Nepal2025
**Nepal in 2025: A Nation at a Crossroads**
*April 2, 2025*
As Nepal steps into April 2025, it’s a land of contrasts—brimming with potential yet wrestling with persistent challenges. The economy is showing signs of life, with a projected GDP growth of 4.9% for FY2025, according to the Asian Development Bank. Tourism is a bright spot, with 1.6 million visitors expected this fiscal year, and remittances from migrant workers continue to prop up household incomes. Hydropower is also gaining steam, promising a cleaner energy future. But beneath these gains, the average Nepali feels the pinch—unemployment lingers, inflation hovers around 5.5%, and the memory of 2023’s recession still stings.
Politically, it’s a turbulent time. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, in office since July 2024, leads a fragile coalition that’s held steady so far, but the specter of instability looms large—Nepal has seen 13 governments since 2008. The streets of Kathmandu tell a louder story: pro-monarchy protests erupted in late March, turning violent and claiming lives as demonstrators clashed with police. Calls to reinstate former King Gyanendra Shah reflect deep frustration with the democratic system, though the republic’s defenders argue it’s still the best shot at accountability. Corruption, scoring a dismal 34 on the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, only fuels the discontent.
Nature hasn’t been kind either. Floods and landslides in 2024 left scars, killing dozens and testing Nepal’s disaster readiness. With the Himalayas ever-looming, the threat of a major earthquake remains a quiet dread. Yet, amidst these trials, Nepal’s spirit shines through—its people resilient, its culture vibrant. The question now is whether 2025 will be a turning point: can better governance and bold reforms unlock the growth Nepal craves, or will it stay caught in this cycle of promise and peril?
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