An official from the election commission carries ballot boxes after receiving them for the upcoming general elections, in Kathmandu, Nepal November 17, 2022. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar

KATHMANDU, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Nepal will hold national and provincial elections on Sunday, which the ruling coalition, led by the centrist Nepali Congress party, are expected to win.

About 18 million people are eligible to vote for the 275-member parliament, as well as the 550 members of seven provincial assemblies through a mix of first-past-the-post and the proportional representation system.

Here are key issues that will determine how Nepalis vote:

SLOWING ECONOMY AND HIGH INFLATION

The economy of the Himalyan nation, wedged between Asian giants China and India, is slowing down hit by rising energy and food prices, monetary tightening and fears of a global recession.

The $38 billion economy is expected to expand 4.7% in the current fiscal year starting mid-July, according to Asian Development Bank (ADB), down from the previous year's estimate of 5.8%.

About one-fifth of country's people, who live on less than $2 a day, have been hit hard by high inflation - hovering over 8% this year.

ELECTION PROMISES

Political parties have promised to bring down interest rates, provide free medical services, improve transportation and boost the economy over the next five years.

The Nepali Congress party has promised to create 250,000 jobs every year if it returned to power while the main opposition Communist Unified Marxist-Leninist (UML) pledged to create 500,000 jobs every year.

Nepal is one of the world’s poorest countries and its economy depends on foreign aid, tourism and remittances of its overseas workers. Western aid comprises more than 30% of the annual budget.