Editing Demographics of Nepal

{{Short description|none}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox place demographics
| place = [[Nepal]]
| caption = [[Population pyramid]] of Nepal in 2020
| size_of_population = 29,125,600 (2021)<ref name="https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/">{{Cite web|url=https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/nepal-population-is-now-29-164-578/|title=Nepal's population is now 29,164,578|access-date=24 March 2023|archive-date=24 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324090438/https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/nepal-population-is-now-29-164-578/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| nation = [[Nepali people|Nepali]]
|major_ethnic       = {{unbulleted list
|{{Tree list}}
* [[Khas people|Khas]] (39.37%)<ref name="cbs">{{Cite web|URL=https://unstats.un.org/unsD/demographic/sources/census/wphc/Nepal/Nepal-Census-2011-Vol1.pdf|title=Nepal Census 2011}}</ref>
** [[Chhetri]] (16.60%)
** [[Brahmin]] (12.18%)
** [[Dalit]] (8.12%)
** [[Thakuri]] (1.61%)
** [[Daśanāmi Sampradaya|Dashnami]] (0.86%)
{{tree list/end}}
}}
|minor_ethnic       = {{unbulleted list
|{{Tree list}}
* Janajatis (30.81%)
** Hill (22.28%)
** [[Terai]] (8.53%)
* [[Madheshi people|Madheshi]] (23.43%)
* [[Newar people|Newars]] (5.50%)
* Other groups (0.32%)
* Unknown (1.07%)
{{tree list/end}}
}}

| sr_at_birth = 1.06 male(s)/female
| total_mf_ratio = 0.96 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
| official = [[Nepali language|Nepali]]
| growth = 0.92%
| birth = 17.53 births/1,000 population
| death = 5.58 deaths/1,000 population
| life = 72.4 years
| life_male = 71.66 years
| life_female = 73.17 years
| fertility = 1.9 children
| infant_mortality = 25.13 deaths/1,000 live births
| net_migration = {{hyphen}}4.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population
| age_0–14_years= 28.41%
| age_15–64_years= 65.69%
| age_65_years= 5.90%
| image = File:Nepal single age population pyramid 2020.png
| image_size = 350
}}

[[File:Historical_population_of_Nepal.svg|350px|alt=|thumb|upright=1.4|Historical population of Nepal]]
[[File:Nepal-demography.png|thumb|right|221x221px|Population of Nepali (1960–2010 Nepal Census)]]

The current population of [[Nepal]] is 29,164,578 as per the [[2021 Nepal census|2021 census]]. The population growth rate is 0.92% per year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Republica |title=Nepal's population is now 29,164,578 |url=http://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/138165/ |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=My Republica |language=en |archive-date=24 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324090439/https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/138165/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Nepal makes public final data of 12th national census |url=https://kathmandupost.com/national/2023/03/24/nepal-makes-public-final-data-of-12th-national-census |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=kathmandupost.com |language=English |archive-date=24 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324090459/https://kathmandupost.com/national/2023/03/24/nepal-makes-public-final-data-of-12th-national-census |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the 2011 census, Nepal's population was approximately 26 million people with a population growth rate of 1.35% and a median age of 21.6 years.<ref name="pre-cen">{{cite web|title=National Population and Housing Census 2011 (National Report) |url=http://cbs.gov.np/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/National%20Report.pdf |publisher=Central Bureau of Statistics (Nepal) |access-date=26 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130418041642/http://cbs.gov.np/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/National%20Report.pdf |archive-date=18 April 2013 }}</ref>

In 2016, the female median age was approximately 25 years old and the male median age was approximately 22 years old.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2177.html#np|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070613003937/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2177.html#np|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 June 2007|title=The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency|website=www.cia.gov|language=en|access-date=2017-04-04}}</ref> Only 4.4% of the population is estimated to be more than 65 years old, comprising 681,252 females and 597,628 males. 61% of the population is between 15 and 64 years old, and 34.6% is younger than 14 years.

In 2011, the [[birth rate]] is estimated to be 22.17 births per 1,000 people with an [[infant mortality]] rate of 46 deaths per 1,000 live births. Compared to the infant mortality rate in 2006 of 48 deaths per 1000 live births, the 2011 IMR is a slight decrease within that 5-year period. Infant mortality rate in Nepal is higher in rural regions at 44 deaths per 1000 live births, whereas in urban regions the IMR is lower at 40 deaths per 1000 live births. This difference is due to a lack of delivery assistance services in rural communities compared to their urban counterparts who have better access to hospitals and neonatal clinics.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Lamichhane|first1=Reeta|last2=Zhao|first2=Yun|last3=Paudel|first3=Susan|last4=Adewuyi|first4=Emmanuel O.|date=2017-01-01|title=Factors associated with infant mortality in Nepal: a comparative analysis of Nepal demographic and health surveys (NDHS) 2006 and 2011|journal=BMC Public Health|volume=17|issue=1|pages=53|doi=10.1186/s12889-016-3922-z|issn=1471-2458|pmc=5223552|pmid=28068969 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

[[Life expectancy]] at birth is estimated to be 67.44 years for females and 64.94 years for males. The [[mortality rate]] is estimated to be 681 deaths per 100,000 people.

[[Net migration rate]] is estimated to be 61 migrants per 100,000 people.

According to the 2000 census, 65.9% of the total population is [[literacy|literate]].<ref name=cia>{{cite web | publisher=CIA | url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/nepal/ | work=The World Factbook | title=Nepalese peoples and nationality law | access-date=3 September 2016 | archive-date=9 January 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109075733/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/nepal/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

== Population growth ==
{{Historical populations
|type =
|percentages=
|footnote = Source:
|0   | 1000000
|1000| 1500000
|1500| 2000000
|1600| 2500000
|1700| 3000000
|1800| 4000000
|1911| 5638749
|1920| 5573788
|1930| 5532574
|1941| 6283649
|1954| 8256625
|1961| 9412996
|1971| 11555983
|1981| 15022839
|1991| 18491097
|2001| 23151423
|2011| 26494504
|2021| 29164578
}}
The population of Nepal has been steadily rising in recent decades. In the June 2001 census, there was a population of about 23 million in Nepal.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.prb.org/Publications/Articles/2002/PopulationGrowthContinuestoHinderNepalsEconomicProgress.aspx|title=Population Growth Continues to Hinder Nepal's Economic Progress|website=www.prb.org|access-date=2017-03-28|archive-date=3 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303160013/http://www.prb.org/Publications/Articles/2002/PopulationGrowthContinuestoHinderNepalsEconomicProgress.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> The population increased by 5 million from the preceding 1991 census; the growth rate is 2.3%.<ref name=":0" /> The current population is roughly 30 million which contributes to an increase of about 3 million people every 5 years.

Sixty caste and linguistic subgroups have formed throughout time with the waves of [[Migration in Nepal|migration]] from Tibet and India.<ref name=":02">{{Cite journal|last1=Massey|first1=Douglas S.|last2=Axinn|first2=William G.|date=August 2010|title=Environmental change and out-migration: evidence from Nepal|journal=Population and Environment|volume=32|issue=2–3|pages=109–136|doi=10.1007/s11111-010-0119-8|pmid=21350676|pmc=3042700|bibcode=2010PopEn..32..109M }}</ref> There was a moderate amount of immigration early in Nepal's history, then the population essentially remained the same without any significant fluctuations for over one hundred years.<ref name=":02" /> Natural disasters and the following government resettlement programs in the 1950s led to a spike in internal migration from the hills to the Terai region.<ref name=":02" /> In the 1980s the Western Chitwan Valley became a major transportation hub for all of Nepal. Along with this major change came a dramatic increase in government services, business expansion, and growing employment, especially in the agricultural industry. The valley's population grew rapidly through both in-migration and natural increase.<ref name=":02" />

