Ethnic Groups in Nepal - Ethnic Groups

Ethnic Groups

Nepal's 2001 census enumerated 102 castes and ethnic groups.

Recent studies derives 90% people being Nepali Origin and 10% Indian origin. Nepali origin are divide into two groups Khas and Mongoloids. Khas origin has further subgroups and they account for 50% of Nepal's total population, while Mongoloids group account for 40% of populations. Famous Khas origins are Chhetri, Thakuri, Bharamin etc. and famous Mongoloids origin are Gurung, Magar,Newar, Tamang, Sherpa, Rai, Limbu etc.

Caste/ethnic group Population % of total
Khas - Chhetri (Kshatriya) 3,593,496 15.5
Khas - Brahman 2,896,477 12.5
Magar 1,622,421 7.0
Tharu 1,533,879 6.6
Tamang 1,282,304 5.5
Newar 1,245,232 5.4
Muslim 971,056 4.2
Khas & - Kami 895,954 3.9
Rai 635,151 2.79
Gurung 686,000 2.39
Khas - Damai/Dholi 390,305 1.72
Limbu 359,379 1.58
Khas - Thakuri 334,120 1.47
Khas - Sarki 318,989 1.40
Teli 304,536 1.34
Chamar, Harijan, Ram 269,661 1.19
Koiri 251,274 1.11
Kurmi 212,842 0.94
Khas - Sanyasi 199,127 0.88
Dhanuk 188,150 0.83
Musahar 172,434 0.76
Dusad/Paswan/Pasi 158,525 0.70
Sherpa 154,622 0.68
Sunar 145,088 0.64
Kewat 136,953 0.60
Terai Brahmin 134,496 0.59
Baniya 126,971 0.56
Gharti/Bhujel 117,568 0.52
Mallah 115,986 0.51
Khas - Kalwar 115,606 0.51
Kumal 99,389 0.44
Hajam/Thakur 98,169 0.43
Kanu 95,826 0.42
Rajbansi 95,812 0.42
Sunuwar 95,254 0.42
Sudhi 89,846 0.40
Lohar 82,637 0.36
Tatma 76,512 0.34
Khatwe 74,972 0.33
Madheshi Dhobi 73,413 0.32
Majhi 72,614 0.32
Nuniya 66,873 0.29
Kumhar 54,413 0.24
Danuwar 53,229 0.23
Chepang 52,237 0.23
Haluwai 50,583 0.22
Rajput 48,454 0.21
Kayastha 46,071 0.20
Badhai 45,975 0.20
Marwadi 43,971 0.19
Santhal/Satar 42,698 0.19
Dhagar/Jhagar 41,764 0.18
Bantar 35,839 0.16
Barai 35,434 0.16
Kahar 34,531 0.15
Gangai 31,318 0.14
Lodha 24,738 0.11
Rajbhar 24,263 0.11
Thami 22,999 0.10
Dhimal 19,537 0.09
Bhote 19,261 0.08
Binga/Binda 18,720 0.08
Bhediyar Gaderi 17,729 0.08
Nurang 17,522 0.08
Yakkha 17,003 0.07
Darai 14,859 0.07
Tajpuriya 13,250 0.06
Thakali 12,973 0.06
Chidimar 12,296 0.05
Non-Khas Pahari peoples 11,505 0.05
Khas - Mali 11,390 0.05
Bangali 9,860 0.04
Chhantyal 9,814 0.04
Dom 8,931 0.04
Kamar 8,761 0.04
Bote 7,969 0.04
Brahmu/Baramu 7,383 0.03
Khas - Gaine/Gandarbha 5,887 0.03
Jirel 5,316 0.02
Adivasi/Janajati 5,259 0.02
Dura 5,169 0.02
Churaute 4,893 0.02
Badi 4,442 0.02
Meche 3,763 0.02
Lepcha 3,660 0.02
Halkhor 3,621 0.02
Punjabi/Sikh 3,054 0.01
Kisan 2,876 0.01
Raji 2,399 0.01
Byangsi 2,103 0.01
Hayu 1,821 0.01
Koche 1,429 0.01
Dhunia 1,231 0.01
Walung 1,148 0.01
Jain 1,015 0.00
Munda 660 0.00
Raute 658 0.00
Hyolmo 579 0.00
Madheshi Pattharkatta/Kuswariya 552 0.00
Kusunda 164 0.00
Unspecified Khas Dalit 173,401 0.76
Caste/Ethnicity not stated 231,641 1.02
Total 22,736,934 100.00

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    —Jean Dubuffet (1901–1985)

    “Belonging to a group can provide the child with a variety of resources that an individual friendship often cannot—a sense of collective participation, experience with organizational roles, and group support in the enterprise of growing up. Groups also pose for the child some of the most acute problems of social life—of inclusion and exclusion, conformity and independence.”
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