The population of Nepal cannot be called a single people, because it represents the unification of many different ethnic groups. On the territory of the state, the Caucasian and Mongoloid races are in contact. Nationality "Nepalese" does not exist, and the population of Nepal unites perhaps only a common language.
Current population
Almost ten years ago, Nepal could still be called the last Hindu kingdom in the world. The entire population was subordinate to the monarch. The last ruler was a representative of the Shah dynasty, and after him there were no Hindu monarchs in the world. Since then, much has changed: a new Constitution was adopted, Nepal became a federal republic, a real demographic explosion occurred.
How many people are in Nepal today? The country, located between the two most populous states in the world, is home to only 29 million people. This is about the same as in Afghanistan or North Korea. The same number of citizens in the Stavropol Territory, the Republic of Dagestan or the Krasnoyarsk Territory. In terms of population, Nepal is in 41st place in the world.
Despite the increase in the number of citizens in recent years, the government is seriously concerned about the decrease in annual growth. Today it is about 2.2% annually - as in Libya or the Dominican Republic. This is much more than in developed Western European countries or the United States of America. In Nepal, there are 2.5 children per woman. The government is active in the demographic direction, but so far no visible effect has been observed.
Nepal population density
The average population density of Nepal, according to statistics, is 216 people per 1 square kilometer. Similar indicators are recorded in Italy, Germany, Pakistan, the Dominican Republic and North Korea. In terms of density, Nepal is located on the border between very densely populated states and countries, where the indicator is close to the world average. But unlike the listed states with a similar density, the population of Nepal is not evenly distributed across the country.
Nature of settlement
The nature of settlement is influenced by several factors:
- The natural environment (almost half of the world's population is concentrated in the lowlands, although they make up no more than 30% of the land). The mountainous areas of the state are poorly populated due to adverse environmental conditions. There are no permanent settlements over 4 km above sea level.
- The historical past (the historical factor influences the settlement). Throughout the twentieth century, there was a massive migration of Nepalese to the eastern regions and the area of the settlement of taras. People left the western highlands for more liveable ones. The trend continues today.
- The current demographic situation. In some states, the population is growing rapidly due to high natural growth. The population of Nepal after the demographic surge actively spread not only in the territory of their country. A large number of Nepalese (up to ten million) moved to neighboring India (especially to its mountainous regions in the northeast), Bhutan and Myanmar.
- The level of economic development (in regions where it is possible to find a job, a greater number of people are concentrated than in those where there is no production). The population of Nepal is concentrated in the capital, where the density is more than 1000 people per 1 square kilometer. The largest cities are near Kathmandu.
Urban and rural population
Most of the population of Nepal is concentrated in Kathmandu and in large cities near the capital. The population of Kathmandu is more than one million people, the average density reaches a record figure of 20, 000 inhabitants per 1 square kilometer. This is slightly less than in Calcutta - the most densely populated city in the world (24.2 thousand per 1 km 2).
Near Kathmandu and in the historical regions inhabited by the Terai, there are Lalitpur (or Patan) and Bhaktapur. Patan has about 180 thousand people. It should be noted the amazing beauty of this city. The second name, adopted at the official level, literally means "city of beauty." In Bhaktapur, which is also called Khvopa or Bhadgaon, there are almost 80 thousand Nepalese.
The largest city in the foothills, near the border with India, has a little more than two hundred thousand people. Biratnagar is a large industrial center, the fourth most populated city in the country. Pokhara is located in the central part of the state. The city is very popular among tourists mainly because it offers a beautiful view of the Himalayas. The permanent population of Pokhara is almost 200 thousand inhabitants.
The total urban population of Nepal is almost five million citizens, which is 17% of Nepalese. Over time, more and more people are moving to cities. Back in 2004, only three and a half million Nepalese (12%) were concentrated in large settlements.
The relatively small urban population in Nepal indicates that the majority of citizens are employed in agriculture. This is confirmed by the economic structure of employment. Three quarters of able-bodied citizens work in the fields. A fifth of the country's territory is occupied by agricultural land, and rice occupies more than half of the land.
