Nepal Environment Overview
Climate
ranges from cool summer temperatures and harsh winter conditions in the northern regions to subtropical summer heat and mild winters in the southern regions
Land use
other
27.7% (2023 est.)
forest
43.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
26.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 12.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 12.5% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
21.9% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
3.09% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
1.769 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
4.6% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues
deforestation due to excessive reliance on wood for fuel and insufficient alternatives; degradation of forests; erosion of soil; water contamination from human and animal waste, agricultural runoff, and industrial discharges; unregulated solid waste; preservation of wildlife; air pollution resulting from vehicle emissions
Total water withdrawal
municipal
147.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial
29.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural
9.32 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
11.357 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke
2.025 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids
9.332 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
36.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
210.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
International environmental agreements
party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified
Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, Conservation of Marine Life