== Vital statistics ==

=== UN estimates ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+UN estimates
! rowspan=2|Year
! colspan=3|Nos. in year
! colspan=3|Rates per 1000
! rowspan=2|Total<br>fertility<br>rate
! rowspan=2|Infant<br>mortality<br>rate<br>per 1000
! rowspan=2|Life<br>expectancy<br>(years)
|-
! Live births
! Deaths
! Natural<br>change
! Crude<br>birth<br>rate
! Crude<br>death<br>rate
! Natural<br>change
|-
|1950
|&nbsp;  395,000
|&nbsp;  218,000
|&nbsp;  177,000
|47.1
|26.0
|21.1
|6.00
|226.7
|37.68
|-
|1951
|&nbsp; 404,000
|&nbsp; 222,000
|&nbsp; 181,000
|47.0
|25.9
|21.1
|6.02
|226.0
|37.75
|-
|1952
|&nbsp; 411,000
|&nbsp; 226,000
|&nbsp; 185,000
|46.9
|25.8
|21.1
|6.03
|225.4
|37.84
|-
|1953
|&nbsp; 418,000
|&nbsp; 231,000
|&nbsp; 187,000
|46.7
|25.8
|20.9
|6.04
|225.0
|37.87
|-
|1954
|&nbsp; 424,000
|&nbsp; 235,000
|&nbsp; 189,000
|46.4
|25.7
|20.7
|6.04
|224.6
|37.90
|-
|1955
|&nbsp; 428,000
|&nbsp; 238,000
|&nbsp; 190,000
|46.1
|25.6
|20.5
|6.03
|224.0
|37.98
|-
|1956
|&nbsp; 433,000
|&nbsp; 241,000
|&nbsp; 192,000
|45.8
|25.5
|20.3
|6.02
|223.2
|38.05
|-
|1957
|&nbsp; 438,000
|&nbsp; 244,000
|&nbsp; 194,000
|45.4
|25.3
|20.1
|6.01
|222.2
|38.14
|-
|1958
|&nbsp; 444,000
|&nbsp; 248,000
|&nbsp; 196,000
|45.2
|25.2
|20.0
|6.00
|221.1
|38.19
|-
|1959
|&nbsp; 449,000
|&nbsp; 250,000
|&nbsp; 199,000
|44.9
|25.0
|19.9
|5.99
|219.4
|38.41
|-
|1960
|&nbsp; 458,000
|&nbsp; 253,000
|&nbsp; 206,000
|45.1
|24.9
|20.2
|6.03
|217.1
|38.56
|-
|1961
|&nbsp; 468,000
|&nbsp; 255,000
|&nbsp; 213,000
|45.1
|24.6
|20.5
|6.06
|214.4
|38.86
|-
|1962
|&nbsp; 476,000
|&nbsp; 258,000
|&nbsp; 218,000
|45.0
|24.4
|20.6
|6.08
|211.2
|39.15
|-
|1963
|&nbsp; 483,000
|&nbsp; 260,000
|&nbsp; 223,000
|44.8
|24.1
|20.7
|6.07
|207.5
|39.45
|-
|1964
|&nbsp; 492,000
|&nbsp; 260,000
|&nbsp; 231,000
|44.7
|23.7
|21.0
|6.07
|203.1
|39.99
|-
|1965
|&nbsp; 498,000
|&nbsp; 261,000
|&nbsp; 237,000
|44.3
|23.3
|21.1
|6.03
|198.7
|40.45
|-
|1966
|&nbsp; 505,000
|&nbsp; 262,000
|&nbsp; 243,000
|44.0
|22.9
|21.2
|6.00
|194.2
|40.87
|-
|1967
|&nbsp; 513,000
|&nbsp; 263,000
|&nbsp; 251,000
|43.8
|22.4
|21.4
|5.98
|189.7
|41.40
|-
|1968
|&nbsp; 523,000
|&nbsp; 264,000
|&nbsp; 259,000
|43.7
|22.1
|21.6
|5.97
|185.5
|41.80
|-
|1969
|&nbsp; 529,000
|&nbsp; 264,000
|&nbsp; 265,000
|43.3
|21.6
|21.7
|5.91
|181.1
|42.33
|-
|1970
|&nbsp; 537,000
|&nbsp; 265,000
|&nbsp; 272,000
|43.0
|21.2
|21.8
|5.88
|177.1
|42.83
|-
|1971
|&nbsp; 546,000
|&nbsp; 265,000
|&nbsp; 280,000
|42.7
|20.8
|21.9
|5.84
|172.9
|43.31
|-
|1972
|&nbsp; 551,000
|&nbsp; 267,000
|&nbsp; 284,000
|42.2
|20.4
|21.8
|5.78
|169.1
|43.69
|-
|1973
|&nbsp; 554,000
|&nbsp; 268,000
|&nbsp; 287,000
|41.6
|20.1
|21.5
|5.69
|165.5
|44.04
|-
|1974
|&nbsp; 568,000
|&nbsp; 269,000
|&nbsp; 299,000
|41.7
|19.7
|22.0
|5.74
|161.9
|44.46
|-
|1975
|&nbsp; 579,000
|&nbsp; 269,000
|&nbsp; 310,000
|41.6
|19.3
|22.3
|5.75
|158.2
|45.04
|-
|1976
|&nbsp; 592,000
|&nbsp; 270,000
|&nbsp; 322,000
|41.6
|19.0
|22.6
|5.75
|154.6
|45.54
|-
|1977
|&nbsp; 601,000
|&nbsp; 271,000
|&nbsp; 330,000
|41.3
|18.6
|22.7
|5.73
|150.9
|46.01
|-
|1978
|&nbsp; 614,000
|&nbsp; 270,000
|&nbsp; 344,000
|41.2
|18.1
|23.1
|5.72
|147.0
|46.68
|-
|1979
|&nbsp; 625,000
|&nbsp; 270,000
|&nbsp; 355,000
|41.0
|17.7
|23.3
|5.69
|142.9
|47.27
|-
|1980
|&nbsp; 632,000
|&nbsp; 269,000
|&nbsp; 363,000
|40.5
|17.2
|23.3
|5.64
|139.0
|47.89
|-
|1981
|&nbsp; 645,000
|&nbsp; 269,000
|&nbsp; 375,000
|40.4
|16.9
|23.5
|5.60
|135.4
|48.39
|-
|1982
|&nbsp; 658,000
|&nbsp; 269,000
|&nbsp; 388,000
|40.2
|16.5
|23.7
|5.58
|130.9
|48.94
|-
|1983
|&nbsp; 672,000
|&nbsp; 270,000
|&nbsp; 401,000
|40.1
|16.1
|24.0
|5.56
|126.8
|49.43
|-
|1984
|&nbsp; 686,000
|&nbsp; 268,000
|&nbsp; 418,000
|40.0
|15.6
|24.4
|5.54
|122.7
|50.23
|-
|1985
|&nbsp; 695,000
|&nbsp; 266,000
|&nbsp; 429,000
|39.6
|15.2
|24.4
|5.47
|118.6
