Ethnic groups in Nepal

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

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

  Brahmin (22.18%)
  Chhetri (16.60%)
  Magar (7.13%)
  Tharu (6.56%)
  Tamang (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 (12.51%)
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.

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]

Linguistic groups

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

Nepal's diverse linguistic heritage evolved from 2 major language groups: Indo-European languages, Tibeto-Burman languages. Nepal's languages are mostly either Indo-European or Sino-Tibetan, while only a very few of them are Austro-Asiatic and Dravidian.

Out of 123 languages of Nepal, the 48 Indo-European languages constitute the largest group in terms of the numeric strength of their speakers, nearly 82.1%[4] of population. Nepali, Bhojpuri, Maithili, Awadhi, Tharu languages, Urdu, etc. fall in this group.

The Sino-Tibetan family of Nepal's languages forms a part of its Tibeto-Burman group. Though spoken by relatively fewer people than the Indo-European family (17.3%[4] of population), it includes a greater number of languages, about 63 languages. Languages belonging to this group are Tamang, Nepal Bhasa (Newar), Magar, Limbu, etc.

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 status i.e. (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.[4][2][note 1][11]

Rank Caste & Tribal groups Population (2011) Percentage (%)
1 Chetri 4,398,053 16.60
2 Bahun 3,226,903 12.18
3 Magar 1,887,733 7.12
4 Tharu 1,737,470 6.56
5 Tamang 1,539,830 5.81
6 Newar 1,321,933 4.99
7 Kami 1,258,554 4.75
8 Nepali Musalman 1,164,255 4.39
9 Yadav 1,054,458 3.98
10 Rai 620,004 2.34
11 Gurung 522,641 1.97
12 Damai/Dholi 472,862 1.78
13 Thakuri 425,623 1.61
14 Limbu 387,300 1.46
15 Sarki 374,816 1.41
16 Teli 369,688 1.40
17 Chamar/Harijan/Ram 335,893 1.27
18 Kushwaha 306,393 1.16
19 Musahar 234,490 0.89
20 Kurmi 231,129 0.87
21 Sanyasi/Dasnami 227,822 0.86
22 Dhanuk 219,808 0.83
23 Kanu/Haluwai 209,053 0.79
24 Dusadh/Pasawan/Pasi 208,910 0.79
25 Mallaha 173,261 0.65
26 Kewat 153,772 0.58
27 Kathbaniya 138,637 0.52
28 Brahmin-Terai 134,106 0.51
29 Kalwar 128,232 0.48
30 Kumal 121,196 0.45
31 Bhujel 118,650 0.44
32 Hajam/Thakur 117,758 0.43
33 Rajbanshi 115,242 0.43
34 Sherpa 112,946 0.41
35 Dhobi 109,079 0.40
36 Tatma/Tatwa 104,865 0.38
37 Lohar 101,421 0.38
38 Khatwe 100,921 0.35
39 Sudhi 93,115 0.32
40 Danuwar 84,115 0.32
41 Majhi 83,727 0.30
42 Barai 80,597 0.28
43 Bin 75,195 0.27
44 Nuniya 70,540 0.26
45 Chepang 68,399 0.24
46 Sonar 64,335 0.24
47 Kumhar 62,399 0.21
48 Sunuwar 55,712 0.21
49 Bantar/Sardar 55,104 0.21
50 Kahar 53,159 0.20
51 Santhal 51,735 0.20
52 Marwadi 51,443 0.19
53 Kayastha 44,304 0.17
54 Rajput/Terai Kshetriya 41,972 0.16
55 Badi 38,603 0.15
56 Jhangar/Uraon 37,424 0.14
57 Gangai (Ganesh & Mandal) 36,988 0.12
58 Lodh 32,837 0.11
59 Badhaee 28,932 0.11
60 Thami 28,671 0.11
61 Kulung 28,613 0.1
62 Bengali 26,582 0.1
63 Gaderi/Bhediyar/Gangajali 26,375 0.1
64 Dhimal 26,298 0.09
65 Yakkha 24,336 0.09
66 Ghale 22,881 0.07
67 Tajpuriya 19,213 0.07
68 Khawas 18,513 0.06
69 Darai 16,789 0.06
70 Mali 14,995 0.06
71 Dhuniya 14,846 0.05
72 Pahari 13,615 0.05
73 Rajdhob 13,422 0.05
74 Bhote 13,397 0.05
75 Dom 13,268 0.05
76 Thakali 13,215 0.05
77 Kori 12,276 0.04
78 Chhantyal 11,810 0.04
79 Hyolmo 10,752 0.04
80 Bote 10,397 0.04
81 Rajbhar 9,542 0.03
82 Brahmu/Baramo 8,140 0.03
83 Punjabi 7,176 0.03
84 Nachhring 7,154 0.03
85 Yamphu 6,933 0.03
86 Gaine 6,791 0.03
87 Chamling 6,668 0.02
88 Athpahariya 5,977 0.02
89 Jirel 5,774 0.02
90 Dura 5,394 0.02
91 Sarabaria 4,906 0.02
92 Meche 4,867 0.02
93 Bantawa 4,604 0.02
94 Raji 4,235 0.02
95 Dolpo 4,107 0.02
96 Halkhor 4,003 0.01
97 Byansi/Sauka 3,895 0.01
98 Amat 3,830 0.01
99 Thulung 3,535 0.01
100 Lepcha 3,445 0.01
101 Pathakatta/Kushwadia 3,182 0.01
102 Mewahang 3,100 0.01
103 Bahing 3,096 0.01
104 Natuwa 3,062 0.01
105 Hayu 2,925 0.01
106 Dhankar/Dharikar 2,681 0.01
107 Lhopa 2,624 0.01
108 Munda 2,350 0.0087
109 Dev 2,147 0.0081
110 Dhandi 1,982 0.0075
111 Kamar 1,787 0.0067
112 Kisan 1,739 0.0066
113 Sampang 1,681 0.0063
114 Koche 1,635 0.0062
115 Lhomi 1,614 0.0061
116 Khaling 1,571 0.0059
117 Topkegola 1,523 0.0057
118 Chidimar 1,254 0.0047
119 Walung 1,249 0.0047
120 Lohorung 1,153 0.0044
121 Kalar 1,077 0.004
122 Raute 618 0.002
123 Nurang 278 0.001
124 Kusunda 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)[4]
Rank Broad Ethnic Category Sub-Category Sub-Category

Percentage

Linguistic family Population

Percentage

1 Khas-Arya

(Hill Group)

Chhetri 16.60% Indo-Aryan 39.37%
Brahmin 12.18%
Dalit 8.12%
Thakuri 1.61%
Sanyasis/Dashnami 0.86%
2 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, Austroasiatic, Sino-Tibetan languages
3 Newars Newar (Middle) 3.1% 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 (Nepali Muslims) 4.39%
Madhesi (Low) 3.86%
Madhesi (High) Maithili Brahmins, 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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c d "Population Monograph of Nepal Volume II (Social Demography)" (PDF).
  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}}: |volume= has extra text (help); Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. ^ "OCHA Nepal – Situation Overview" (PDF). Issue 16. OCHA. July–August 2007. Retrieved 2011-05-07. {{cite journal}}: |volume= has extra text (help); 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}}: |volume= has extra text (help); 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. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-24. Retrieved 2011-05-08.
  11. ^ "Nepal Census 2011" (PDF).
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