GeoRealityMatch
Aerial view of urban Kathmandu with a dramatic sunset sky and mountainous backdrop.Scenic aerial view of expansive rice terraces and farmland under a cloudy sky.

Nepal

Asia · Southern Asia

Medium safetyVery affordable cost of livingMedium development

Incomes are low.

BackpackerVery affordable cost of living.
vs India
Safety

110th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.143lower is more peacefulMedium safety
#110 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
2.1per 100,000 people a yearModerateUNODC / World Bank · 2020
Safety index
63.9Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferHighNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$1,570national income per person, US dollarsVery low
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
2.9New York = 100Very affordableNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
42.4years of median income to buy a median flatVery expensiveNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 352% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 100% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$4.0K$8.0K$6,175 PPP$1,536Inflation, % a year12%0200620102015202020252006, $340 a person, $1,718 at PPP, inflation 6.9%2007, $385 a person, $1,809 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2008, $465 a person, $1,942 at PPP, inflation 9.9%2009, $473 a person, $2,029 at PPP, inflation 11.1%2010, $585 a person, $2,139 at PPP, inflation 9.3%2011, $786 a person, $2,248 at PPP, inflation 9.2%2012, $788 a person, $2,466 at PPP, inflation 9.5%2013, $803 a person, $2,658 at PPP, inflation 9%2014, $821 a person, $2,901 at PPP, inflation 8.4%2015, $876 a person, $2,957 at PPP, inflation 7.9%2016, $877 a person, $2,976 at PPP, inflation 8.8%2017, $1,034 a person, $3,605 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2018, $1,179 a person, $3,956 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2019, $1,203 a person, $4,261 at PPP, inflation 5.6%2020, $1,154 a person, $4,236 at PPP, inflation 5.1%2021, $1,253 a person, $4,546 at PPP, inflation 4.1%2022, $1,386 a person, $5,102 at PPP, inflation 7.7%2023, $1,382 a person, $5,400 at PPP, inflation 7.1%2024, $1,460 a person, $5,746 at PPP, inflation 4.7%2025, $1,536 a person, $6,175 at PPP, inflation 2.7%$0$4.0K$8.0KInflation, % a year12%0200620102015202020252006, $340 a person, $1,718 at PPP, inflation 6.9%2007, $385 a person, $1,809 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2008, $465 a person, $1,942 at PPP, inflation 9.9%2009, $473 a person, $2,029 at PPP, inflation 11.1%2010, $585 a person, $2,139 at PPP, inflation 9.3%2011, $786 a person, $2,248 at PPP, inflation 9.2%2012, $788 a person, $2,466 at PPP, inflation 9.5%2013, $803 a person, $2,658 at PPP, inflation 9%2014, $821 a person, $2,901 at PPP, inflation 8.4%2015, $876 a person, $2,957 at PPP, inflation 7.9%2016, $877 a person, $2,976 at PPP, inflation 8.8%2017, $1,034 a person, $3,605 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2018, $1,179 a person, $3,956 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2019, $1,203 a person, $4,261 at PPP, inflation 5.6%2020, $1,154 a person, $4,236 at PPP, inflation 5.1%2021, $1,253 a person, $4,546 at PPP, inflation 4.1%2022, $1,386 a person, $5,102 at PPP, inflation 7.7%2023, $1,382 a person, $5,400 at PPP, inflation 7.1%2024, $1,460 a person, $5,746 at PPP, inflation 4.7%2025, $1,536 a person, $6,175 at PPP, inflation 2.7%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Below-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
70.6years, at birthModerate
#130 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
58WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100LowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
46.6PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery highWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Fast home internet

Unemployment rate
10.5%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
85 Mbpsmedian download speedFastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
514EF English Proficiency Index scoreModerateEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet85 MbpsFast

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Scenic aerial view of expansive rice terraces and farmland under a cloudy sky.
How it changed

Nepal's Human Development Index

0.622Medium human development

145th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 36th of 43 in Asia.

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. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #143Ghana0.628
  2. #143Kenya0.628
  3. #145Nepal0.622
  4. #146Vanuatu0.621
  5. #147Laos0.617
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.404 in 1990 to 0.622 in 2023.

0.350.500.650.62219902000201020231990: 0.4041991: 0.4121992: 0.4201993: 0.4251994: 0.4331995: 0.4381996: 0.4471997: 0.4531998: 0.4591999: 0.4642000: 0.4712001: 0.4722002: 0.4792003: 0.4862004: 0.4932005: 0.5002006: 0.5122007: 0.5162008: 0.5262009: 0.5382010: 0.5512011: 0.5592012: 0.5652013: 0.5702014: 0.5742015: 0.5752016: 0.5802017: 0.5882018: 0.5962019: 0.6042020: 0.5992021: 0.5962022: 0.6052023: 0.6220.350.500.6519902000201020231990: 0.4041991: 0.4121992: 0.4201993: 0.4251994: 0.4331995: 0.4381996: 0.4471997: 0.4531998: 0.4591999: 0.4642000: 0.4712001: 0.4722002: 0.4792003: 0.4862004: 0.4932005: 0.5002006: 0.5122007: 0.5162008: 0.5262009: 0.5382010: 0.5512011: 0.5592012: 0.5652013: 0.5702014: 0.5742015: 0.5752016: 0.5802017: 0.5882018: 0.5962019: 0.6042020: 0.5992021: 0.5962022: 0.6052023: 0.622

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
70.6 years2024at birthUp 5.4 years from 65.3 years in 2005
Internet users
46%2024of people onlineUp 45 points from 1% in 2006
Urban population
67%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 17 points from 50% in 2006
Births per woman
1.962024births per womanDown 1.16 from 3.12 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
74%2021of energy usedDown 17 points from 90% in 2004
Access to electricity
98%2024of people with electricityUp 52 points from 46% in 2005
Infant mortality
222024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 27 from 49 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0.5 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.4 t from 0.1 t in 2005
Forest area
42%2023of land under forestUp 1 point from 41% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Himalayan gateway and spiritual hub, ultra cheap, with developing infrastructure. The case against is low incomes, polluted air and patchy access to essential health services.

About 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.

Practical facts

  • CapitalKathmandu
  • LanguagesNepali
  • CurrencyNepalese rupee (NPR)
  • Area143,350 km²
  • Plug typeType C/D/M
  • Drives on theleft
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Quick answers

What is Nepal's Human Development Index?

Nepal's Human Development Index is 0.622 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #145 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Nepal safe?

Nepal scores 2.14 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #110 of 161 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.