About Nepal

GEOGRAPHY - Area 147,181 sq.km. A mountain-ringed Himalayan state between China (Tibet) and India. It contains 8 of the 10 highest mountain peaks in the world. Capital Kathmandu 1,500,000. The city has doubled in size during the 1990s. Urbanites 14%.

PEOPLE - Indo-Aryan 79%. 27 peoples. Mainly south and east. Largest: Nepali 12 mill.; Maithili 2.85m; Bhojpuri 1.79m; Tharu(6) 1.29m; Awadhi 483,000; Urdu 261,000; Hindi 220,000; Rajbansi 110,000. Tibeto-Burman 17%. 68 peoples, mainly in north and west. Largest groups: Tamang 1.17m; Newari 892,000; Rai(10) 567,000; Magar 558,000; Limbu 328,000; Gurung(4) 294,000; Sherpa 158,000. Munda-Santal 0.3%. 2 peoples. Other 3.7%. Bhutan refugees 150,000; Indians, Tibetans. Caste groups are important in this largely Hindu society. These are often more important sociologically than is ethnicity. Some groups: Chhetri 3.8m; Hill Brahman 3.1m; Magar 1.7m; Maki/Lohar 1.2m; Yadav/Ahir 1m; Musalman (Muslim) 850,000; Chamar 263,000.

Literacy 40%.

Official language Nepali.

All languages 124.

ECONOMY - An isolated subsistence economy. The terrain is difficult and in habitable regions there is a high population density with rapid deforestation and ecological damage. The development of roads, agriculture and social projects has been slow. Main foreign exchange earners are tourism, agriculture and Gurkha soldiers. Heavily dependent on foreign aid and good relations with India. HDI 0.463; 144th/174. Public debt 48% of GNP. Income/person $220 (0.7% of USA) with 42% living below the poverty line.

Nepal is full of mountains and hills there are 17% flat land. This land is good for farming. There are 95% people based on agriculture in inhabitable regions there are high population density. The development of roads agriculture and social project has been slow. There are 24 millions people (approximate) these people are idols worshipers. When we think this situation from the perspective of the Bible any one can imagine the heart's of the true believer out of twenty four millions people there are less than 2% Christians. Since Nepal is land lock country, the economical condition is very worse. According to the World Bank report Nepal is the second poorest country in the World.

POLITICS - Nepal was never ruled by colonial powers. Political isolation from the outside world ended in 1951. In 1962, the King assumed executive power in a government system with no political parties. Massive civil unrest in 1990 brought about extensive liberalization and multi-party elections. The 1990s were characterized by a succession of short-lived coalition governments in a time of difficulty. The Congress Party formed a majority government in 2000. Poverty and official corruption have been factors in provoking Maoist extremist terrorism in some areas since 1996. The assassination of most of the royal family in 2001 seriously destabilized the country.

RELIGION - The world's only Hindu Kingdom. Hinduism is recognized as the national religion, but the constitution guarantees some religious freedom for other faiths. People are free to choose their religion but it is illegal to convert others. Any infringing of this is liable to lead to imprisonment for nationals or expulsion of foreigners. Official religion figures of the 1991 census are suspect with minority religions under-represented.

Socially, this country has a very strong caste system which is divided into four major groups. They are as follows - Brahmins, Kshatria, Vaisyas and Sudra. In this situation we find importance to propagate the Gospel of Jesus Christ in this nation.

What do they believe?

They worship 330 millions god and goddesses. Spirits and impacts that appear in bodily forms. Witchcraft and spells. Sacrifices that must constantly be made in order to keep the spirits appease.