Ethnic groups in Nepal are delineated using language, ethnic identity or the caste system in Nepal. They are categorized by common culture and endogamy. Endogamy carves out ethnic groups in Nepal.[2]
*Note: The Madeshi Commission also removed Muslims and Tharus from the list of Madeshis in 2021. In the surname listing of ‘Surname Enumeration of Madheshi Community in Nepal -2078 B.S.' conducted by the Madheshi Commission, Tharus in sub-group-1 and Muslims in sub-group-2 have been removed.[3][4][5][6]
Out of 123 languages of Nepal, the 48 Indo-European languages constitute the largest group in terms of the numeric strength of their speakers, nearly 82.1%[7] of population.
The Sino-Tibetan family of Nepal's languages forms a part of its Tibeto-Burman group. Though spoken by relatively fewer people than the Indo-European family (17.3%[7] of population), it includes a greater number of languages, about 63 languages. Languages belonging to this group are Tamang, Nepal Bhasa (Newar), Magar, Limbu, etc.
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 Nepalese census.[8]
Mother Tongues
There were 124 mother tongues according to the "National Report on caste/ethnicity, language & religion", National Population and Housing Census 2021 in Nepal.111 were previously reported in the earlier census 2011 and 13 were newly found in the census 2021.
The newly added mother tongues were Bhote, Lowa, Chum/Nubri, Baragunwa, Nar-Phu, Ranatharu, Karmarong, Mugali, Tichhurong Poike, Sadri, Done, Munda/Mudiyari and Kewarat.[9]
There were 25 languages that were being used as second language by more than 10 thousand population on each in the "National Report on caste/ethnicity, language & religion", National Population and Housing Census 2021 in Nepal, whereas there were only 18 such languages reported as second language in the earlier census 2011.[9]
Population by second language and sex, NPHC 2021[9]
Rank
Second Language
Total
Percentage
null
Total
29164578
100
1
No Second Language
14023086
48.08
2
Nepali
13482904
46.23
3
Maithili
267621
0.92
4
Hindi
223106
0.76
5
Bhojpuri
138572
0.48
6
English
102561
0.35
7
Tharu
89606
0.31
8
Bajjika
86062
0.3
9
Avadhi
75651
0.26
10
Urdu
72128
0.25
11
Tamang
71569
0.25
12
Magar Dhut
54143
0.19
13
Bhote
45292
0.16
14
Bantawa
43536
0.15
15
Nepalbhasha(Newari)
32604
0.11
16
Chamling
29253
0.1
17
Magahi
29191
0.1
18
Gurung
23698
0.08
19
Yakthung/Limbu
19705
0.07
20
Thulung
17187
0.06
21
Magar Kham
16814
0.06
22
Bahing/Bayung
15104
0.05
23
Rai
14398
0.05
24
Doteli
14344
0.05
25
Sampang
14261
0.05
26
Khaling
10370
0.04
27
Baitadeli
9521
0.03
28
Sherpa
9435
0.03
29
Sanskrit
6615
0.02