|50.88
|-
|1986
|&nbsp; 706,000
|&nbsp; 264,000
|&nbsp; 441,000
|39.3
|14.7
|24.6
|5.42
|114.3
|51.54
|-
|1987
|&nbsp; 717,000
|&nbsp; 259,000
|&nbsp; 457,000
|39.0
|14.1
|24.9
|5.36
|110.2
|52.48
|-
|1988
|&nbsp; 726,000
|&nbsp; 258,000
|&nbsp; 469,000
|38.7
|13.7
|25.0
|5.31
|105.7
|53.07
|-
|1989
|&nbsp; 735,000
|&nbsp; 251,000
|&nbsp; 484,000
|38.3
|13.1
|25.3
|5.25
|101.0
|54.13
|-
|1990
|&nbsp; 748,000
|&nbsp; 248,000
|&nbsp; 499,000
|38.1
|12.7
|25.5
|5.21
|96.5
|54.83
|-
|1991
|&nbsp; 757,000
|&nbsp; 244,000
|&nbsp; 513,000
|37.6
|12.1
|25.5
|5.14
|92.1
|55.71
|-
|1992
|&nbsp; 768,000
|&nbsp; 239,000
|&nbsp; 529,000
|37.1
|11.6
|25.6
|5.04
|87.6
|56.71
|-
|1993
|&nbsp; 791,000
|&nbsp; 236,000
|&nbsp; 555,000
|37.1
|11.1
|26.1
|5.00
|83.8
|57.62
|-
|1994
|&nbsp; 795,000
|&nbsp; 230,000
|&nbsp; 565,000
|36.4
|10.5
|25.9
|4.91
|79.4
|58.55
|-
|1995
|&nbsp; 797,000
|&nbsp; 226,000
|&nbsp; 571,000
|35.6
|10.1
|25.5
|4.79
|75.6
|59.32
|-
|1996
|&nbsp; 787,000
|&nbsp; 222,000
|&nbsp; 565,000
|34.5
|9.7
|24.7
|4.60
|72.1
|59.98
|-
|1997
|&nbsp; 773,000
|&nbsp; 216,000
|&nbsp; 557,000
|33.2
|9.3
|23.9
|4.39
|68.3
|60.77
|-
|1998
|&nbsp; 768,000
|&nbsp; 210,000
|&nbsp; 558,000
|32.3
|8.8
|23.5
|4.24
|65.2
|61.55
|-
|1999
|&nbsp; 760,000
|&nbsp; 207,000
|&nbsp; 553,000
|31.4
|8.5
|22.8
|4.08
|61.8
|62.11
|-
|2000
|&nbsp; 754,000
|&nbsp; 204,000
|&nbsp; 550,000
|30.6
|8.3
|22.3
|3.94
|58.7
|62.61
|-
|2001
|&nbsp; 739,000
|&nbsp; 199,000
|&nbsp; 540,000
|29.5
|7.9
|21.6
|3.76
|55.8
|63.34
|-
|2002
|&nbsp; 724,000
|&nbsp; 202,000
|&nbsp; 522,000
|28.5
|8.0
|20.5
|3.59
|53.2
|63.26
|-
|2003
|&nbsp; 719,000
|&nbsp; 196,000
|&nbsp; 523,000
|27.9
|7.6
|20.3
|3.46
|50.5
|64.20
|-
|2004
|&nbsp; 707,000
|&nbsp; 192,000
|&nbsp; 515,000
|27.1
|7.4
|19.7
|3.31
|48.1
|64.82
|-
|2005
|&nbsp; 687,000
|&nbsp; 188,000
|&nbsp; 499,000
|26.0
|7.1
|18.9
|3.14
|46.0
|65.46
|-
|2006
|&nbsp; 666,000
|&nbsp; 187,000
|&nbsp; 479,000
|25.0
|7.0
|18.0
|2.97
|44.1
|65.87
|-
|2007
|&nbsp; 650,000
|&nbsp; 185,000
|&nbsp; 465,000
|24.2
|6.9
|17.3
|2.84
|42.2
|66.33
|-
|2008
|&nbsp; 637,000
|&nbsp; 188,000
|&nbsp; 449,000
|23.6
|6.9
|16.6
|2.72
|40.1
|66.42
|-
|2009
|&nbsp; 625,000
|&nbsp; 187,000
|&nbsp; 438,000
|23.0
|6.9
|16.1
|2.60
|38.3
|66.76
|-
|2010
|&nbsp; 617,000
|&nbsp; 191,000
|&nbsp; 426,000
|22.6
|7.0
|15.6
|2.51
|36.7
|66.81
|-
|2011
|&nbsp; 614,000
|&nbsp; 189,000
|&nbsp; 425,000
|22.4
|6.9
|15.5
|2.44
|35.1
|67.31
|-
|2012
|&nbsp; 615,000
|&nbsp; 192,000
|&nbsp; 423,000
|22.3
|7.0
|15.4
|2.39
|33.7
|67.47
|-
|2013
|&nbsp; 613,000
|&nbsp; 190,000
|&nbsp; 423,000
|22.2
|6.9
|15.4
|2.33
|32.2
|67.97
|-
|2014
|&nbsp; 614,000
|&nbsp; 193,000
|&nbsp; 421,000
|22.2
|7.0
|15.2
|2.29
|30.6
|68.09
|-
|2015
|&nbsp; 611,000
|&nbsp; 204,000
|&nbsp; 407,000
|22.1
|7.4
|14.7
|2.25
|29.6
|67.46
|-
|2016
|&nbsp; 607,000
|&nbsp; 193,000
|&nbsp; 414,000
|21.8
|6.9
|14.8
|2.20
|27.7
|68.78
|-
|2017
|&nbsp; 603,000
|&nbsp; 197,000
|&nbsp; 407,000
|21.4
|7.0
|14.4
|2.15
|26.6
|68.91
|-
|2018
|&nbsp; 600,000
|&nbsp; 201,000
|&nbsp; 399,000
|21.1
|7.1
|14.1
|2.10
|25.5
|68.98
|-
|2019
|&nbsp; 602,000
|&nbsp; 198,000
|&nbsp; 404,000
|20.6
|7.0
|13.6
|2.08
|24.5
|69.56
|-
|2020
|&nbsp; 603,000
|&nbsp; 210,000
|&nbsp; 392,000
|20.2
|7.3
|12.9
|2.06
|23.8
|69.25
|-
|2021
|&nbsp; 610,000
|&nbsp; 232,000
|&nbsp; 377,000
|19.7
|7.8
|11.9
|2.03
|22.8
|68.45
|-
|2022
|&nbsp; 
|&nbsp; 
|&nbsp; 
|19.6
|6.9
|12.8
|
|
|
|-
|2023
|&nbsp; 
|&nbsp; 
|&nbsp; 
|19.3
|6.9
|12.4
|
|
|
|-
|2024
|&nbsp; 
|&nbsp; 
|&nbsp; 
|19.0
|7.0
|12.0
|
|
|
|-
|2025
|&nbsp; 
|&nbsp; 
|&nbsp; 
|18.6
|7.0
|11.6
|
|
|
|}
'''CBR''' = crude birth rate (per 1000); '''CDR''' = crude death rate (per 1000); '''NC''' = natural change (per 1000); '''TFR''' = total fertility rate (number of children per woman); '''IMR''' = infant mortality rate per 1000 births

