Nepal
Asia · Southern Asia
Himalayan gateway and spiritual hub, ultra cheap, with developing infrastructure.
Backpacker
Ideal destination
At a Glance
📈Nepal's Human Development Index
0.601
Medium human development#145 of 191 countries worldwide, #38 of 43 in Asia.
Higher than 24% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →Nepal
Nepal is a small Himalayan country with eight of the world's ten highest mountains, including Everest, and a culture that blends Hindu and Buddhist traditions into a rich fabric of temples, festivals, and daily rituals. The trekking routes through the Annapurna and Everest regions are among the most celebrated in the world, but the valley cities of Kathmandu and Bhaktapur have their own ancient architectural beauty. Those who combine mountain ambition with cultural curiosity will find it one of the most rewarding destinations in Asia.
- Home to 8 of the 10 highest mountains in the world.
- Never colonised by any foreign power — one of the few in Asia.
- The national flag is the only non-rectangular national flag in the world.
Quick Facts
Capital
Kathmandu
Language
Nepali
Currency
₨ NPR
Area
143,350 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
85Mbps
GDP / Capita
$2K
PPP / Capita
$6K
Inflation
2.7%
Unemployment
10.5%
Innovation (GII)
20.2
GNI / Capita
$2K
Tax Revenue
13.9%
FDI Inflows
0.1%
Education Spend
3.7%
Cost of Living
22.6
Price Level Index
93rd pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.395 → 0.601 (+0.206)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
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💬Quick answers
What is Nepal's Human Development Index?
Nepal's Human Development Index is 0.601 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #145 of 191 countries.
Is Nepal safe?
Nepal scores 2.14 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #110 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
How expensive is Nepal?
Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Nepal at 22.6 (New York = 100); that is #7 cheapest of 143 countries with data.
What is life expectancy in Nepal?
Life expectancy at birth in Nepal is 70.6 yrs (World Bank), ranked #130 of 195 countries.