30
Achhami
6522
0.02
31
Angika
6127
0.02
32
Musalman
6084
0.02
33
Kulung
6039
0.02
34
Dumi
5870
0.02
35
Dadeldhuri
5535
0.02
36
Bangla
5447
0.02
37
Wambule
5227
0.02
38
Darchuleli
4272
0.01
39
Puma
4271
0.01
40
Rajbanshi
4103
0.01
41
Bote
3891
0.01
42
Mewahang
3669
0.01
43
Marwadi
3449
0.01
44
Nachhiring
3176
0.01
45
Tibetan
3134
0.01
46
Bajhangi
2641
0.01
47
Khash
2607
0.01
48
Chhintang
2135
0.01
49
Tilung
1762
0.01
50
Sunuwar
1597
0.01
51
Belhare
1491
0.01
52
Punjabi
1274
0
53
Dungmali
1271
0
54
Jero/Jerung
1245
0
55
Jumli
1125
0
56
Bajureli
1076
0
57
Dhimal
999
0
58
Majhi
971
0
59
Ghale
963
0
60
Koyee
928
0
61
Ranatharu
871
0
62
Thami
859
0
63
Danuwar
845
0
64
Chepang
833
0
65
Sign Language
828
0
66
Bhujel
740
0
67
Thakali
733
0
68
Yakkha
704
0
69
Santhali
703
0
70
Chhiling
685
0
71
Ganagai
644
0
72
Lohorung
622
0
73
Kumal
615
0
74
Kagate
615
0
75
Darai
591
0
76
Khamchi(Raute)
526
0
77
Magar Kaike
515
0
78
Hyolmo/Yholmo
508
0
79
Yamphu/Yamphe
494
0
80
Dailekhi
434
0
81
Chhantyal
394
0
82
Hayu/Vayu
349
0
83
Koche
335
0
84
Jirel
332
0
85
Athpahariya
320
0
86
Balkura/Baram
307
0
87
Waling/Walung
304
0
88
Manange
304
0
89
Dura
278
0
90
Uranw/Urau
245
0
91
Lapcha
242
0
92
Sindhi
217
0
93
Tajpuriya
209
0
94
Dhuleli
187
0
95
Pahari
142
0
96
Lhopa
129
0
97
Dolpali
127
0
98
Sadhani
125
0
99
Sadri
106
0
100
Baragunwa
89
0
101
Phangduwali
85
0
102
Hariyanwi
84
0
103
Sam
79
0
104
Malpande
78
0
105
Raji
76
0
106
Meche
75
0
107
Tichhurong Poike
72
0
108
Surel
64
0
109
Kurmali
60
0
110
Bankariya
42
0
111
Kewarat
38
0
112
Sonaha
35
0
113
Karmarong
34
0
114
Kisan
33
0
115
Byansi
32
0
116
Kusunda
32
0
117
Lungkhim
28
0
118
Mugali
23
0
119
Others
159
0
120
Not stated
8105
0.03
Social status
Hill status i.e. (Brahmin/Bahun and Chhetri castes) and the upper-caste segments of Newars dominated the civil service, the judiciary and upper ranks of the army throughout the Shah regime (1768–2008). Nepali was the national language and Sanskrit became a required school subject. Children who spoke Nepali natively and who were exposed to Sanskrit had much better chances of passing the national examinations at the end of high school, which meant they had better employment prospects and could continue into higher education.
Caste system, prevalent among Hindus, was made illegal in 1961 by Naya Muluki ain.
[10][11][12][13][14]
However,there were 142 castes/ethnicities according to the "National Report on caste/ethnicity, language & religion", National Population and Housing Census 2021 in Nepal, out of which 125 were previously reported in the earlier census 2011 and 17 were newly found in the census 2021.[9]
