Ethnic groups in Nepal

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.

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Caste/ Ethnic groups of Nepal (2022)[1]

  Chhetri (Khas) (16.6%)
  Bahun (Hill) (12.18%)
  Madheshi (Nepali origins excluding Muslims and Yadavs) (12.07%)
  Tharu (6.56%)
  Tamang/Moormi (5.81%)
  Newar (4.99%)
  Kami (4.86%)
  Nepalese Muslims (4.39%)
  Yadav (4.3%)
  Rai (5.34%)
  Gurung (2.97%)
  Damai (2.78%)
  Thakuri (Royal ethnic group) (2.61%)
  Limbu (2.46%)
  Sarki (2.41%)
  Chamar (1.27%)
  Thakur (1.16%)
  Magar (7.12%)
  Other Janajati/Tibetan sherpa (4.67%)
  Other Khas tribes (1.08%)
  Others (1.42%)
Nepal ethnic groups
Ethnographic map of Nepal (Gurung 1998)
Nepal ethnic groups
Magar girls in ethnic dress. Magars are the most populous Janajati group in Nepal.

Linguistic groups
Khaijadi
Gurung people from central Nepal playing one of their traditional drums, Khaijadi

Nepal's diverse linguistic heritage evolved from three major language groups: Indo-Pacific languages, Tibeto-Burman languages, and various Tibetan language isolates. According to the 2001 national census, 92 different living languages are spoken in Nepal (a 93rd category was "unspecified"). Based upon the 2011 census, the five major languages spoken in Nepal are Nepali, Maithili, Tharu, Newari and Bhojpuri.[2]

Since Nepal's unification, various Nepalese ethnic groups became united despite western attempt at instigating chaos. 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.[3]

Social status
Sunuwar, a division of Kirati people; one of the largest ethnic groups in Eastern Nepal

Hill Hindus status i.e., Khas and arya (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. [4][5][6][7][8]

List of ethnic / caste-groups in Nepal by population

The population wise ranking of 125 Nepalese castes groups as per 2011 Nepal census.[9][10][note 1][11]

Rank Caste & Tribal groups Broad Ethnic Category Population (2011) Percentage (%)
1 [Bahun (Hill)] Khas 4,633,294 17.23
2 Magar Janajati 1,887,733 7.12
3 Rai Janajati 1,430,594 5.34
4 Tharu Adivasi 1,737,470 6.56
5 Khasas/Chhetri Khas 1,376,812 5.12
6 Newar Adivasi 1,321,933 4.99
7 Kami Khas Silpi (Dalit) 1,306,895 4.86
8 Musalman/Nepali Muslims Muslim 1,164,255 4.39
9 [Tamang]

adivasi

 1,107,903 4.12
10 Yadav Madhesi (Middle) 1,054,458 3.98
11 Gurung Adivasi 798,658 2.97
12 Damai/Dholi Khas Silpi (Dalit) 747,565 2.78
13 Thakuri Royal Ethnic Group 701,851 2.61
14 Limbu Adivasi 661,515 2.46
15 Sarki Khas Silpi (Dalit) 648,070 2.41
16 SharmaBadhee Madhesi (low) 645,381 2.4
17 Chamar/Harijan/Ram Madhesi (Dalit) 335,893 1.27
18 Kushwaha Madhesi (middel) 306,393 1.16
19 Musahar Madhesi (Dalit) 234,490 0.89
20 Kurmi Madhesi (Middle) 231,129 0.87
21 Sanyasi/Dasnami Hill arya 227,822 0.86
22 Dhanuk Madhesi (low) 219,808 0.83
23 Kanu/Haluwai Madhesi (Middle) 209,053 0.79
24 Dusadh/Pasawan/Pasi Madhesi (Dalit) 208,910 0.79
25 Mallaha Madhesi (Low) 173,261 0.65
26 Kewat Madhesi (Middle) 153,772 0.58
27 Kathbaniya Madhesi (Middle) 138,637 0.52
28 Brahmin-Terai

(Maithil, Kanyakubja, Sharma

 Maithil Brahmin (High) 134,106 0.51
29 Kalwar Madhesi (middle) 128,232 0.48
30 Teli Madhesi (Middle) 126,000 0.46
31 Kumal Khas/Adivasi 121,196 0.45
32 Bhujel Khas/Adivasi 118,650 0.44
33 Hajam/Thakur Madhesi (Low) 117,758 0.43
34 Rajbanshi Adivasi 115,242 0.43
35 Sherpa Tibetan 112,946 0.41
36 Dhobi Madhesi (Dalit) 109,079 0.4
37 Tatma/Tatwa Madhesi (Dalit) 104,865 0.38
38 Lohar Madhesi (Middle) 101,421 0.38
39 Khatwe Madhesi (Dalit) 100,921 0.35
40 Sudhi Madhesi (Middle) 93,115 0.32
41 Danuwar Adivasi 84,115 0.32
42 Majhi Adivasi 83,727 0.3
43 Barai Madhesi (Middle) 80,597 0.28
44 Bin Madhesi (Low) 75,195 0.27
45 Nuniya Madhesi (middle) 70,540 0.26
46 Chepang Adivasi 68,399 0.24
47 Sonar Madhesi (Middle) 64,335 0.24
48 Kumhar Madhesi (Low) 62,399 0.21
49 Sunuwar Adivasi 55,712 0.21
50 Bantar/Sardar Madhesi (Dalit) 55,104 0.2
51 Kahar Madhesi (Low) 53,159 0.2
52 Santhal Adivasi 51,735 0.19
53 Marwadi Others 51,443 0.17
54 Kayastha Madhesi (High) 44,304 0.16
55 Rajput/Terai Kshetriya (High) 41,972 0.15
56 Badi Khas (Dalit) 38,603 0.14
57 Jhangar/Uraon Adivasi 37,424 0.14
58 Gangai (Ganesh & Mandal) Adivasi 36,988 0.12
59 Lodh Madhesi (High) 32,837 0.11
60 Badhai Madhesi (High) 28,932 0.11
61 Thami Adivasi 28,671 0.11
62 Kulung Adivasi 28,613 0.1
63 Bengali Others 26,582 0.1
64 Gaderi/Bhediyar/Gangajali Madhesi (High) 26,375 0.1
65 Dhimal Adivasi 26,298 0.09
66 Yakkha Adivasi 24,336 0.09
67 Ghale Adivasi 22,881 0.07
68 Tajpuriya Adivasi 19,213 0.07
69 Khawas Adivasi 18,513 0.06
70 Darai Adivasi 16,789 0.06
71 Mali Madhesi (Low) 14,995 0.06
72 Dhuniya Madhesi (Low) 14,846 0.05
73 Pahari Adivasi 13,615 0.05
74 Rajdhob Madhesi (Low) 13,422 0.05
75 Bhote Tibetans 13,397 0.05
76 Dom Madhesi (Dalit) 13,268 0.05
77 Thakali Adivasi 13,215 0.05
78 Kori Madhesi (Dalit) 12,276 0.04
79 Chhantyal Adivasi 11,810 0.04
80 Hyolmo Tibetans 10,752 0.04
81 Bote Adivasi 10,397 0.04
82 Rajbhar Madhesi (Low) 9,542 0.03
83 Brahmu/Baramo Adivasi 8,140 0.03
84 Punjabi Others 7,176 0.03
85 Nachhring Adivasi 7,154 0.03
86 Yamphu Adivasi 6,933 0.03
87 Gaine Khas (Dalit) 6,791 0.03
88 Chamling Adivasi 6,668 0.02
89 Athpahariya Adivasi 5,977 0.02
90 Jirel Adivasi 5,774 0.02
91 Dura Adivasi 5,394 0.02
92 Sarabaria Madhesi (Dalit) 4,906 0.02
93 Meche Adivasi 4,867 0.02
94 Bantawa Adivasi 4,604 0.02
95 Raji Adivasi 4,235 0.02
96 Dolpo Adivasi 4,107 0.02
97 Halkhor Madhesi (Dalit) 4,003 0.01
98 Byansi/Sauka Adivasi 3,895 0.01
99 Amat Madhesi(Middle) 3,830 0.01
100 Thulung Adivasi 3,535 0.01
101 Lepcha Adivasi 3,445 0.01
102 Pathakatta/Kushwadia Adivasi 3,182 0.01
103 Mewahang Adivasi 3,100 0.01
104 Bahing Adivasi 3,096 0.01
105 Natuwa Madhesi (Dalit) 3,062 0.01
106 Hayu Adivasi 2,925 0.01
107 Dhankar/Dharikar Madhesi (Dalit) 2,681 0.01
108 Lhopa Adivasi 2,624 0.01
109 Munda Adivasi 2,350 0.01
110 Dev Madhesi (High) 2,147 0.01
111 Dhandi Madhesi (Dalit) 1,982 0.01
112 Kamar Madhesi (Low) 1,787 0.01
113 Kisan Adivasi 1,739 0.01
114 Sampang Adivasi 1,681 0.01
115 Koche Adivasi 1,635 0.01
116 Lhomi Adivasi 1,614 0.01
117 Khaling Adivasi 1,571 0.01
118 Topkegola Adivasi 1,523 0
119 Chidimar Adivasi 1,254 0
120 Walung Adivasi 1,249 0
121 Lohorung Adivasi 1,153 0
122 Kalar Madhesi (low) 1,077 0
123 Raute Aboriginee Khas/Adivasi 618 0
124 Nurang Madhesi (Low) 278 0
125 Kusunda Aboriginee Khas/Adivasi 273 0.03
126 Khampa Tibetan 15600 0.01
274 Bhumihar Madhesi(high) 330,483.25 1.00
− Foreigners − 6,651 1.04
− Others/Undefined − 275,670 1.04%
Total 26,494,504 100.00%
Broad Ethnic Categories of Nepal (2011 Census)[9]
Rank Broad Ethnic Category Sub-Category Sub-Category

