Nepeconomic.com
The Analysis...

Features of Nepalese economy

HIGH RATE OF POPULATION GROWTH

Wide range of topography
Variety of climate
Mass poverty
Dependency on agriculture
High rate of population growth
Unfavorable foreign trade
Under-utilized natural resources

Another characteristics of Nepalese economy is the rapid growth of population. During the forties, the rate of population growth did not exceed 1.16 percent per year. But the rate increased to about 2.66 percent per year during the 1971-81 decade. Although the 1991 census revealed the annual population growth rate of 2.08 percent during the 1981-91 period, it is observed to be “unrealistically low” as compared to the growth rate during the previous decade. Nepal’s population doubled in a period of sixty years from 5.6 million in the year 1911 to 11.5 million in the year 1971 and almost doubled in the period of thirty years from 9.41 millions in the year 1961 to 18.49 million in the year 1991.

The population growth rate in Nepal is highest (1.24 percent per year) among SAARC nations. It has high rate of Total Fertility Rate (4.1 per woman), high Crude Birth Rate (32.5 per thousand), High Crude Death Rate (9.3 per thousand) and High Infant Mortality Rate (64.1 per thousand). From the above figures, it is estimated that the size of population would be double in every 31 years. Similarly the Average life expectancy at birth is estimated to be 61.9 years.

This can be attributed to the rising rate of population growth. If the existing growth trends continue, Nepal’s population will double in a shorter period in years to come.