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.[3]

Top 18 Caste/Ethnic groups of Nepal (2022)[1][2]

  Chhetri (Khas) (16.60%)
  Brahmin (Hill) (12.18%)
  Magar (7.12%)
  Tharu (6.56%)
  Tamang/Moormi (5.81%)
  Newar (4.99%)
  Kami (4.75%)
  Muslims (5.09%)
  Yadav (3.98%)
  Rai (2.34%)
  Gurung (1.97%)
  Damai (1.78%)
  Thakuri (1.61%)
  Limbu (1.46%)
  Sarki (1.41%)
  Teli (1.40%)
  Chamar (1.27%)
  Kushwaha (1.16%)
  Other (19.22%)
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-European 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, Newar and Bhojpuri.[4]

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.[5]

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. [6][7][8][9][10]

List of ethnic / caste-groups in Nepal by population

The population wise ranking of 125 Nepalese castes groups as per 2011 Nepal census.[11][2][note 1][12]

Rank Caste & Tribal groups Broad Ethnic Category Population (2011) Percentage (%)
1 Chhetri (Khas) Khas 4,398,053 16.60
2 Bahun (Hill) Khas 3,226,903 12.18
3 Magar Hill Janajati 1,887,733 7.12
4 Tharu Tarai Janajati 1,737,470 6.56
5 Tamang Hill Janajati 1,539,830 5.81
6 Newar Hill Janajati 1,321,933 4.99
7 Kami Khas Silpi (Dalit) 1,258,554 4.75
8 Musalman/Nepali Muslims Muslim 1,164,255 4.39
9 Yadav Madhesi (Middle) 1,054,458 3.98
10 Rai Hill Janajati 620,004 2.34
11 Gurung Hill Janajati 522,641 1.97
12 Damai/Dholi Khas Silpi (Dalit) 472,862 1.78
13 Thakuri Royal Ethnic Group 425,623 1.61
14 Limbu Hill Janajati 387,300 1.46
15 Sarki Khas Silpi (Dalit) 374,816 1.41
16 Teli Madhesi (Middle) 369,688 1.40
17 Chamar/Harijan/Ram Madhesi (Dalit) 335,893 1.27
18 Kushwaha Madhesi (Middle) 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 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 Kumal Hill Janajati 121,196 0.45
31 Bhujel Hill Janajati 118,650 0.44
32 Hajam/Thakur Madhesi (Low) 117,758 0.43
33 Rajbanshi Tarai Janajati 115,242 0.43
34 Sherpa Hill Janajati 112,946 0.41
35 Dhobi Madhesi (Dalit) 109,079 0.40
36 Tatma/Tatwa Madhesi (Dalit) 104,865 0.38
37 Lohar Madhesi (Middle) 101,421 0.38
38 Khatwe Madhesi (Dalit) 100,921 0.35
39 Sudhi Madhesi (Middle) 93,115 0.32
40 Danuwar Hill Janajati 84,115 0.32
41 Majhi Hill Janajati 83,727 0.30
42 Barai Madhesi (Middle) 80,597 0.28
43 Bin Madhesi (Low) 75,195 0.27
44 Nuniya Madhesi (Middle) 70,540 0.26
45 Chepang Hill Janajati 68,399 0.24
46 Sonar Madhesi (Middle) 64,335 0.24
47 Kumhar Madhesi (Low) 62,399 0.21
48 Sunuwar Hill Janajati 55,712 0.21
49 Bantar/Sardar Madhesi (Dalit) 55,104 0.21
50 Kahar Madhesi (Low) 53,159 0.20
51 Santhal Tarai Janajati 51,735 0.20
52 Marwadi Others 51,443 0.19
53 Kayastha Madhesi (High) 44,304 0.17
54 Rajput/Terai Kshetriya Madhesi (High) 41,972 0.16
55 Badi Khas (Dalit) 38,603 0.15
56 Jhangar/Uraon Tarai Janajati 37,424 0.14
57 Gangai (Ganesh & Mandal) Tarai Janajati 36,988 0.12
58 Lodh Madhesi (High) 32,837 0.11
59 Badhaee Madhesi (High) 28,932 0.11
60 Thami Hill Janajati 28,671 0.11
61 Kulung Hill Janajati 28,613 0.1
62 Bengali Others 26,582 0.1
63 Gaderi/Bhediyar/Gangajali Madhesi (High) 26,375 0.1
64 Dhimal Tarai Janajati 26,298 0.09
65 Yakkha Hill Janajati 24,336 0.09
66 Ghale Hill Janajati 22,881 0.07
67 Tajpuriya Tarai Janajati 19,213 0.07
68 Khawas Hill Janajati 18,513 0.06
69 Darai Hill Janajati 16,789 0.06
70 Mali Madhesi (Low) 14,995 0.06
71 Dhuniya Madhesi (Low) 14,846 0.05
