Population: 22.7m (2001 census)

Main towns: Population in '000, 2001 estimates (Central Bureau of Statistics)

Kathmandu (capital) 671.8
Biratnagar 166.6
Lalitpur 162.9
Pokhara 156.3

Climate: Temperate (harsh with extreme cold at high altitudes)

Weather in Kathmandu (altitude 1,337 metres): Hottest month, July, 20-29 C (average daily minimum and maximum); coldest month, January, 2-23 C; driest month, December, 3 mm average rainfall; wettest month, July, 373 mm average rainfall

Languages: Nepali (official). There are other national languages and English is widely used in commerce

Measures: Metric system; local units also used include 1 seer=0.933 kg; 1 maund=40 seer; 1 ropani=0.05087 ha; one bigha= 0.6773 ha

Currency: Nepalese rupee (NRs)=100 paisa. Effectively pegged since 1993 to the Indian rupee at a rate of NRs1.6:Rs1. Annual average exchange rate in 2002: NRs77.88:US$1. Exchange rate on April 7th 2003: NRs75.80: US$1

Fiscal year: July 16th-July 15th

Time: 5 hours 45 minutes ahead of GMT