Country
Nepal Costa Rica
Leader
Population
29,890,686 4,636,348
Life Expectancy
66.510 years 77.890 years
Capital City
Kathmandu San Jose
Largest city
Kathmandu (population: 1,442,270) San Jose (population: 335,007)
Human Development Index
0.53 0.847 GDP per capita $1,300 US $12,100 US
Literacy Rate
48.6% 94.9%
Corruption Perception Index
2.7 5.1
Percentage of Women in Parliament
33.2% 36.8% Wealthiest Citizens Unemployment Rate 46.000% 6.500%
Death Penalty
Abolished Abolished
Political System
federal democratic republic democratic republic
Independence date
1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan SHAH) 15 September 1821 (from Spain) Religions 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 Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, other Protestant 0.7%, other 4.8%, none 3.2% Languages 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.) Spanish (official), English Exports carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain bananas, pineapples, coffee, melons, ornamental plants, sugar; seafood; electronic components, medical equipment External Debt $3,777,000,000 $ $10,050,000,000 US Exchange Rate Nepalese rupees (NPR) per US dollar - NA (2007), 72.446 (2006), 72.16 (2005), 73.674 (2004), 76.141 (2003) Costa Rican colones (CRC) per US dollar - 529.62 (2008 est.), 519.53 (2007), 511.3 (2006), 477.79 (2005), 437.91 (2004) Military Budget as percentage of GDP 1.600% 0.600% Beijing Olympics Medal Count Location Southern Asia, between China and India Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama Area 147,181 km sq 51,100 km sq Coastline 0 km 1,290 km Climate varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands
