Nepal’s Record Low Population Growth

According to Nepal’s Central Bureau of Statistics, its population has increased by 10.18 percent, reaching to 29,192,480 in last 10 years.

Key Points

• Total data also include population of the Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura areas, for the first time in 60 years through informal census.
• According to bureau, there are around 750 people in these areas.
• National Census was conducted from November 11 to November 25 in 2021.

Increase in Population

• As per agency, Nepal’s population increased by 0.93 percent annually on an average. It was lowest in last 80 years history of Nepal, since it started conducting population census in 1911.
• The average population growth rate recorded in last census in 2011 was 1.35 percent.
• During 2011 census, Nepal’s population was 26,494,504.
• In 2021, the average size of a family stood at 4.32 members. In the earlier census, it was 4.88 members.

World Bank Statistics

As per World Bank Statistics, annual population growth rate in Nepal is less than global average of 1.01 percent in 2020.

Declining growth rate

The population growth rate has declining since 2011. However, Nepal witnessed a decrease in overall population in census 1920 and census 1930.

What is the reason of low growth rate?

Decreasing birth rate and out-migration are the reasons behind slowest growth rate in Nepal, in eight decades. Fertility rate of women in Nepal has also been declining, over years.

Declining fertility rate

As per Nepal Demographic Health Survey 2016, Nepal’s fertility rate was 2.3 per woman. It has decreased from 2.6 per woman in 2011. The fertility rate in Nepal has been decreasing since 1996, when per woman fertility rate was 4.6.

Geography-wise population

The Terai regions of Nepal accounts for more than half of the population.  53.66 percent of the population are living in Tarai region. Population has increased by 50.27 percent, compared to population 10 years ago. 40.27 percent of the population lives in hilly region.