​Federal Democratic Republic of

Region: Southern Asia Population: 31,822,848 Time zone: UTC/GMT + 5:45hrs ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Nepal has a rich culture which integrates their unique and diverse mix of ethnicities in the country. Their culture encompasses a variety of folklore, music, art, festivals, dance and more. The top sports are football and cricket.

Educational System Female/Male school completion rate: 12 years for both ​ female literacy: 53.1% ​ ​ Teaching in Nepal was historically achieved through home schooling. The earliest schools History/Overview started in the 1850’s and investment took off in the 1970’s. Today, access to public education and Nepal is a mountainous country in the , literacy are growing however poverty and social in Southern Asia between and China, home exclusion remain limiting factors, especially for to Mt. Everest. It is a mostly Hindu nation with a women. number of ethnic minorities and languages. It is one of the poorest countries in the world, however it is aiming to become an LDC nation by Status of Women 2022. Statistics indicative of the status of women: Maternal mortality rate: 190 deaths/100,000 live births ​ ​ (2013 est.) Current Events Mother’s mean age at first birth: 20.1 ​ ​ Sex ratio: 0.96 male(s)/female (2014 est.) In 2015 a devastating earthquake hit Nepal which ​ ​ Fertility rate: 2.3 children born/woman tragically killed 8,000 people, injured 19,000 and ​ ​ Female life expectancy: 68.56 years years ​ left scores more homeless. Already a poor country % Women in parliament: 29.5% ​ ​ with aging infrastructure, this event is a defining Other parliament stats for comparison: USA 19%, Germany ​ moment in Nepalese history and the restructuring 36%, China 23%, South Africa 41%, India 12% process will be long and arduous. In Nepal, statistics relating to healthcare and Culture education indicate some relative social parity for Religion: Hindu 81.3%, Buddhist 9%, Muslim 4.4%, Kirant young women in terms of access, however it is still ​ ​ 3.1%, Christian 1.4%, other 0.5%, unspecifed 0.2% (2011 est.) a male dominated society where early marriage is Language/s: Nepali (official) 44.6%, Maithali 11.7%, ​ ​ common and pressure is high for women to live Bhojpuri 6%, Tharu 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.2%, Magar traditional family lives. Poverty and social 3%, Bajjika 3%, 2.6%, Avadhi 1.9%, Limbu 1.3%, Gurung 1.2%, other 10.4%, unspecified 0.2% exclusion are key factors which hamper women’s Demographics/Ethnic Groups: 125 caste/ethnic groups independence and development. ​ ​ were reported in the 2011 national census (2011 est.)

Economic State

​Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal

Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world Technological Context relying heavily on remittances and an economy Nepal has low computer/internet density with 0.5 based on agriculture and some tourism. As a million people with access to internet. Mobile landlocked country with poor infrastructure and penetration is higher, at 18 million, more than half recent major disaster earthquake, the economy is the population. Poor infrastructure is the key likely to shift gears to investment in aid and challenge for technology access. rebuilding. Read more: Wedu’s Involvement CIA World Factbook Wedu has a wonderful partnership with Inter-Parliamentary Union General Information on Nepal WomenLEAD in Nepal, through which have found a number of Rising Stars. It is one of our countries from which the most Rising Stars come.