The kingdom today is the world’s 44th most populous nation and in the year 2050 will leap to the 35th position. With a population of 23.46 million, Nepal now ranks behind Iraq with 23.58 million and ahead of Malaysia with 22.65 million people.

By the year 2025, the Himalayan state will jump to 39th position in world rankings with a population of 37 million ahead of Spain with 36.7 million people and below Poland with a population of 38.6 million. The figures were released this month by the Washington, D.C. based Population Reference Bureau.

An estimated 0.3 percent of all Nepalis are infected with HIV/AIDS compared to 0.1 percent in Pakistan and 0.7 percent in India, the report said. Nepali life expectancy at birth is 58 years. Among 180 nation states, Nepal has an area of 56,826 square miles with a population density

of 413 to the square mile.

Nepal’s gross national income (GNI) per capita is $190 but the GNI per capita adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) is $1,280. US $190 in Nepal would buy purchases worth $1,280 in the United States.