Source: [[UN DESA]], World Population Prospects, 2022<ref>{{cite UN WPP|2022|rows=7870:7941|cols=X,AE,S,AH,S,AA,AV,AI}}</ref>

=== Structure of the population ===

{{Hidden begin 
|title= Structure of the population (22.06.2011) (Census):<ref>{{cite web| url = http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2.htm| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040921002557/http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2.htm| archive-date = 21 September 2004| title = United Nations Statistics Division – Demographic and Social Statistics}}</ref>
|titlestyle = background:#EEBC35;
}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width="80" |Age group
! width="80" |Male
! width="80" |Female
! width="80" |Total
! width="80" |%
|-
| align="right" | Total
| align="right" | 12 849 041
| align="right" | 13 645 463
| align="right" | 26 494 504
| align="right" | 100
|-
| align="right" | 0–4
| align="right" | 1 314 957
| align="right" | 1 253 006
| align="right" | 2 567 963
| align="right" | 9.69
|-
| align="right" | 5–9
| align="right" | 1 635 176
| align="right" | 1 569 683
| align="right" | 3 204 859
| align="right" | 12.10
|-
| align="right" | 10–14
| align="right" | 1 764 630
| align="right" | 1 710 794
| align="right" | 3 475 424
| align="right" | 13.12
|-
| align="right" | 15–19
| align="right" | 1 443 191
| align="right" | 1 488 789
| align="right" | 2 931 980
| align="right" | 11.07
|-
| align="right" | 20–24
| align="right" | 1 043 981
| align="right" | 1 314 090
| align="right" | 2 358 071
| align="right" | 8.90
|-
| align="right" | 25–29
| align="right" | 917 243
| align="right" | 1 162 111
| align="right" | 2 079 354
| align="right" | 7.85
|-
| align="right" | 30–34
| align="right" | 770 577
| align="right" | 964 728
| align="right" | 1 735 305
| align="right" | 6.55
|-
| align="right" | 35–39
| align="right" | 740 200
| align="right" | 864 119
| align="right" | 1 604 319
| align="right" | 6.06
|-
| align="right" | 40–44
| align="right" | 660 290
| align="right" | 725 831
| align="right" | 1 386 121
| align="right" | 5.23
|-
| align="right" | 45–49
| align="right" | 575 101
| align="right" | 597 858
| align="right" | 1 172 959
| align="right" | 4.43
|-
| align="right" | 50–54
| align="right" | 505 864
| align="right" | 499 612
| align="right" | 1 005 476
| align="right" | 3.80
|-
| align="right" | 55–59
| align="right" | 412 892
| align="right" | 405 371
| align="right" | 818 263
| align="right" | 3.09
|-
| align="right" | 60–64
| align="right" | 368 451
| align="right" | 388 376
| align="right" | 756 827
| align="right" | 2.86
|-
| align="right" | 65–69
| align="right" | 277 782
| align="right" | 276 667
| align="right" | 554 449
| align="right" | 2.09
|-
| align="right" | 70–74
| align="right" | 199 610
| align="right" | 195 543
| align="right" | 395 153
| align="right" | 1.49
|-
| align="right" | 75–79
| align="right" | 117 358
| align="right" | 117 777
| align="right" | 235 135
| align="right" | 0.89
|-
| align="right" | 80–84
| align="right" | 62 787
| align="right" | 65 990
| align="right" | 128 777
| align="right" | 0.49
|-
| align="right" | 85–89
| align="right" | 25 810
| align="right" | 26 716
| align="right" | 52 526
| align="right" | 0.20
|-
| align="right" | 90–94
| align="right" | 8 940
| align="right" | 11 395
| align="right" | 20 335
| align="right" | 0.08
|-
| align="right" | 95+
| align="right" | 4 201
| align="right" | 7 007
| align="right" | 11 208
| align="right" | 0.04
|-
! width="50"|Age group
! width="80" |Male
! width="80"|Female
! width="80"|Total
! width="50"|Percent
|-
| align="right" | 0–14
| align="right" | 4 714 763
| align="right" | 4 533 483
| align="right" | 9 248 246
| align="right" | 34.91
|-
| align="right" | 15–64
| align="right" | 7 437 790
| align="right" | 8 410 885
| align="right" | 15 848 675
| align="right" | 59.82
|-
| align="right" | 65+
| align="right" | 696 488
| align="right" | 701 095
| align="right" | 1 397 583
| align="right" | 5.27
|-
|}
{{Hidden end}}

{{Hidden begin 
|title= Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2016) (Based on the results of the 2011<ref>[https://censusnepal.cbs.gov.np/Home/Details?tpid=5&dcid=57d4bc52-50ca-4acb-b7fc-20c8923831e5&tfsid=1 National Report 2011]</ref> Population Census.):<ref>{{cite web | url=https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic-social/products/dyb/dyb_2020/ | title=UNSD — Demographic and Social Statistics | access-date=14 May 2022 | archive-date=14 April 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220414000805/https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic-social/products/dyb/dyb_2020/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
|titlestyle = background:#EEBC35;
}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width="80pt"|Age Group
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80pt"|Female
! width="80pt"|Total
! width="80pt"|%
|-
| align="right" | Total
| align="right" | 13 784 009
| align="right" | 14 647 486 
| align="right" | 28 431 494
| align="right" | 100
|-
| align="right" | 0–4
| align="right" | 1 525 630
| align="right" | 1 424 537
| align="right" | 2 950 167
| align="right" | 10.38
|-
| align="right" | 5–9
| align="right" | 1 368 495 
| align="right" | 1 305 783
| align="right" | 2 674 278
| align="right" | 9.41
|-
| align="right" | 10–14
| align="right" | 1 564 080
| align="right" | 1 498 784
| align="right" | 3 062 865
| align="right" | 10.77
|-
| align="right" | 15–19
| align="right" | 1 680 525
| align="right" | 1 636 790
| align="right" | 3 317 315
| align="right" | 11.67
|-
| align="right" | 20–24
| align="right" | 1 476 611
| align="right" | 1 545 309
| align="right" | 3 021 919
| align="right" | 10.63
|-
| align="right" | 25–29
| align="right" | 1 033 222
| align="right" | 1 307 709
| align="right" | 2 340 931
| align="right" | 8.23
|-
| align="right" | 30–34
| align="right" | 860 512
| align="right" | 1 138 303
| align="right" | 1 998 816
| align="right" | 7.03
|-
| align="right" | 35–39
| align="right" | 771 970
| align="right" | 968 815
| align="right" | 1 740 784
| align="right" | 6.12
|-
| align="right" | 40–44
| align="right" | 691 192
| align="right" | 830 797
| align="right" | 1 521 989
| align="right" | 5.35
|-
| align="right" | 45–49
| align="right" | 632 128
| align="right" | 701 958
| align="right" | 1 334 086
| align="right" | 4.69
|-
| align="right" | 50–54
| align="right" | 552 834
| align="right" | 587 346
| align="right" | 1 140 179
| align="right" | 4.01
|-
| align="right" | 55–59
| align="right" | 462 675
| align="right" | 468 275
| align="right" | 930 950
| align="right" | 3.27
|-
| align="right" | 60–64
| align="right" | 382 738
| align="right" | 387 360
| align="right" | 770 098
| align="right" | 2.71
|-
| align="right" | 65–69
| align="right" | 303 255
| align="right" | 324 567
| align="right" | 627 821
| align="right" | 2.21
|-
| align="right" | 70–74
| align="right" | 231 131
| align="right" | 251 818
| align="right" | 482 949
| align="right" | 1.70
|-
| align="right" | 75–79
| align="right" | 162 123
| align="right" | 177 791
| align="right" | 339 914
| align="right" | 1.20
|-
| align="right" | 80+
| align="right" | 84 889
| align="right" | 91 543
| align="right" | 176 432
| align="right" | 0.62
|-
! width="50"|Age group 
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80"|Female
! width="80"|Total
! width="50"|Percent
|-
| align="right" | 0–14
| align="right" | 4 458 205
| align="right" | 4 229 104
| align="right" | 8 687 309
| align="right" | 30.56
|-
| align="right" | 15–64
| align="right" | 8 544 406
| align="right" | 9 572 663
| align="right" | 18 117 069
| align="right" | 63.72
|-
| align="right" | 65+
| align="right" | 781 398
| align="right" | 845 719
| align="right" | 1 627 117
| align="right" | 5.72
|-
|}
{{Hidden end}}

