The 2021 Nepal Census is the twelfth nationwide census of Nepal conducted by the Central Bureau of Statistics. It is the first census conducted after the adoption of new federal structure of 7 provinces, 77 districts and 753 local bodies. The census was originally scheduled from 8 to 22 June 2021, but was postponed to November 2021 due to a surge in COVID-19 cases in the country.
Background In Nepal, the work of conducting a census started in 1911 A.D. (1968 B.S.) and a census has been carried out approximately every 10 years since then. The main objective of the first and second census was to prepare a list of property owners, tenants, and buildings. Until the census conducted in 1998 B.S (1941/42 A.D), the enumeration exercise was limited to a short census questionnaire. However, the censuses conducted since 2009/11 B.S. (1952/54 A.D.) have been recognized as modern (scientific) censuses, including the collection of demographic characteristics. After the establishment of the Central Bureau of Statistics in 2015 B.S (1959 A.D), all censuses since then have been conducted by this bureau. In this sequence, the national census of 2078 B.S (2021 A.D) is the first census conducted under Nepal's federal system according to the provisions of the Constitution of Nepal issued in 2072 B.S (2015 A.D).
Planning The National Census of 2078 was conducted in two phases, with the first phase being carried out by supervisors who went to every home and family and prepared a household registration form, detailing information about the house and household, the number of members in the family, the family's agriculture-related details, whether the family had received government funding for building a residential house, the number of individuals who had bank or financial institution accounts, and details about technical and vocational education or training received by members of the family, as well as information about credit facilities obtained from cooperative or financial institutions.
In the second phase, enumerators went to every family and collected information about demographic, educational, residential, economic, disability, reproductive health, and other details using a main questionnaire. During the second phase, detailed monitoring of the collection of site-specific data was carried out by the supervisor, and each ward office collected ward-level community questionnaire-based information on the basis of sources, resources, capacity, precedent, and disaster risk.
Questionnaire https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Census_2021_Questionnaire_Community.pdf
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Census_2021_Questionnaire_Main.pdf
Key findings The key findings of the 2021 census are as follows: PopulationTotal29,164,578Male14,253,551Female14,911,027Intercensal change2,670,074 (10.08%)Population density (per km2)198Annual growth rate (%)0.92%Sex ratio (males per 100 females)95.59Number of households6,666,937Literacy rateTotal76.2%Male83.6%Female69.4%