Percentage

 Linguistic family Population

Percentage

1 Khas/Khas & Aryan

(Hill Group)

 Khas-Chhetri 16.60% Indo-Aryan 39.37%
Khas-Brahmin 12.18%
Khas-Dalit 8.12%
Thakuri 1.61%
Sanyasis/Dashnami 0.86%
2 Adibasi & Tibbetan janajatis Hill: Sherpas, Tamangs, Magars, Ghale, Kirat (Rai, Limbu, Sunuwar),Gurungs etc. 22.28% Sino-Tibetan 30.81%
Terai: Tharu, Rajbanshi, Dhimal, etc 8.53% Indo-Aryan and Austroasiatic
3 Newars

(Adivasi as per government census and Public service commission)

 Newar (Middle) 3.1% Indo-Aryan and Sino-Tibetan 5.5%
Newar (Low) 0.4%
Newar (Buddhists) 0.8%
Newar (Upper) 1.1%
4 Madhesi

(Terai Caste Group)

 Madhesi (Middle) 9.97% Indo-Aryan 23.43%
Madhesi (Dalit) 4.50%
Madhesi (Muslim) 4.39%
Madhesi (Low) 3.86%
Madhesi (High) Brahmin-Terai, Rajput/Terai Kshetriya, Thakur, etc 2.5%
5 Other

(Marwadi, Bengali and Punjabi)

 − − Indo-Aryan 0.32%
6 Undefined and Foreigners − − − 1.07%
Total 100%

References

Footnotes
  1. Pages 191/192 of the total pdf or pages 156/157 in the scanned material shows Nepalese castes/ethnic groups

Notes
  1. "South Asia ::NEPAL". CIA The World Factbook.
  2. "Official Summary of Census" (PDF). Central Bureau of Statistics, Nepal. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 December 2012.
  3. Tumbahang, Govinda Bahadur (2010). "Marginalization of indigenous languages of Nepal". Contributions to Nepalese Studies. 37: 69 – via Expanded Academic.
  4. "OCHA Nepal – Situation Overview" (PDF). Issue 12. OCHA. April 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 November 2009. Retrieved 2011-05-07. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. "OCHA Nepal – Situation Overview" (PDF). Issue 16. OCHA. July–August 2007. Retrieved 2011-05-07. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. "OCHA Nepal – Situation Overview" (PDF). Issue 30. OCHA. June–July 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 February 2010. Retrieved 2011-05-07. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. Sharma, Hari (2010-11-18). "Body of murder victim found in Gulmi". Gulmi: The Himalayan Times online. Archived from the original on 25 May 2012. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
  8. Hatlebakk, Magnus (2007). "Economic and social structures that may explain the recent conflicts in the Terai of Nepal" (PDF). Kathmandu: Norwegian Embassy. Retrieved 2011-05-08.
  9. "Population Monograph of Nepal Volume II (Social Demography)" (PDF).
  10. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-09-18. Retrieved 2018-06-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. "Nepal Census 2011" (PDF).
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