{{Hidden begin 
|title= Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2021) (Based on the results of the 2011{{fact|date=May 2024}} Population Census.):<ref>[https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic-social/products/dyb/#statistics Statistics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724234458/https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic-social/products/dyb/#statistics |date=24 July 2018 }} United Nations</ref>
|titlestyle = background:#EEBC35;
}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width="80pt"|Age Group
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80pt"|Female
! width="80pt"|Total
! width="80pt"|%
|-
| align="right" | Total
| align="right" | 14 734 201
| align="right" | 15 643 853 
| align="right" | 30 378 055
| align="right" | 100
|-
| align="right" | 0–4
| align="right" | 1 575 174
| align="right" | 1 459 441
| align="right" | 3 034 615
| align="right" | 9.99
|-
| align="right" | 5–9
| align="right" | 1 515 051  
| align="right" | 1 414 346
| align="right" | 2 929 396
| align="right" | 9.64
|-
| align="right" | 10–14
| align="right" | 1 364 270
| align="right" | 1 301 906
| align="right" | 2 666 176
| align="right" | 8.78
|-
| align="right" | 15–19
| align="right" | 1 549 116
| align="right" | 1 493 723
| align="right" | 3 042 838
| align="right" | 10.02
|-
| align="right" | 20–24
| align="right" | 1 646 148
| align="right" | 1 627 247
| align="right" | 3 273 395
| align="right" | 10.78
|-
| align="right" | 25–29
| align="right" | 1 437 092
| align="right" | 1 531 252
| align="right" | 2 968 344
| align="right" | 9.77
|-
| align="right" | 30–34
| align="right" | 1 002 200
| align="right" | 1 293 007
| align="right" | 2 295 206
| align="right" | 7.56
|-
| align="right" | 35–39
| align="right" | 835 668
| align="right" | 1 124 125
| align="right" | 1 959 793
| align="right" | 6.45
|-
| align="right" | 40–44
| align="right" | 749 759
| align="right" | 954 458
| align="right" | 1 704 217
| align="right" | 5.61
|-
| align="right" | 45–49
| align="right" | 668 244
| align="right" | 814 481
| align="right" | 1 482 726
| align="right" | 4.88
|-
| align="right" | 50–54
| align="right" | 604 753
| align="right" | 682 332
| align="right" | 1 287 085
| align="right" | 4.24
|-
| align="right" | 55–59
| align="right" | 518 686
| align="right" | 563 320
| align="right" | 1 082 006
| align="right" | 3.56
|-
| align="right" | 60–64
| align="right" | 420 366
| align="right" | 439 121
| align="right" | 859 487
| align="right" | 2.83
|-
| align="right" | 65-69
| align="right" | 330 597 
| align="right" | 348 942
| align="right" | 679 539
| align="right" | 2.24
|-
| align="right" | 70-74
| align="right" | 241 518
| align="right" | 272 499
| align="right" | 514 018
| align="right" | 1.69
|-
| align="right" | 75-79
| align="right" | 160 174 
| align="right" | 186 318
| align="right" | 346 493
| align="right" | 1.14
|-
| align="right" | 80+
| align="right" | 115 385
| align="right" | 137 335
| align="right" | 252 721
| align="right" | 0.83
|-
! width="50"|Age group 
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80"|Female
! width="80"|Total
! width="50"|Percent
|-
| align="right" | 0–14
| align="right" | 4 454 495
| align="right" | 4 175 693
| align="right" | 8 630 188
| align="right" | 28.41
|-
| align="right" | 15–64
| align="right" | 9 432 032
| align="right" | 10 523 066
| align="right" | 19 955 098
| align="right" | 65.69
|-
| align="right" | 65+
| align="right" | 847 674
| align="right" | 945 094
| align="right" | 1 792 768
| align="right" | 5.90
|-
|}
{{Hidden end}}

=== Life expectancy ===
{{needs update|date=May 2024}}
[[File:Life_expectancy_in_Nepal.svg|thumb|350px|Historical development of life expectancy in Nepal]]
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!Period
!Life expectancy in<br />years
!Period
!Life expectancy in<br />years
|-
|1950–1955
|34.0
|1985–1990
|52.1
|-
|1955–1960
|34.6
|1990–1995
|56.4
|-
|1960–1965
|36.2
|1995–2000
|60.5
|-
|1965–1970
|39.1
|2000–2005
|64.0
|-
|1970–1975
|42.0
|2005–2010
|66.7
|-
|1975–1980
|44.9
|2010–2015
|68.9
|-
|1980–1985
|48.3
|
|
|}
Source: ''UN World Population Prospects''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/DataQuery/|title=World Population Prospects – Population Division – United Nations|access-date=2017-07-15|archive-date=19 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919061238/https://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/DataQuery/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Demographic and Health Survey ===

Total fertility rate (TFR) (wanted fertility rate) and crude birth rate (CBR):<ref>{{cite web|url=http://microdata.worldbank.org/index.php/catalog/dhs#_r=&collection=&country=&dtype=&from=1890&page=11&ps=&sk=&sort_by=nation&sort_order=&to=2014&topic=&view=s&vk=|title=MEASURE DHS: Demographic and Health Surveys|work=worldbank.org|access-date=16 July 2014|archive-date=4 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160904173731/http://microdata.worldbank.org/index.php/catalog/dhs#_r=&collection=&country=&dtype=&from=1890&page=11&ps=&sk=&sort_by=nation&sort_order=&to=2014&topic=&view=s&vk=|url-status=live}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|-
! rowspan=2| Year
! colspan=2| Total
! colspan=2| Urban
! colspan=2| Rural
|-
! CBR !! TFR
! CBR !! TFR
! CBR !! TFR
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 1996
| 37
| 4.64 (2.9)
| 27
| 2.85 (1.9)
| 38
| 4.83 (3.1)
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 2001
| 33.5
| 4.1 (2.5)
| 20.6
| 2.1 (1.4)
| 34.9
| 4.4 (2.6)
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 2006
| 28.4
| 3.1 (2.0)
| 21.9
| 2.1 (1.4)
| 29.5
| 3.3 (2.1)
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 2011
| 24.3
| 2.6 (1.8)
| 16.6
| 1.6 (1.2)
| 25.5
| 2.8 (1.8)
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 2016
| 22.4
| 2.3 (1.7)
| 19.9
| 2.0 (1.5)
| 26.3
| 2.9 (2.1)
|-
| style="text-align:center" | 2022
| 20.0
| 2.1 (1.7)
| 19.3
| 2.0 (1.6)
| 21.4
| 2.4 (1.8)
|}

The following demographic statistics are from the 2011 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS).<ref name="Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2011">{{cite web |url=http://www.measuredhs.com/pubs/pdf/FR257/FR257.pdf |title=Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2011. |access-date=2011-05-07 |archive-date=3 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120803085926/http://www.measuredhs.com/pubs/pdf/FR257/FR257.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

'''Median birth intervals (median number of months since preceding birth)'''
:Total: 36.2
:Rural: 35.9
:Urban: 40.3 (2011)

'''Median age at first birth'''
:Median age: 20.1 (2011)

'''Fertility rate – past trend and present'''
:Total fertility rate: 4.6 children born/woman (1996)
:Total fertility rate: 4.1 children born/woman (2001)
:Total fertility rate: 3.1 children born/woman (2006)

:Total fertility rate: 2.6 children born/woman
:Rural fertility rate: 2.8 children born/woman
:Urban fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (2011)

'''Ideal family size – mean ideal number of children'''
:Overall (female/male): 2.1 / 2.3
:Currently married (female/male): 2.2 / 2.3
:Urban (female/male): 1.9 / 2.0
:Rural (female/male): 2.2 / 2.3 (2011)

'''Ideal family size by gender and age group'''
:Below is a table of the ideal family size by gender and age for 2011.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Age
! Women
! Men
|-
| 15–19
| 1.9
| 2.2
|-
| 20–24
|  1.9
|  2.1
|-
| 25–29
|  2.1
|  2.1
|-
| 30–34
|  2.2
|  2.3
|-
| 35–39
|  2.3
|  2.4
|-
| 40–44
|  2.5
|  2.4
|-
| 45–49
|  2.6
|  2.6
|}


== Ethnic and regional equity ==
{{Pie chart
|thumb = left
|caption = Ethnic groups of Nepal (2023)<ref name="CIATONGA"/>
|label1 = [[Chhetri]]
|value1 = 16.45
|color1 = red
|label2 = [[Bahun]]
|value2 = 11.29
|color2 = Orange
|label3 = [[Magars|Magar]]
|value3 = 6.9
|color3 = Green
|label4 = [[Tharu people|Tharu]]
|value4 = 6.2
|color4 = Chartreuse
|label5 = [[Tamang people|Tamang]]
|value5 = 5.62
|color5 = DodgerBlue
|label6 = [[Newar people|Newar]]
|value6 = 4.6
|color6 = HotPink
|label7 = [[Kami (caste)|Kami]]
|value7 = 5.04
|color7 = Black
|label8 = [[Nepalese Muslims|Muslim]]
|value8 = 4.86
|color8 = silver
|label9 = [[Yadav]]
|value9 = 4.21
|color9 = cyan
|label10 = [[Rai people|Rai]]
|value10 = 2.2
|color10 = Yellow
|label11 = Others
|value11 = 32.63
|color11 = grey
}}
[[File:Indigenous magar girls of Nepal.JPG|thumb|Magar girls of Nepal|alt=]]
[[File:Gurkhas.jpg|thumb|[[Nepalis|Nepali]] [[Gurkhas|Gorkhas]]]]
[[File:Nepali culture.JPG|thumb|Hill brahmin girls in traditional attire]]
[[File:Damfu nepal.jpg|thumb|[[Tamang people|Magar Men]] playing their traditional instrument "[[Damphu drum|Khaijadi]]]]
{{main|Ethnic groups in Nepal}}
[[File:Largest Ethnicity-Caste in Nepal's District.png|thumb|221x221px|Largest Ethnicity/Caste in Districts of Nepal]]