Population distribution +Urban/rural population (2021)Urban/ruralPopulationPercentage (%)Sex ratioDensity (per km2)Annual growth rate (%)Urban municipalities19,296,78866.1796.063731.36Rural municipalities9,867,79033.8394.681050.11Nepal29,164,57810095.591980.92 +Population by ecological belt (2021)Ecological beltPopulationPercentage (%)Sex ratioDensity (per km2)Annual growth rate (%)Mountain1,772,9486.0897.2834 -0.05Hill11,757,62440.3194.651920.30Terai15,634,00653.6196.114601.54Nepal29,164,57810095.591980.92 +Population by province (2021)S.NProvincePopulationPercentage (%)Sex ratioDensity (per km2)Annual growth rate (%)1Koshi4,961,41217.0195.021920.862Madhesh6,114,60020.97100.556331.193Bagmati6,116,86620.9799.363010.974Gandaki2,466,4278.4690.371150.255Lumbini5,122,07817.5692.012301.246Karnali1,688,4125.7995.27600.707Sudurpashchim2,694,7839.2489.511380.52Nepal29,164,57810095.591980.92
Population by district +Population by district (2021)S.NProvinceDistrictPopulationSex ratioDensity (per km2)Annual growth rate (%)1KoshiTaplejung120,590101.6033 -0.532Sankhuwasabha158,041101.4245 -0.043Solukhumbu104,851101.2332 -0.094Okhaldhunga139,55295.25130 -0.565Khotang175,29897.72110 -1.566Bhojpur157,92398.12105 -1.397Dhankuta150,59996.16169 -0.788Tehrathum88,73196.52131 -1.309Panchthar172,40098.81139 -1.0210Ilam279,53499.52164 -0.3611Jhapa998,05492.106211.9712Morang1,148,15694.396191.6613Sunsari926,96293.957371.8614Udayapur340,72192.521650.6815MadheshSaptari706,25599.015180.9616Siraha739,95396.686231.4317Dhanusha867,74798.187351.3418Mahottari706,99497.587061.1419Sarlahi862,470101.826851.0920Rautahat813,573100.807231.6321Bara763,137104.406411.0022Parsa654,471106.994840.8223BagmatiDolakha172,76794.0279 -0.7424Sindhupalchok262,62496.84103 -0.8825Rasuwa46,689106.10300.7226Dhading325,71095.43169 -0.3027Nuwakot263,39195.99235 -0.5028Kathmandu2,041,587102.9751691.5129Bhaktapur432,132102.2036313.3530Lalitpur551,667100.9514331.5831Kavrepalanchok364,03996.64261 -0.4632Ramechhap170,30290.33110 -1.6733Sindhuli300,02696.151200.1234Makwanpur466,073100.671920.9935Chitwan719,85995.583252.0736GandakiGorkha251,02788.9270 -0.7437Manang5,658129.443 -1.3938Mustang14,452121.7240.6939Myagdi107,03395.0347 -0.5740Kaski600,05195.292971.9041Lamjung155,85290.5992 -0.7042Tanahu321,15387.74208 -0.0643Nawalparasi (East)378,07988.862651.8644Syangja253,02485.57217 -1.2845Parbat130,88789.12265 -1.0946Baglung249,21187.35140 -0.7247LumbiniRukum (East)56,78694.01340.6348Rolpa234,79387.951250.4349Pyuthan232,01981.431770.1650Gulmi246,49483.31215 -1.2351Arghakhanchi177,08683.67148 -1.0552Palpa245,02785.25178 -0.6153Nawalparasi (West)386,86894.715271.4754Rupandehi1,121,95796.338252.3355Kapilbastu682,96196.103931.7056Dang674,99390.452281.9257Banke603,19496.832581.9758Bardiya459,90089.152270.7259KarnaliDolpa42,77499.8551.4760Mugu64,549100.66181.4961Humla55,394101.37100.8262Jumla118,349100.18470.8063Kalikot145,29298.90830.5764Dailekh252,31391.82168 -0.3565Jajarkot189,36098.71850.9666Rukum (West)166,74094.681370.6867Salyan238,51593.08163 -0.1668Surkhet415,12692.741691.6269SudurpashchimBajura138,52393.87630.2570Bajhang189,08587.9355 -0.3071Darchula133,31093.52570.0072Baitadi242,15788.75159 -0.3473Dadeldhura139,60289.4091 -0.1774Doti204,83184.16101 -0.3275Achham228,85285.26136 -1.1376Kailali904,66691.992801.4877Kanchanpur513,75788.143191.25Nepal29,164,57895.591980.92
Population by caste/ethnicity However, there were 146 castes/ethnicities in Nepal according to the 2021 census, out of which 125 were previously reported in the earlier 2011 census and 17 were newly found in the 2021 census.