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.[9]
The Madeshi Commission also removed Muslims and Tharus from the list of Madeshis in 2021. In the surname listing of ‘Surname Enumeration of Madheshi Community in Nepal -2078 B.S.' conducted by the Madheshi Commission, Tharus in sub-group-1 and Muslims in sub-group-2 have been removed.[3][4][5][6]
List of Castes/Ethnicities by population in Nepal- NPHC 2021[9]
Rank
Caste/ethnicity
Total
Total %
Total
29164578
100
1
Kshetri
4796995
16.45
2
Brahman - Hill
3292373
11.29
3
Magar
2013498
6.9
4
Tharu
1807124
6.2
5
Tamang
1639866
5.62
6
Bishwokarma
1470010
5.04
7
Musalman
1418677
4.86
8
Newa: (Newar)
1341363
4.6
9
Yadav
1228581
4.21
10
Rai
640674
2.2
11
Pariyar
565932
1.94
12
Gurung
543790
1.86
13
Thakuri
494470
1.7
14
Mijar
452229
1.55
15
Teli
431347
1.48
16
Yakthung/Limbu
414704
1.42
17
Chamar/Harijan/Ram
393255
1.35
18
Koiri/Kushwaha
355707
1.22
19
Kurmi
277786
0.95
20
Musahar
264974
0.91
21
Dhanuk
252105
0.86
22
Dusadh/Pasawan/Pasi
250977
0.86
23
Brahman - Tarai
217774
0.75
24
Mallaha
207006
0.71
25
Sanyasi/Dasnami
198849
0.68
26
Kewat
184298
0.63
27
Kanu
152868
0.52
28
Hajam/Thakur
136487
0.47
29
Kalwar
134914
0.46
30
Rajbansi
132564
0.45
31
Sherpa
130637
0.45
32
Kumal
129702
0.44
33
Tatma/Tatwa
126018
0.43
34
Khatwe
124062
0.43
35
Gharti/Bhujel
120245
0.41
36
Majhi
111352
0.38
37
Nuniya
108723
0.37
38
Sundi
107380
0.37
39
Dhobi
101089
0.35
40
Lohar
100680
0.35
41
Bin
96974
0.33
42
Kumhar
95724
0.33
43
Sonar
93380
0.32
44
Chepang/Praja
84364
0.29
45
Ranatharu
83308
0.29
46
Danuwar
82784
0.28
47
Sunuwar
78910
0.27
48
Haluwai
71796
0.25
49
Baraee
68011
0.23
50
Bantar/Sardar
61687
0.21
51
Kahar
59882
0.21
52
Santhal
57310
0.2
53
Baniyan
53655
0.18
54
Kathabaniyan
52466
0.18
55
Badhaee/Badhee
52437
0.18
56
Oraon/Kudukh
46840
0.16
57
Rajput
46577
0.16
58
Amat
46471
0.16
59
Gangai
41446
0.14
60
Lodh
39872
0.14
61
Gaderi/Bhediyar
35497
0.12
62
Ghale
35434
0.12
63
Marwadi
33803
0.12
64
Kayastha
33502
0.11
65
Kulung
33388
0.11
66
Thami
32743
0.11
67
Bhumihar
32199
0.11
68
Rajbhar
29240
0.1
69
Rauniyar
27258
0.09
70
Dhimal
25643
0.09
71
Khawas
22551
0.08
72
Tajpuriya
20989
0.07
73
Kori
20670
0.07
74
Dom
19901
0.07
75
Mali
19605
0.07
76
Darai
18695
0.06
77
Yakkha
17460
0.06
78
Bhote
15818
0.05
79
Bantawa
15719
0.05
80
Rajdhob
15391
0.05
81
Dhunia
15033
0.05
82
Pahari
15015
0.05
83
Bangali
13800
0.05
84
Gondh/Gond
12267
0.04
85
Chamling
12178
0.04
86
Chhantyal/Chhantel
11963
0.04
87
Thakali
11741
0.04
88
Badi
11470
0.04
89
Bote
11258
0.04
90
Pun
9827
0.03
91
Hyolmo/Yholmopa
9819
0.03
92
Khatik
9152
0.03
93
Yamphu
9111
0.03
94
Kewarat
8809
0.03
95
Baram / Baramu