[[Nepali language|Nepali]] was the national language and [[Sanskrit]] became a required school subject.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://kathmandupost.com/national/2020/05/17/government-decision-to-introduce-sanskrit-in-school-education-draws-controversy| title = Government decision to introduce Sanskrit in school education draws controversy| access-date = 9 July 2020| archive-date = 11 July 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200711070225/https://kathmandupost.com/national/2020/05/17/government-decision-to-introduce-sanskrit-in-school-education-draws-controversy| url-status = live}}</ref> Children who spoke Nepali natively and who were exposed to Sanskrit had much better chances{{Citation needed|reason=No statistics provided|date=February 2020}} of passing the national examinations at the end of high school, which meant they had better employment prospects and could continue into higher education. Children who natively spoke local languages of the [[Madheshi people|Madhesh]] and [[Geography of Nepal|Hills]], or Tibetan dialects prevailing in the high mountains were at a considerable disadvantage. This history of exclusion coupled with poor prospects for improvement created grievances that encouraged many in ethnic communities such as [[Madhesi people|Madhesi]] and [[Tharu people|Tharu]] in the [[Tharuhat]] and [[Madhesh]] and [[Kham Magar]] in the mid-western hills to support the [[Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)]] and various other armed Maoist opposition groups such as the [[JTMM]] during and after the [[Nepalese Civil War|Nepali Civil War]]. The negotiated end to this war forced King [[Gyanendra of Nepal|Gyanendra]] to abdicate in 2008. Issues of ethnic and regional equity have tended to dominate the agenda of the new republican government and continue to be divisive. Today, even after the end of a 10-year-old Maoist conflict, the upper caste dominates every field in Nepal. Although Newars are low in numbers, their urban living habitat gives them a competitive advantage. Kayastha of Madhesh are the toppers in Human Development Index.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://archive.nepalitimes.com/news.php?id=16224 | title=Include whom? – Nepali Times | access-date=17 September 2020 | archive-date=22 September 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922232139/http://archive.nepalitimes.com/news.php?id=16224 | url-status=live }}</ref> From a [[Gender inequality in Nepal|gender perspective]], Newari women are the most literate and lead in every sector. Brahmin and Chhetri women have experienced less social and economic mobility compared to Newari women. Specifically, Brahmin women experience less equality due to their predominately rural living conditions which deprives them of access to certain educational and healthcare advantages.<ref name=OCHA1>{{cite journal|url=http://www.internal-displacement.org/8025708F004CE90B/(httpDocuments)/B66F206172F49BE4C12572D50030C3F0/$file/OCHA+overview+no+12+April+07.pdf |title=OCHA Nepal – Situation Overview |issue=12 |date=April 2007 |publisher=[[OCHA]] |access-date=2011-05-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091113112940/http://www.internal-displacement.org/8025708F004CE90B/(httpDocuments)/B66F206172F49BE4C12572D50030C3F0/$file/OCHA+overview+no+12+April+07.pdf |archive-date=13 November 2009 }}</ref><ref name=OCHA2>{{cite journal |url=http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/2E89F2121C2C57A24925733F000F4F21-Full_report.pdf |title=OCHA Nepal – Situation Overview |issue=16 |date=July–August 2007 |publisher=[[OCHA]] |access-date=2011-05-07 |archive-date=23 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923155732/http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/2E89F2121C2C57A24925733F000F4F21-Full_report.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=OCHA3>{{cite journal|url=http://www.internal-displacement.org/8025708F004CE90B/(httpDocuments)/5CC0BE0C971587F2C1257496004A9B9E/$file/ocha+sitrep+12+july08.pdf |title=OCHA Nepal – Situation Overview |issue=30 |date=June–July 2008 |publisher=[[OCHA]] |access-date=2011-05-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218090410/http://www.internal-displacement.org/8025708F004CE90B/(httpDocuments)/5CC0BE0C971587F2C1257496004A9B9E/$file/ocha+sitrep+12+july08.pdf |archive-date=18 February 2010 }}</ref><ref name="Him-ext">{{cite web|url=http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Body+of+murder+victim+found+in+Gulmi&NewsID=266104 |title=Body of murder victim found in Gulmi |publisher=The Himalayan Times online |location=Gulmi |first=Hari |last=Sharma |date=2010-11-18 |access-date=2011-05-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525142109/http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Body+of+murder+victim+found+in+Gulmi&NewsID=266104 |archive-date=25 May 2012 }}</ref><ref name=Hatlebakk07>{{cite web |last=Hatlebakk |first=Magnus |year=2007 |title=Economic and social structures that may explain the recent conflicts in the Terai of Nepal |location=[[Kathmandu]] |publisher=Norwegian Embassy |url=http://www.norway.org.np/NR/rdonlyres/0993F5660B3548A98F819167B4FD596C/72944/http___wwwcmi.pdf |access-date=2011-05-08 |archive-date=24 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724190445/http://www.norway.org.np/NR/rdonlyres/0993F5660B3548A98F819167B4FD596C/72944/http___wwwcmi.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Languages ==
{{Main|Languages of Nepal}}
{{Pie chart
|label1 = [[Nepali language|Nepali]] |color1 = red |value1 = 44.64
|label2 = [[Maithili language|Maithili]] |color2 = gold |value2 = 11.67
|label3 = [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]] |color3 = yellow|value3 = 5.98
|label4 = [[Tharu languages|Tharu]] |color4 = yellowgreen |value4 = 5.77
|label5 = [[Tamang language|Tamang]] |color5 = deepskyblue |value5 = 5.11
|label6 = [[Newar language|Newar]] |color6 = darkblue |value6 = 3.20
|label7 = [[Bajjika dialect|Bajjika]] |color7 = pink |value7 = 2.99
|label8 = [[Magar language|Magar]] |color8 = teal |value8 = 2.98
|label9 = [[Doteli]] |color9 = brown |value9 = 2.97
|label10 = [[Urdu]] |color10 = orange |value10 = 2.61
|label11 = [[Awadhi language|Awadhi]] |color11 = khaki |value11 = 1.89
|label12 = [[Limbu language|Limbu]] |color12 = darkgreen |value12 = 1.30
|label13 = [[Gurung language|Gurung]] |color13 = skyblue |value13 = 1.23
|label14 = Baitadeli |color14 = maroon |value14 = 1.03
|label15 = Others |color15 = Grey |value15 = 6.63
}}

Nepal's diverse linguistic heritage evolved from three major language groups: [[Indo-Aryan languages|Indo-Aryan]], [[Tibeto-Burman languages]], and various [[indigenous language]] isolates. According to the 2001 national census, 92 different living languages are spoken in Nepal (a 93rd category was "unspecified"). Based upon the 2011 census, the major languages spoken in Nepal<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cbs.gov.np/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Summary-Nepali.pdf |title=Official Summary of Census |year=2011 |work=Central Bureau of Statistics, Nepal |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121202145804/http://cbs.gov.np/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Summary-Nepali.pdf |archive-date=2 December 2012 }}</ref> (percentage spoken out of the mother tongue language) includes

[[Nepali language|Nepali]] (derived from [[Khas]] bhasa) is an Indo-Aryan language and is written in [[Devanagari]] script. [[Nepali language|Nepali]] was the language of the house of Gorkhas in the late 18th century and became the official, national language that serves as the ''lingua franca'' among Nepali of different ethnolinguistic groups. [[Maithili language|Maithili]], [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]], [[Bajjika]] and [[Awadhi language|Awadhi]] languages are spoken in the southern [[Terai]]. There has been a surge in the number and percentage of people who understand English. Majority of the urban and a significant number of the rural schools are English-medium schools. Higher education in technical, medical, scientific and engineering fields are entirely in English. [[Newar language|Nepal Bhasa]], the mother-tongue of the Newars, is widely used and spoken in and around [[Kathmandu Valley]] and in major Newar trade towns across Nepal.

