Healthcare Situation
The average life expectancy in Nepal, a least developed country, is 70.9 years. While there has been a significant increase since 2000, the comparison with Japan and the world still shows a relatively low level. Many regions in Nepal lack adequate infrastructure development, such as transportation, water supply, electricity, gas, and internet. The vulnerability of the healthcare delivery system remains a significant challenge, making the reality of having an environment where individuals can actively choose to be healthy still distant.
Water and Sanitation Conditions
Nepal, situated in the Himalayan region, possesses abundant water resources; however, due to geographical and economic reasons, the environmental development of water and sanitation is insufficient.
Only 19.0% of the population has access to safely managed drinking water, and 76.4% can access basic water supply (※1). Even in the capital city, Kathmandu, the water supply infrastructure is underdeveloped, and many areas lack water purification facilities.
Especially in mountainous and rural areas, the use of untreated water from rivers during the rainy season leads to a higher occurrence of waterborne diseases such as cholera, dysentery, and hepatitis A and E (※2). Regarding sanitation, only 61.1% of the population has access to safely managed toilets, while 5.0% of the population practices open defecation (※1).
Key Indicators
In Nepal, the government has implemented national health policies, leading to a reduction in mortality rates from infectious diseases. As of 2019, the average life expectancy in Nepal is 70.9 years (Japan: 84.3 years) (※1), showing a significant increase compared to the year 2000. However, it remains at a comparatively lower level when compared to Japan and the global average.
The Nepalese government has addressed challenges in maternal and child health. As a result, the under-5 mortality rate (estimated deaths per 1,000 live births) has decreased to less than one-fifth in the past 30 years, showing significant improvement. In 2021, it decreased to 27, although it remains about 13 times higher than Japan's rate (※2). Additionally, Nepal's neonatal mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births) is exceptionally high, being 20 times that of Japan (※2).
In Nepal, one in five pregnant women has not undergone the necessary four antenatal check-ups for a safe delivery, and births often occur without the presence of skilled healthcare professionals (※5). These challenges are attributed to geographical issues and low health literacy, contributing to high neonatal mortality rates and maternal mortality rates.
* All figures are based on births, including stillbirths, in Nepal nationwide for the two years preceding the 2022 survey.
References:
※1: Life expectancy at birth, WHO Data ※2: Levels and trends in child mortality, UNICEF
※3: Top 10 causes of death in Nepal, NEPAL MINUTE ※4: World Medical Conditions - Nepal, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
※5: Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2022 ※6: MMR country level,UNICEF Data
Main Causes of Death
In recent years, with the progress of urbanization and changes in lifestyle, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have significantly increased in Nepal. NCDs are diseases attributed to lifestyle factors such as unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, smoking, and alcohol consumption. In 2019, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) became the most prevalent cause of death. Following that, ischemic heart diseases and tuberculosis constitute a substantial proportion of mortality causes (※).
＊：NCD
Medical Resources
In Nepal, there is a shortage of healthcare professionals, including doctors and nurses, and the infrastructure for medical facilities, equipment, and pharmaceuticals is insufficient.
Many medical institutions and healthcare professionals are concentrated around Kathmandu, and due to economic and geographical constraints, it is not uncommon for people in remote areas to walk 5-6 hours to reach a medical facility.
Furthermore, there are limitations in the functionality of healthcare facilities. For example, only 23% of medical institutions in Nepal can measure blood glucose levels, a crucial diagnostic test for diabetes (※1).
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