7859
0.03
96
Dev
7418
0.03
97
Nachhiring
7300
0.03
98
Gaine
6971
0.02
99
Bahing
6547
0.02
100
Thulung
6239
0.02
101
Jirel
6031
0.02
102
Khaling
5889
0.02
103
Aathpahariya
5878
0.02
104
Dolpo
5818
0.02
105
Sarbaria
5793
0.02
106
Mewahang
5727
0.02
107
Byasi/Sauka
5718
0.02
108
Dura
5581
0.02
109
Meche
5193
0.02
110
Raji
5125
0.02
111
Sampang
4841
0.02
112
Chai/Khulaut
4805
0.02
113
Chumba/Nubri
4414
0.02
114
Dhankar/ Dharikar
4090
0.01
115
Munda
3589
0.01
116
Lepcha
3578
0.01
117
Pattharkatta/ Kushwadiya
3343
0.01
118
Hayu
3069
0.01
119
Beldar
3037
0.01
120
Halkhor
2929
0.01
121
Natuwa
2896
0.01
122
Loharung
2598
0.01
123
Kamar
2532
0.01
124
Dhandi
2339
0.01
125
Done
2125
0.01
126
Mugal/Mugum
2124
0.01
127
Punjabi/Sikh
1846
0.01
128
Karmarong
1663
0.01
129
Chidimar
1615
0.01
130
Kisan
1479
0.01
131
Lhopa
1390
0
132
Kalar
931
0
133
Phree
921
0
134
Koche
847
0
135
Topkegola
642
0
136
Raute
566
0
137
Walung
481
0
138
Lhomi
355
0
139
Surel
318
0
140
Kusunda
253
0
141
Bankariya
180
0
142
Nurang
36
0
null
Others
5888
0.02
null
Foreigner
137407
0.47
null
Not stated
4436
0.02
List of Castes/Ethnicities by population in Nepal-2011
Rank
Caste/Ethnicity
Population (2011)
Percentage (%)
1
Chetri
4398053
18.80
2
Bahun
3226903
14.18
3
Magar
1887733
7.12
4
Tharu
1737470
6.56
5
Tamang
1539830
5.81
6
Newar
1321933
4.99
7
Kami
1258554
4.75
8
Nepali Musalman
1164255
4.39
9
Yadav
1054458
3.98
10
Rai
620004
2.34
11
Gurung
522641
1.97
12
Damai/Dholi
472862
1.78
13
Thakuri
425623
1.61
14
Limbu
387300
1.46
15
Sarki
374816
1.41
16
Teli
369688
1.40
17
Chamar/Harijan/Ram
335893
1.27
18
Kushwaha
306393
1.16
19
Musahar
234490
0.89
20
Kurmi
231129
0.87
21
Sanyasi/Dasnami
227822
0.86
22
Dhanuk
219808
0.83
23
Kanu/Haluwai
209053
0.79
24
Dusadh/Pasawan/Pasi
208910
0.79
25
Mallaha
173261
0.65
26
Kewat
153772
0.58
27
Kathbaniya
138637
0.52
28
Brahmin-Terai
134106
0.51
29
Kalwar
128232
0.48
30
Kumal
121196
0.45
31
Bhujel
118650
0.44
32
Hajam/Thakur
117758
0.43
33
Rajbanshi
115242
0.43
34
Sherpa
112946
0.41
35
Dhobi
109079
0.40
36
Tatma/Tatwa
104865
0.38
37
Lohar
101421
0.38
38
Khatwe
100921
0.35
39
Sudhi
93115
0.32
40
Danuwar
84115
0.32
41
Majhi
83727
0.30
42
Barai
80597
0.28
43
Bin
75195
0.27
44
Nuniya
70540
0.26
45
Chepang
68399
0.24
46
Sonar
64335
0.24
47
Kumhar
62399
0.21
48
Sunuwar
55712
0.21
49
Bantar/Sardar
55104
0.21
50
Kahar
53159
0.20
51
Santhal
51735
0.20
52
Marwadi
51443
0.19
53
Kayastha
44304
0.17
54
Rajput/Terai Kshetriya
41972
0.16
55
Badi
38603
0.15
56
Jhangar/Uraon
37424
0.14
57
Gangai (Ganesh & Mandal)
36988
0.12
58
Lodh
32837
0.11
59
Badhaee
28932
0.11
60
Thami
28671
0.11
61
Kulung
28613
0.1
62
Bengali
26582
0.1
