Economy       

Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world with 40% of its population living below the poverty line. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for over 80% of the population and accounting for 40% of GDP. Processing agricultural produce including jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain is the main industry. Security concerns in the wake of the Maoist conflict have led to a decrease in tourism, a key source of foreign exchange. Nepal has considerable freedom in taking advantage of its prospects in hydropower and tourism, areas of recent foreign investment interest. Potential for foreign trade or investment in other areas will remain poor, however, because of the small size of the economy, its technological backwardness, its remoteness, its landlocked geographic location, its civil strife, and its susceptibility to natural disaster.

Currency (code):         

Nepalese rupee (NPR)

Exchange rates: