ABOUT US

ABOUT NEPAL

Country Background

Nepal is surrounded on the north by the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China; on the east by Sikkim and West Bengal of the Indian Union on the south by Indian States of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and on the west by Uttar Pradesh of Indian Union. The length of the Kingdom is 885 kilometers east-west and its breath varies from 145 to 241 kilometers north-south. Climatically, it lies in the temperate zone with the added advantage of altitude.

Nepal is a multicultural, multi-religious and multi-lingual nation. Small as it may be, Nepal is diverse geographically as well as ethnically. There are rich cultures and vibrant traditions, exquisite temples and monuments as well as fast flowing rivers and tropical jungles teeming with wildlife. It is a country where people of different races and religions live in harmony.

Albeit gradually, the country’s economy and society is changing in response to global demands for interdependence, industrialisation and modernisation. Yet a history of political instability and internal conflict is pushing Nepal’s economy into the position of the world’s poorest country.

Statistics:
Population: 23.5 million
Capital City: Kathmandu
National Language: Nepali
Per capita income: US$ 250/year
Life expectancy: 59 years
Access to safe water: 88%
Adequate sanitation facilities: 28%
Under 5 Mortality Rate: 91/1,000 live births
Source: State of the Word's Children Report 2003
(published by UNICEF)

Target Areas

The orphanage, current houses of children from Jogimara village, about 70km west of Kathmandu. The future target areas for CEN’s activities are west of Kathmandu.