Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a Governor-General Prime minister: Stephen Harper
President: Ram Baran Yadav
Population
34,300,083
29,890,686
Life Expectancy
81.480 years
66.510 years
Capital City
Ottawa
Kathmandu
Largest city
Toronto (population: 4,612,190)
Kathmandu (population: 1,442,270)
Human Development Index
0.967
0.53
GDP per capita
$41,100 US
$1,300 US
Literacy Rate
99%
48.6%
Corruption Perception Index
8.7
2.7
Percentage of Women in Parliament
24.9%
33.2%
Wealthiest Citizens
David Thomson & family ($13.0bn US)
NA
Unemployment Rate
7.500%
46.000%
Death Penalty
Abolished
Abolished
Political System
constitutional monarchy that is also a parliamentary democracy and a federation
federal democratic republic
Independence date
1 July 1867 (union of British North American colonies); 11 December 1931 (recognized by UK)
1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan SHAH)
Religions
Roman Catholic 42.6%, Protestant 23.3% (including United Church 9.5%, Anglican 6.8%, Baptist 2.4%, Lutheran 2%), other Christian 4.4%, Muslim 1.9%, other and unspecified 11.8%, none 16% (2001 census)
Hindu 80.6%, Buddhist 10.7%, Muslim 4.2%, Kirant 3.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census) note: only official Hindu state in the world
Languages
English (official) 59.3%, French (official) 23.2%, other 17.5%
Nepali 47.8%, Maithali 12.1%, Bhojpuri 7.4%, Tharu (Dagaura/Rana) 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.6%, Magar 3.3%, Awadhi 2.4%, other 10%, unspecified 2.5% (2001 census) note: many in government and business also speak English (2001 est.)
Canadian dollars (CAD) per US dollar - 1.0364 (2008 est.), 1.0724 (2007), 1.1334 (2006), 1.2118 (2005), 1.301 (2004)
Nepalese rupees (NPR) per US dollar - NA (2007), 72.446 (2006), 72.16 (2005), 73.674 (2004), 76.141 (2003)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.100%
1.600%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
18
0
Location
Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean on the east, North Pacific Ocean on the west, and the Arctic Ocean on the north, north of the conterminous US
Southern Asia, between China and India
Area
9,984,670 km sq
147,181 km sq
Coastline
202,080 km
0 km
Climate
varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north
varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south