72 Pahari Hill Janajati 13,615 0.05
73 Rajdhob Madhesi (Low) 13,422 0.05
74 Bhote Hill Janajati 13,397 0.05
75 Dom Madhesi (Dalit) 13,268 0.05
76 Thakali Hill Janajati 13,215 0.05
77 Kori Madhesi (Dalit) 12,276 0.04
78 Chhantyal Hill Janajati 11,810 0.04
79 Hyolmo Hill Janajati 10,752 0.04
80 Bote Hill Janajati 10,397 0.04
81 Rajbhar Madhesi (Low) 9,542 0.03
82 Brahmu/Baramo Hill Janajati 8,140 0.03
83 Punjabi Others 7,176 0.03
84 Nachhring Hill Janajati 7,154 0.03
85 Yamphu Hill Janajati 6,933 0.03
86 Gaine Khas (Dalit) 6,791 0.03
87 Chamling Hill Janajati 6,668 0.02
88 Athpahariya Hill Janajati 5,977 0.02
89 Jirel Hill Janajati 5,774 0.02
90 Dura Hill Janajati 5,394 0.02
91 Sarabaria Madhesi (Dalit) 4,906 0.02
92 Meche Tarai Janajati 4,867 0.02
93 Bantawa Hill Janajati 4,604 0.02
94 Raji Hill Janajati 4,235 0.02
95 Dolpo Hill Janajati 4,107 0.02
96 Halkhor Madhesi (Dalit) 4,003 0.01
97 Byansi/Sauka Hill Janajati 3,895 0.01
98 Amat Madhesi (Middle) 3,830 0.01
99 Thulung Hill Janajati 3,535 0.01
100 Lepcha Hill Janajati 3,445 0.01
101 Pathakatta/Kushwadia Tarai Janajati 3,182 0.01
102 Mewahang Hill Janajati 3,100 0.01
103 Bahing Hill Janajati 3,096 0.01
104 Natuwa Madhesi (Dalit) 3,062 0.01
105 Hayu Hill Janajati 2,925 0.01
106 Dhankar/Dharikar Madhesi (Dalit) 2,681 0.01
107 Lhopa Hill Janajati 2,624 0.01
108 Munda Tarai Janajati 2,350 0.0087
109 Dev Madhesi (High) 2,147 0.0081
110 Dhandi Madhesi (Dalit) 1,982 0.0075
111 Kamar Madhesi (Low) 1,787 0.0067
112 Kisan Tarai Janajati 1,739 0.0066
113 Sampang Hill Janajati 1,681 0.0063
114 Koche Tarai Janajati 1,635 0.0062
115 Lhomi Hill Janajati 1,614 0.0061
116 Khaling Hill Janajati 1,571 0.0059
117 Topkegola Hill Janajati 1,523 0.0057
118 Chidimar Tarai Janajati 1,254 0.0047
119 Walung Hill Janajati 1,249 0.0047
120 Lohorung Hill Janajati 1,153 0.0044
121 Kalar Madhesi (Low) 1,077 0.004
122 Raute Aboriginee Khas/Hill Janajati 618 0.002
123 Nurang Madhesi (Low) 278 0.001
124 Kusunda Aboriginee Khas/Hill Janajati 273 0.001
− Foreigners − 6,651 0.03
− Others/Undefined − 275,670 1.04%
Total 26,494,504 100.00%
Broad Ethnic Categories of Nepal (2011 Census)[11]
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 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 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. "POPULATION MONOGRAPH OF NEPAL" (PDF). p. 191. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-09-18. Retrieved 2018-06-30.
  3. Mishra, Pramod (2020-08-26). "Endogamy, hierarchy and violence". The Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 2023-06-07.
  4. "Official Summary of Census" (PDF). Central Bureau of Statistics, Nepal. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 December 2012.
  5. Tumbahang, Govinda Bahadur (2010). "Marginalization of indigenous languages of Nepal". Contributions to Nepalese Studies. 37: 69 – via Expanded Academic.
  6. "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)
  7. "OCHA Nepal – Situation Overview" (PDF). Issue 16. OCHA. July–August 2007. Retrieved 2011-05-07. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. "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)
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. "Population Monograph of Nepal Volume II (Social Demography)" (PDF).
  12. "Nepal Census 2011" (PDF).
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