Age stratification
Less than 5% of the population of Nepal are elderly people over 64 years old, despite the fact that life expectancy for both sexes is 66 years. This situation is typical for developing countries, as it creates a minimal social burden on society (a small pension coefficient). But if we take into account the number of people younger than working age, a different picture develops.
Children and adolescents under the age of 15 in Nepal are 34% of the total population. The coefficient of potential replacement (the ratio of the number of children to adults) in this case is 56.6%. Given these data, the burden on the able-bodied population, which has more than 17 million people, reaches 63.7%. This means that each person of working age must produce 1.5 times more services and goods that are required for himself.
Nepal is characterized by a progressive age-sex pyramid - as for the vast majority of developing countries.
The ethnic composition of the inhabitants
The national composition of the population of Nepal is very diverse. The border of the Mongoloid and Caucasoid races runs through the territory of the country, as mentioned earlier, which creates ethnic diversity.
The country's southern Caucasians are represented mainly by immigrants from India, who have massively migrated to Nepal since the beginning of the XI century. The Mongoloids are represented by Tibetans, Thakali and Sherpas.
Today, more than three-quarters of the population are those same immigrants from India who already consider themselves to be Nepalese indigenous. Other numerous ethnic groups are represented:
- chhetri (almost 13%);
- mountain bahunas (12.7%);
- mahars (7%);
- tharu (6.8%);
- tamangs (5.6%);
- nevari (5.5%).
Languages of the country's population
The location at the junction of nationalities and between the two most populous states determines linguistic diversity. The official language of the population - Nepali - is native to almost half of the citizens. In total, Nepal speaks 120 different languages and dialects. Common Indo-European languages, Tibeto-Burmese and other local. English is used in business.
Caste system in Nepal
The caste system in the country was formed in parallel with the Indian. There are four main castes today:
- Priests.
- Military.
- Merchants are merchants and some artisans.
- Servants (janitors, hairdressers, laundresses) and artisans who engage in the same, hard work (tailors, shoemakers, blacksmiths).
Worst of all is women from the lower caste of the “untouchables”. To alleviate the plight of many women who have to work as prostitutes, the government has developed a special program. The authorities of Nepal pay such women $ 200 a month, while they have the opportunity to look for another job. The problem is that this amount is too small to feed themselves and their children. In addition, women from the lower castes are treated like prostitutes, no matter what they do.
Religious composition
Nepal (population 29 million) is officially a secular state, but religion and the caste system have a very strong influence on citizens. According to official figures, 80% of the inhabitants are adherents of Hinduism, but more realistic data are as follows: 70% or even less. An incomprehensible situation is due to the fact that some small ethnic groups consider themselves Hindus, but in practice profess Buddhism or animism.
A tenth of the population, and possibly much more, are Buddhists. Modern Nepali Buddhism has incorporated many elements of Judaism.
System and level of education
Only in 1975 in Nepal a free system of primary education was formed, previously only close monarchs and local nobles had access to education. Today, all children from six to ten children are required to attend regular elementary school regularly. Then they can enter the secondary, but economic and socio-cultural factors often become on the way to getting an education. Among the latter, the involvement of child labor and neglect of girls can be listed.
Today, the adult literacy rate is 76% for men and 55% for women. Until the nineties, the situation was even worse. Positive results were achieved by introducing a twelve-year educational program for citizens over six and under forty-five. By 2003, literacy increased by 45% compared to 1990, but a large gap between the education of men and women still exists. Nepal has not yet succeeded in getting rid of socio-cultural prejudices.
Healthcare in Nepal
The level of medicine in the country is extremely low. The government regularly introduces special social programs, but no significant changes are observed. One of these programs has significantly reduced the incidence of smallpox and malaria in the Terai region, so there are still some results. Endemic goiter often occurs in rural areas, and leprosy cases occur in some regions. Malnutrition is a serious problem. The problem is especially acute in mountainous areas.
