Prior to the promulgation of a new constitution in 2015 after April 2015 Nepal earthquake, Nepal was divided into five development regions (), 14 administrative zones () and 75 districts (). The 14 administrative zones were grouped into five development regions. Each district is headed by a Chief District Officer (CDO) responsible for maintaining law and order and coordinating the work of field agencies of the various government ministries.
The five development regions of Nepal were (from east to west):
+ Development regions of Nepal No. English name Nepali name Zones Districts (no.) HeadquartersPopulationArea (km2) 1Eastern Development Region Mechi Koshi Sagarmatha 16 Dhankuta 2Central Development Region Janakpur Bagmati Narayani 19 Hetauda 3Western Development Region Gandaki Lumbini Dhaulagiri 16 Pokhara 4Mid-Western Development Region Rapti Bheri Karnali 15 Birendranagar 5Far-Western Development Region Seti Mahakali 9 Dipayal
King Birendra divided the entire kingdom into four different regions in 2029 BS (1972):
Eastern Development Region Central Development Region, Western Development Region Far-Western Development Region
The three regions were:
Himalayan region, consisting of 21 districts Hilly region, consisting of 35 districts Terai region, consisting of 21 districts from east to west (Jhapa, Siraha, Saptari, Morang, Sunsari, Dhanusa, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Bara, Parsa, Rautahat, Chitwan, Kapilvastu, Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Dang, Bake, Bardiya, Kailali, Kanchanpur)
To fill the gap between different parts of the nation by balanced or proportionate development. Eight years later, in 2037 B.S (1980), he further divided the nation adding one more separate development region, naming it the mid-western development region, taking two zones from Far Western Development region Seti and Mahakali.
See also List of provinces of Nepal List of zones of Nepal (former) List of districts of Nepal List of village development committees of Nepal (former) ISO 3166-2:NP
References