Other languages, particularly in the Inner Terai hill and mountain regions, are remnants of the country's pre-unification history of dozens of political entities isolated by mountains and gorges. These languages typically are limited to an area spanning about one day's walk. Beyond that distance, dialects and languages lose mutual intelligibility. However, there are some major languages spoken by indigenous peoples in the region: Magar and Gurung in the west-central hills, Tamang in the east-centre and Limbu in the east. In the high Himalayas are spoken various Tibetan languages, including Bhotia.
[[File:MOST SPOKEN LANGUAGE IN NEPAL.png|thumb|MOST SPOKEN LANGUAGE IN NEPAL (2021)]]
Since Nepal's unification, various indigenous languages have come under threat of extinction as the government of Nepal has marginalized their use through strict policies{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Toba |first=Sueyosh |date=First Quarter 2005 |title=Diversity and Endangerment of Languages in Nepal |url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000139952.locale=en |journal=UNESCO Kathmandu Series of Monographs and Working Papers |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=23–24 |via=UNESCO |access-date=6 September 2023 |archive-date=6 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906074741/https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000139952.locale=en |url-status=live }}</ref> designed to promote Nepali as the official language. Indigenous languages which have gone extinct or are critically threatened include [[Byangsi language|Byangsi]], Chonkha, and Longaba. Since democracy was restored in 1990, however, the government has worked to improve the marginalization of these languages. Tribhuvan University began surveying and recording threatened languages in 2010 and the government intends to use this information to include more languages on the next Nepali census.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Tumbahang|first=Govinda Bahadur|year=2010|title=Marginalization of indigenous languages of Nepal|journal=Contributions to Nepalese Studies|volume=37|pages=69|via=Expanded Academic}}</ref>

==Religion==
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religion in Nepal (2021 census)<ref name="CIATONGA">{{cite web|url= https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/nepal/|title= South Asia ::NEPAL|date= 10 May 2022|publisher= CIA The World Factbook|access-date= 24 January 2021|archive-date= 9 January 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210109075733/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/nepal/|url-status= live}}</ref>
|label1 = [[Hinduism]]
|value1 = 81.19
|color1 = Orange
|label2 = [[Buddhism]]
|value2 = 8.21
|color2 = Yellow
|label3 = [[Islam]]
|value3 = 5.09
|color3 = Green
|label4 = [[Kirat Mundhum]]
|value4 = 3.17
|color4 = Chartreuse
|label5 = [[Christianity]]
|value5 = 1.76
|color5 = DodgerBlue
|label6 = Other
|value6 = 0.9
|color6 = Grey
}}

As of the 2021 census, 81.19% of the Nepali population was [[Hindu]], 8.21% [[Buddhist]], 5.09% [[Muslim]], 3.17% [[Kirat Mundhum|Kiratist/Yumaist]], 1.76% [[Christians|Christian]], and 0.9% followed other or no religion.<ref name="2011census">{{cite web|url=http://cbs.gov.np/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/National%20Report.pdf |title=2011 Nepal Census Report |page=16 |work=cbs.gov.np |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130418041642/http://cbs.gov.np/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/National%20Report.pdf |archive-date=18 April 2013 }}</ref>
[[File:Nepali bride and bridegroom.jpg|thumb|Nepali Hindu bride and groom]]

Nepal defines itself as a secular nation according to [[Constitution of Nepal]]<ref name=":06">{{Cite journal|last=Ostrowski|first=Ally|title=The Framing of Religion|journal=South Asian Popular Culture|volume=4|issue=1|pages=3–18|doi=10.1080/14746680600555410|year=2006|s2cid=142489523}}</ref> It is common for many Hindus in the country to also worship Buddhist deities simultaneously with Hindu traditions. The notion of religion in Nepal is more fluid than other countries, particularly Western countries.<ref name=":16">{{Cite journal|last=Stone|first=Linda|title=Order, identity, and religion in Nepal|journal=Reviews in Anthropology|volume=29|issue=1|pages=71–82|doi=10.1080/00988157.2000.9978248|year=2000|s2cid=161737605}}</ref> The Nepali people build their social networks through their religious celebrations, which are a central part to the whole of communities within the country.<ref name=":06"/>

There is a general idea held by the Nepali people that there is an omnipotent, transcendental "moral order" that is sacred to Hinduism. This idea exists along with the constant presence of chaos and disorder in the material world.<ref name=":16"/> In the northwestern region of the country, this all-encompassing state of disorder in the world is synonymous with human affliction, which the religious shamans are believed to alleviate.<ref name=":16"/>

Kathmandu Valley is home to the Newars, a major ethnic group in Nepal. The city Bhaktapur is located inside of Kathmandu Valley. Bhaktapur was once an independent Hindu Kingdom.<ref name=":16"/> Individual homes typically have at least one shrine devoted to personal deities, with an altar displaying flowers, fruit, and oil among other offerings to the Gods.<ref name=":06"/> The perimeter of Kathmandu Valley is lined with shrines devoted to Hindu goddesses, whose purpose is to protect the city from chaotic events. At least one shrine can be found on the vast majority of streets in Kathmandu.<ref name=":06"/> The people of Nepal do not feel the need to segregate or compete based upon religion, so Hindu and Buddhist shrines are often coexisting in the same areas.<ref name=":06"/> The areas outside of the city are perceived to always possess some form of wild or disordered nature, so the Nepali people inside of the city lines regularly worship the Hindu gods through public ceremonies.<ref name=":16"/>

The Hindu god Vishnu is believed to symbolise moral order in the Newar society. The natural human shortcomings in maintaining this moral order is believed to be represented by the Hindu god Shiva.<ref name=":16"/> The destruction of Shiva is neutralised by the preserver Vishnu, who tips the scales to restore order.<ref name=":16" /> In recent times, there has been a rise in political violence, specifically Maoist violence.<ref name=":06"/> This increased violence, along with the widespread poverty, has caused the Nepali to seek stability and peace in religion.

Nepal's constitution continues long-standing legal provisions prohibiting discrimination against other religions (but also proselytization). The king was deified as the earthly manifestation of the Hindu god [[Vishnu]]. On May 19, 2006, the government faced a [[constitutional crisis]], the House of Representatives which had been just reformed, having been previously dissolved, declared Nepal a "[[separation of church and state|secular state]]".

The 2001 census identified 80.6% of the population as [[Hindu]] and 10.7% as [[Buddhist]] (although many people labeled Hindu or Buddhist often practice a [[Syncretism|syncretic]] blend of Hinduism, Buddhism, or [[animism|animist]] traditions), 4.2% of the population was [[Muslim]], 3.6% of the population followed the indigenous [[Kirat Mundhum]] religion and [[Christianity]] was practiced by 0.45% of the population.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbs.gov.np/Nepal%20in%20figure/nepal%20in%20figures%202006.pdf |title=Nepal in Figures 2006 |website=www.cbs.gov.np |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409125126/http://www.cbs.gov.np/Nepal%20in%20figure/nepal%20in%20figures%202006.pdf |archive-date=9 April 2008}}</ref>

Buddhist and Hindu shrines and festivals are respected and celebrated by most Nepali. Certain animist practises of old indigenous religions continue to survive to the modern era.


==Migration==
=== Emigration ===
[[File:Gurkha IOC 1.jpg|thumb|right| [[Gurkha]]s of [[Nepal]].]]
{{Main|Non-Resident Nepali}}
=== Nepali in the United Kingdom ===
{{Main|Nepalese British}}
In the 2001 census, approximately 6,000 Nepali were living in the UK.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=Soldiers, Migrants, and Citizens – Nepalese in Britain|last=Jessica|first=Sims|publisher=Runnymede|year=2008|isbn=978-1-906732-09-7|pages=1}}</ref> According to latest figure from [[Office for National Statistics]] estimates that 51,000 Nepal-born people are currently resident in the UK.<ref name="ONS">{{cite web | url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-222711 | title=Population by Country of birth and nationality Jan10-Dec10 | publisher=[[Office for National Statistics]] | date=September 2011 | access-date=17 September 2010 | archive-date=11 September 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911154106/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-222711 | url-status=live }}</ref> There has been increasing interest in the opportunities offered in the UK by the Nepali, especially education. Between the years of 2001 to 2006, there were 7,500 applications for student visas.<ref name=":1" />

=== Nepali in Hong Kong ===
{{Main|South Asians in Hong Kong}}
The Nepali people residing in Hong Kong are primarily made up of children of ex-[[Gurkha]]s; born in Hong Kong during their parents' service with the [[British Army]]'s [[Brigade of Gurkhas]], which was based in Hong Kong from the 1970s until the [[Transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong|handover]]. Large groups of Nepali people can be found in [[Shek Kong]] and [[Yuen Long District]] off of the main bases of the British army. Many ex-Gurkhas remained in Hong Kong after the end of their service under the sponsorship of their Hong Kong-born children, who held [[Right of abode issue, Hong Kong|right of abode]].