63
Gaderi/Bhediyar/Gangajali
26375
0.1
64
Dhimal
26298
0.09
65
Yakkha
24336
0.09
66
Ghale
22881
0.07
67
Tajpuriya
19213
0.07
68
Khawas
18513
0.06
69
Darai
16789
0.06
70
Mali
14995
0.06
71
Dhuniya
14846
0.05
72
Pahari
13615
0.05
73
Rajdhob
13422
0.05
74
Bhote
13397
0.05
75
Dom
13268
0.05
76
Thakali
13215
0.05
77
Kori
12276
0.04
78
Chhantyal
11810
0.04
79
Hyolmo
10752
0.04
80
Bote
10397
0.04
81
Rajbhar
9542
0.03
82
Brahmu/Baramo
8140
0.03
83
Punjabi
7176
0.03
84
Nachhring
7154
0.03
85
Yamphu
6933
0.03
86
Gaine
6791
0.03
87
Chamling
6668
0.02
88
Athpahariya
5977
0.02
89
Jirel
5774
0.02
90
Dura
5394
0.02
91
Sarabaria
4906
0.02
92
Meche
4867
0.02
93
Bantawa
4604
0.02
94
Raji
4235
0.02
95
Dolpo
4107
0.02
96
Halkhor
4003
0.01
97
Byansi/Sauka
3895
0.01
98
Amat
3830
0.01
99
Thulung
3535
0.01
100
Lepcha
3445
0.01
101
Pathakatta/Kushwadia
3182
0.01
102
Mewahang
3100
0.01
103
Bahing
3096
0.01
104
Natuwa
3062
0.01
105
Hayu
2925
0.01
106
Dhankar/Dharikar
2681
0.01
107
Lhopa
2624
0.01
108
Munda
2350
0.0087
109
Dev
2147
0.0081
110
Dhandi
1982
0.0075
111
Kamar
1787
0.0067
112
Kisan
1739
0.0066
113
Sampang
1681
0.0063
114
Koche
1635
0.0062
115
Lhomi
1614
0.0061
116
Khaling
1571
0.0059
117
Topkegola
1523
0.0057
118
Chidimar
1254
0.0047
119
Walung
1249
0.0047
120
Lohorung
1153
0.0044
121
Kalar
1077
0.004
122
Raute
618
0.002
123
Nurang
278
0.001
124
Kusunda
273
0.001
null
Foreigners
6651
0.03
−
Others/Undefined
275670
1.04%
Total
Total
26494504
100.00%
Religion
According to "National Report on caste/ethnicity, language & religion", National Population and Housing Census 2021 the number of religions adopted by the individuals in census 2021 and 2011 were as follows:[9]
Census 2021
Census 2011
Religion
Population
Percent
Religion
Population
Percent
Hindu
23677744
81.19
Hindu
21551492
81.34
Bouddha
2393549
8.21
Bouddha
2396099
9.04
Islam
1483066
5.09
Islam
1162370
4.39
Kirat
924204
3.17
Kirat
807169
3.05
Christian
512313
1.76
Christian
375699
1.42
Prakrit
102048
0.35
Prakriti
121982
0.46
Bon
67223
0.23
Bon
13006
0.05
Jain
2398
0.01
Jain
3214
0.01
Bahai
537
0.00
Bahai
1283
0.00
Sikha
1496
0.01
Sikha
609
0.00
Unidentified
-
-
Unidentified
61581
0.23
Total
29164578
100
Total
26494504
100
References
Footnotes
^Pages 191/192 of the total pdf or pages 156/157 in the scanned material shows Nepalese castes/ethnic groups
^Tumbahang, Govinda Bahadur (2010). "Marginalization of indigenous languages of Nepal". Contributions to Nepalese Studies. 37: 69 – via Expanded Academic.
^"Highlights"(PDF). OCHA Nepal Situation Overview (30). OCHA. June–July 2008. Archived from the original(PDF) on 18 February 2010. Retrieved 2011-05-07.