The newly added castes/ethnicities were Ranatharu, Bhumihar, Bankariya, Surel, Chumba/Nubri, Phree, Mugal/Mugum, Pun, Rauniyar, Baniyan, Gondh/Gond, Karmarong, Khatik, Beldar, Chai/Khulaut, Done and Kewarat. +Population by caste/ethnicity (2021)S.NCaste/ethnicityPopulationPercentage (%)1Chhetri4,796,99516.452Brahmin - Hill3,292,37311.293Magar2,013,4986.94Tharu1,807,1246.25Tamang1,639,8665.626Bishwakarma1,470,0105.047Musalman1,418,6774.868Newa: (Newar)1,341,3634.69Yadav1,228,5814.2110Rai640,6742.211Pariyar565,9321.9412Gurung543,7901.8613Thakuri494,4701.714Mijar452,2291.5515Teli431,3471.4816Yakthung/Limbu414,7041.4217Chamar/Harijan/Ram393,2551.3518Kushwaha(koiri)355,7071.2219Kurmi277,7860.9520Musahar264,9740.9121Dhanuk252,1050.8622Dusadh/Pasawan/Pasi250,9770.8623Brahman - Terai217,7740.7524Mallaha207,0060.7125Sanyasi/Dasnami198,8490.6826Kewat184,2980.6327Kanu152,8680.5228Hajam136,4870.4729Kalwar134,9140.4630Rajbansi132,5640.4531Sherpa130,6370.4532Kumal129,7020.4433Tatma/Tatwa126,0180.4334Khatwe124,0620.4335Gharti/Bhujel120,2450.4136Majhi111,3520.3837Nuniya108,7230.3738Sundi107,3800.3739Dhobi101,0890.3540Lohar100,6800.3541Bin96,9740.3342Kumhar95,7240.3343Sonar93,3800.3244Chepang/Praja84,3640.2945Ranatharu83,3080.2946Danuwar82,7840.2847Sunuwar78,9100.2748Haluwai71,7960.2549Baraee68,0110.2350Bantar/Sardar61,6870.2151Kahar59,8820.2152Santhal57,3100.253Baniyan53,6550.1854Kathabaniyan52,4660.1855Badhaee/Badhee52,4370.1856Oraon/Kudukh46,8400.1657Rajput/Thakur46,5770.1658Amat46,4710.1659Gangai41,4460.1460Lodh39,8720.1461Gaderi/Bhediyar35,4970.1262Ghale35,4340.1263Marwadi33,8030.1264Kayastha33,5020.1165Kulung33,3880.1166Thami32,7430.1167Bhumihar32,1990.1168Rajbhar29,2400.169Rauniyar27,2580.0970Dhimal25,6430.0971Khawas22,5510.0872Tajpuriya20,9890.0773Kori20,6700.0774Dom19,9010.0775Mali19,6050.0776Darai18,6950.0677Yakkha17,4600.0678Bhote15,8180.0579Bantawa15,7190.0580Rajdhob15,3910.0581Dhunia15,0330.0582Pahari15,0150.0583Bangali13,8000.0584Gondh/Gond12,2670.0485Chamling12,1780.0486Chhantyal/Chhantel11,9630.0487Thakali11,7410.0488Badi11,4700.0489Bote11,2580.0490Hyolmo/Yholmopa9,8190.0391Khatik9,1520.0392Yamphu9,1110.0393Kewarat8,8090.0394Baram / Baramu7,8590.0395Dev7,4180.0396Nachhiring7,3000.0397Gaine6,9710.0298Bahing6,5470.0299Thulung6,2390.02100Jirel6,0310.02101Khaling5,8890.02102Aathpahariya5,8780.02103Dolpo5,8180.02104Sarbaria5,7930.02105Mewahang5,7270.02106Byasi/Sauka5,7180.02107Dura5,5810.02108Meche5,1930.02109Raji5,1250.02110Sampang4,8410.02111Chai/Khulaut4,8050.02112Chumba/Nubri4,4140.02114Dhankar/ Dharikar4,0900.01114Munda3,5890.01115Lepcha3,5780.01116Patharkatt / Kushwadiya3,3430.01117Hayu3,0690.01118Beldar3,0370.01119Halkhor2,9290.01120Natuwa2,8960.01121Loharung2,5980.01122Kamar2,5320.01123Dhandi2,3390.01124Done2,1250.01125Mugal/Mugum2,1240.01126Punjabi/Sikh1,8460.01127Karmarong1,6630.01128Chidimar1,6150.01129Kisan1,4790.01130Lhopa1,3900131Kalar9310132Phree9210133Koche8470134Topkegola6420135Raute5660136Walung4810137Lhomi3550138Surel3180139Kusunda2530140Bankariya1800141Nurang360Others5,8880.02Foreigner137,4070.47Not stated4,4360.02Total29,164,578100
Population by language Mother tongues There were 124 mother tongues reported in the 2021 census. 111 languages were previously reported in the earlier 2011 census and 13 were newly found in the 2021 census. Some of the foreign languages reported in 2011 census have been included in "Other Language" category due very few number of speakers.
The newly added mother tongues were Bhote, Lowa, Chum/Nubri, Baragunwa, Nar-Phu, Ranatharu, Karmarong, Mugali, Tichhurong Poike, Sadri, Done, Munda/Mudiyari and Kewarat.