Current Population Situation

   Population is the input of human resource. There is no any problem of input for human resources in Nepal. Population has created problem for the development of Nepal because the existing availability of population has not been utilized properly. The current population situation including its composition as well as distribution is explained below:

Sizes and Growth of population

   The population census was started in Nepal from 1911 A.D. and total population was 56,38,749 at that time. The population has been doing within one decade till now. The latest population census is done in 2001 and the total population was 2,31,51423 and the population growth rate was 2.25 percent per annum. 

   population census year 

Population Census year                         Total Population                                   Growth Rate

1911                                                       56,38,749                                    -

1920                                                       55,73,788                                    -1.3

1930                                                       55,32,574                                    -0.07

1941                                                       62,83,648                                    +1.16

1952                                                       82,85,625                                    +2.30

1961                                                       94,12,996                                    +1.65

1971                                                       1,15,55,983                                 +2.07

1981                                                       1,50,22,839                                 +2.66

1991                                                       1,84,91,097                                 +2.08

2001                                                       2,31,51,432                                 +2.25

  source: Nepal Population Report, 2002

The above table shows that population is increasing first two censuses and later on populations growth is increasing. In the last three census as well as 2001, population is increasing more than 2 percent growth rate per annul. The total population has crossed above 2 crore 70 lakhs by the end of 2008 AD.

 Composition of Population

   The study of population census done from various aspects such as sex, religion, age, language, density etc. According to the latest population census, the total number of male is 11,563,921 and female 11,587,502. On the basis of sex, female covers 50.05 percent and male covers 49.95 percent of the total population. Other compositions of population are explained below.

   i) Population by Age Group: Composition of population can be analyzed by age group. Age group is that factor which shows population dependent and active population in total population. According to population census 2001, shows that economically active population (15-59) covers 54.15 percent of total population whereas 27.24 percent belongs to 5-14 age group, 0-4 and 60+ above age group covers 18.61 percent/ it can be shown in the table.

Age  Group                                                                                 Percent       15-59                                                                                        54.15      5-14                                                                                          27.24 0-4& 60+above                                                                             18.61         Total                                                                                       100.

Source: Nepal Population Report, 2002

 ii) Population by religion: Nepal has declared as the religion secular country since 2006, however more than 80% people are Hindus. Although it is the birthplace of Lord Buddha, Buddhists are only 10.7 percent; Muslims are 4.2 percent and the others 4.48 percent.

iii) Population by Mother Tongue: The official language is Nepali classification of mother tongue, as reported in the  population census 2001, shows that population speaking Nepali on mother tongue are 48.61 percent of the total population. And the population speaking Maithali 12.30 percent, Bhojpuri 7.53 percent, Tharu 5.86 percent, Tamang 5.19 percent, Newari 3.36 percent and others 17.15 percent.
Density of Population
Distribution of Population
Occupational Distribution of Population