Nepali of middle age or older generations in Hong Kong are predominantly found in [[security]], while those of younger generations are predominantly found in the business industry.

Mostly the people from [[Kirati]] [[ethnic groups]] such as [[Rai (ethnic group)|Rai]] and [[Limbu people|Limbu]] are the ones residing in [[Hong Kong]] and other neighbouring nations such as [[Singapore]] and [[Japan]].

=== Nepali overseas ===
Nepali migrants abroad have suffered tremendous hardships, including some 7,500 deaths in the [[Middle East]] and [[Malaysia]] alone since the year 2000, some 3,500 in [[Saudi Arabia]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Sedhai |first=Roshan |date=2014-01-07 |title='Natural deaths' raise doubts |url=http://www.ekantipur.com/2014/01/07/top-story/natural-deaths-raise-doubts/383506.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626125754/http://www.ekantipur.com/2014/01/07/top-story/natural-deaths-raise-doubts/383506.html |archive-date=June 26, 2015 |work=ekantipur.com}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Overseas Nepali population
! Country || Population<br />(thousands)
|-
| [[India]]<ref>{{cite web
| title=About India Nepal Relations
| url=https://www.indembkathmandu.gov.in/page/about-india-nepal-relations/#:~:text=Nearly%208%20million%20Nepalese%20citizens%20live%20and%20work%20in%20India.&text=There%20are%20regular%20exchanges%20of,interactions%20between%20India%20and%20Nepal.
| access-date=7 September 2022
| archive-date=12 September 2019
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190912101420/http://www.indembkathmandu.gov.in/page/about-india-nepal-relations/#:~:text=Nearly%208%20million%20Nepalese%20citizens%20live%20and%20work%20in%20India.&text=There%20are%20regular%20exchanges%20of,interactions%20between%20India%20and%20Nepal.
| url-status=live
}}</ref> ||  align=right | 720
|-
| [[Nepalis in the United Arab Emirates#Nepali|United Arab Emirates]] || align=right | 400
|-
| [[Nepalis in Saudi Arabia|Saudi Arabia]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Saudi Arabia 2022 Census |url=https://portal.saudicensus.sa/static-assets/media/content/AR_20230514_GASTAT_Population_Report%204.06.12%20PM%202.pdf?crafterSite=gastat-portal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240428202653/https://portal.saudicensus.sa/static-assets/media/content/AR_20230514_GASTAT_Population_Report%204.06.12%20PM%202.pdf?crafterSite=gastat-portal |archive-date=2024-04-28 |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia}}</ref> || align=right | 297 
|-
| [[Nepalese Australians|Australia]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Australian Bureau of Statistics |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/subscriber.nsf/log?openagent&34120do005_201819.xls&3412.0&Data%20Cubes&B95CDCBDF3B53509CA25855700002DC2&0&2018-19&28.04.2020&Latest |website=Australian Bureau of Statistics |access-date=28 April 2020 |archive-date=2 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210702055137/https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/migration-australia/latest-release |url-status=live }}</ref> || align=right | 219
|-
| [[Nepalese Americans|United States]]<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=United States Census Bureau |title=Chinese, Except Taiwanese, Was The Largest Asian Alone or in Any Combination Group; Nepalese Population Grew Fastest |url=https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2023/09/2020-census-dhc-a-asian-population.html |access-date=2024-01-21 |website=Census.gov |archive-date=22 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240422080352/https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2023/09/2020-census-dhc-a-asian-population.html |url-status=live }}</ref> || align=right | 205
|-
| [[Nepalis in Qatar|Qatar]]<ref name="bqdoha.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.bqdoha.com/2013/12/population-qatar|title=Qatar's population – by nationality|work=bq Magazine|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150423020356/http://www.bqdoha.com/2013/12/population-qatar|archive-date=23 April 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> ||  align=right | 200
|-
| [[Nepalis in Japan|Japan]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/publications/press/13_00036.html |title=令和５年６月末現在における在留外国人数について |access-date=29 October 2023 |archive-date=9 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109111757/https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/publications/press/13_00036.html |url-status=live }}</ref>  || align=right | 156
|-
| [[Nepalis in the United Kingdom|United Kingdom]]<ref name="ONS" /> || align=right | 62
|-
| [[Iraq]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10795646|title=Nepal government lifts Iraq working ban|work=BBC News|date=28 July 2010|access-date=21 June 2018|archive-date=31 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031132938/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10795646|url-status=live}}</ref> || align=right | 30
|-
| [[Nepalis in South Korea|South Korea]] || align=right | 22
|-
| [[Nepalis in Hong Kong|Hong Kong]] || align=right | 16
|-
| [[Nepalese Canadians|Canada]]<ref name="Nepalese Canadians">{{cite web |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/dt-td/Rp-eng.cfm?TABID=2&LANG=E&APATH=3&DETAIL=0&DIM=0&FL=A&FREE=0&GC=0&GK=0&GRP=1&PID=110558&PRID=10&PTYPE=109445&S=0&SHOWALL=0&SUB=0&Temporal=2017&THEME=120&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF= |author=[[Statistics Canada]] |title=Data tables, 2016 Census |access-date=10 March 2019 |archive-date=13 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713152332/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/dt-td/Rp-eng.cfm?TABID=2&LANG=E&APATH=3&DETAIL=0&DIM=0&FL=A&FREE=0&GC=0&GK=0&GRP=1&PID=110558&PRID=10&PTYPE=109445&S=0&SHOWALL=0&SUB=0&Temporal=2017&THEME=120&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF= |url-status=live }}</ref> || align=right | 14
|-
| [[Malaysia]]  || align=right | 6
|-
| [[Nepalis in Singapore|Singapore]] || align=right | 4
|-
| [[Nepalis in China|China]] || align=right | 3.5
|- style="background:#f0f0f0;"
!Approx. total!! align=right | 2,355
|}

=== Immigration ===
[[File:Foreing population in Nepal 2001.png|thumb|Foreign population in Nepal as per census of 2001]]
According to the 2001 census, there were 116,571 foreign born citizens in Nepal; 90% of them were of Indian origin followed by Bhutan, Pakistan and China.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Subedi|first1=Bhim Prasad|title=The Issue of Foreign Born Population in Nepal: A Short Essay in Honor of Dr. Harka Gurung|journal=The Himalayan Review|date=2007|volume=38|pages=23–34|url=http://www.nepjol.info/index.php/HR/article/view/2015|access-date=6 August 2017|archive-date=7 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807020819/http://www.nepjol.info/index.php/HR/article/view/2015|url-status=live}}</ref> This number does not include the refugees from Bhutan and Tibet, nor does it include 4 million indian immigrants who were given Nepali citizenship in 2008 after the promulgation of the New Constitution of Nepal.

==See also==
*[[Ethnic groups in Nepal]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{CIA World Factbook|year=2003}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.planetnepal.org/cgi-bin/view/Main/Ethnicity Nepal Encyclopedia Ethnicity Page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127093037/http://www.planetnepal.org/cgi-bin/view/Main/Ethnicity |date=27 November 2021 }}
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070613024441/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/print/np.html CIA Fact Book, 2016]}}

{{Ethnic groups in Nepal}}
{{Nepalese diaspora}}
{{Asia in topic|Demographics of}}
{{Asia topic|Ethnic groups in}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Demographics Of Nepal}}
[[Category:Demographics of Nepal| ]]
[[Category:Gurkhas]]