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.

Broad ethnic categories of Nepal

*Note: The Madeshi Commission also removed Muslims and Tharus from the list of Madeshis in 2021. In the surname listing of ‘Surname Enumeration of Madheshi Community in Nepal -2078 B.S.' conducted by the Madheshi Commission, Tharus in sub-group-1 and Muslims in sub-group-2 have been removed.

Linguistic groups

Nepal's diverse linguistic heritage evolved from 2 major language groups: Indo-European languages and 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% of population.

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% 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.

Mother Tongues

There were 124 mother tongues according to the "National Report on caste/ethnicity, language & religion", National Population and Housing Census 2021 in Nepal.111 were previously reported in the earlier census 2011 and 13 were newly found in the census 2021.

The newly added mother tongues were ''Bhote, Lowa, Chum/Nubri, Baragunwa, Nar-Phu, Ranatharu, Karmarong, Mugali, Tichhurong Poike, Sadri, Done, Munda/Mudiyari'' and ''Kewarat.''

Population by mother tongue and sex,  NPHC 2021

Second Languages

There were 25 languages that were being used as second language by more than 10 thousand population on each in the "National Report on caste/ethnicity, language & religion", National Population and Housing Census 2021 in Nepal, whereas there were only 18 such languages reported as second language in the earlier census 2011.

Population by second language and sex,  NPHC 2021

Social status

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).

Terai status i.e ( Maithili Brahmins, Yadavs, Rajputs, kushwahas, Terai Kshetriyas) are the upper caste of terai ( Madheshi sub group) in which Yadavs is most populated caste with in the Madheshi sub caste group who dominated in the politics, the engineering services and medical services and have good amount of lands. Like Notable Dr. Ram Baran Yadav is the physician and served as the first President of Nepal from 23 July 2008 to 29 October 2015.

Nepali was the national language where as Maithali is the second most spoken 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.

Caste/ethnicity in Nepal by population

The populations of 125 Nepalese castes groups were recorded in the 2011 Nepal census.

However, there were 142 castes/ethnicities according to the "National Report on caste/ethnicity, language & religion", National Population and Housing Census 2021 in Nepal, out of which 125 were previously reported in the earlier census 2011 and 17 were newly found in the census 2021.

The newly added castes/ethnicities were ''Ranatharu, Bhumihar, Bankariya, Surel, Chumba/Nubri, Phree, Mugal/Mugum, Pun, Rauniyar, Baniyan, Gondh/Gond, Karmarong, Khatik, Beldar, Chai/Khulaut, Done'' and ''Kewarat''.

The Madeshi Commission also removed Muslims and Tharus from the list of Madeshis in 2021. In the surname listing of ‘Surname Enumeration of Madheshi Community in Nepal -2078 B.S.' conducted by the Madheshi Commission, Tharus in sub-group-1 and Muslims in sub-group-2 have been removed.

List of Castes/Ethnicities by population in Nepal- NPHC 2021

List of Castes/Ethnicities by population in Nepal-2011

Religion

According to "National Report on caste/ethnicity, language & religion", National Population and Housing Census 2021 the number of religions adopted by the individuals in census 2021 and 2011 were as follows:

References

Footnotes

Notes

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