Nepal is a small country with a big reputation; known throughout the world for the staggering beauty of its
Himalayan mountains and for the exotic appeal of its World Heritage Site, the Chitwan National Park. Nepal, however,
like any country, is more than its geography. It is a country of people and politics, progress and regression. This report
goes beyond the tourist appeal of Nepal and presents a glimpse of where the country is and has been, where it is likely
heading, and what can be done to improve its development. To do this, the report considers key aspects vital to the
country’s development: population, health, education, governance, economy, infrastructure, agriculture, food security,
and climate change. It also includes comparisons between Nepal and other least developed countries, on average, and
between Nepal and the region of South Asia. These comparisons help to clarify where Nepal’s development stands in
contrast to its peers and neighbors.