Nepal’s population reaches 29,164,578, birth rate drops to 0.92%

Kathmandu, Mar. 24

Nepal has become a country with 29,164,578 people – 14,253,551 men and 14,911,027 women.

According to the first final results of the National Census 2021 – with a cut-off date on 25 November 2021, there are 95.59 males for per 100 women. Compared to the previous census in 2011, the ratio has climbed up by 1.43 percentage points.

There are 2,928 individual representing sexual minorities.

The new results informed that the annual population growth rate of Nepal is 0.92 per cent which is significantly came down from 1.35 per cent a decade earlier.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ launched the final results of the 12^th Census held in 2021 at a programme organised by Central Statistics Office (CSO), an agency under the National Planning Commission (NPC), in Kathmandu on Friday.

On the occasion, PM Prachanda also launched a report on maternity mortality, and infographics web portal/mobile app for the results of Census 2021.

The final results have adjusted the total population from the earlier results of 29,192,480 – announced on January 26 last year.

The country has 6,666,937 households with average family members of 4.37. The number of households has increased by more than 1.23 million in the past one decade, with a significant push by the 2015 earthquake and government housing grants. Many families had split to claim the government housing grant of Rs. 300,000.

Hills go depopulated

Population size in high mountains and hills has gone down while the Terai has witnessed a growth. About 53.61 per cent of the total population resides in the plains of the Terai while 40.31 per cent live in hills and 6.08 per cent in mountains. In terms of geographical size, the plains cover only 23.1 per cent while mountain comprises 41.7 per cent area and mountains and hill area 35.2 per cent.

Presenting the final results, Deputy Chief of the CSO, Dr. Hem Raj Regmi said that province-wise conclusion showed that Bagmati has the highest number of people with 20.97 per cent living here, and Karnali has only 5.79 per cent people of the country living there. Likewise, in terms of district, more than 2 million people live in Kathmandu while only 5,658 people live in Manang.

Similarly, urban population covers two-third of the total country inhabitants. About 6 people in 10 live in the areas that have been categorised as the municipalities. However, most of the municipalities have just been announced so and lack basic urban infrastructure and amenities.

More women head their families

Households headed by female member have been increased by about 6 per cent to 31 per cent compared to the previous census. About 23.8 per cent women own a piece of land or a house or both. Likewise, 11.8 per cent women own a house and a piece of land both. Likewise, 9.4 per cent families are involved in informal micro and cottage enterprises.

Literacy rate has reached 76.3 per cent, however, there is a significant gap in the number of men and women who can read and write. About 16 men and 31 women in per 100 cannot read and write.

More than 2 per cent of the population in the country has at least one form of physical disability.  

The first census about 110 years ago, in 1911, had enumerated the details of 5,638,748 people.

Speaking at the report launching programme, Prime Minister Prachanda said that the results of the census had drawn the attention of the government in the growing number of absentee population including that of females and inequality between the cities and villages.

"The census data will help the government in the assessment of the current 15^th periodic plan and formulate the next one. Meanwhile, the statistics will help measure the progress that the country made in terms of the Sustainable Development Goal, good governance index and commitments made in the international platforms," said PM Prachanda.

He also maintained that it would offer a solid foundation to create new plans and policies for the federal, provincial and local governments.

Meanwhile, the changing demographic dynamics have also demanded an intervention in terms of managing migration and reducing education and other inequalities, said the Prime Minister.

Deputy Chief of CSO, Nebin Lal Shreshta, said that the census held a significance as the first census after the country adopted a three-tier federal system.

"I hope that the results of the census will help in making informed decisions in development planning. It has exhibited progress in various social and economic aspects while some marginalised communities and groups need special attention of the government for their development, growth and wellbeing," he said.

National Representative of UNFPA, Won Young Hong, said that the census is a crucial snapshot of crucial changes that the country witnessed in the last one decade.

"It has provided a crucial statistics for the decision makers to formulate specific policies for various targeted groups, geographical areas and allocate resources," she said.

According to her, it is equally important for the monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goals – agenda 2030 so that the country could keep track of the progress and invest in the areas that are lacking attention.

Min Bahadur Shrestha, Vice-Chairman of the NPC, said that the statics help in evidence-based policy making. It will guide us for the 16^th periodic plan.

Ram Prasad Thapaliya, Chief Statistics Officer of the CSO, said that the results tell the progress that the country made in the last one decade in terms of education, health and use of communication and lapses in various fields.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 25 March 2023.