players who already know the major continents. When the daily puzzle selects this country, players progressively unlock six hints β silhouette, climate and terrain, number of land borders, region, "known for" tagline, and finally the capital city β before a flag reveal confirms the answer. On its trophy card, Nepal carries the personality tags βποΈ Roof of the Worldβ and βπ© Unique Flagβ, short flavour labels chosen to evoke the country's most recognisable cultural signatures. Adding Nepal to your personal atlas is one of 195 small wins on the road to a complete world map. Each correctly guessed nation also contributes to your running streak and unlocks milestone celebrations at 10, 25, 50, 100, and 150 collected countries.