Nepalis (English: Nepalese ; Nepali: नेपाली), or Nepaliya (Maithili: नेपलीया), also known as Nepa-mi (Nepal Bhasa: 𑐣𑐾𑐥𑐵𑑅𑐩𑐶, नेपाःमि), are the citizens of Nepal under the provisions of Nepali nationality law. The country is home to people of many different national origins who are the descendants of immigrants from India, Kashmir, Central Asia, and Tibet. The term Nepalis (Nepalese) is the nationality referred only to the people with citizenship of Nepal while the people without Citizenship but has roots in Nepal are strictly referred to as Nepali Speaking Foreigners (Nepali: नेपाली भाषी विदेशी) who are speakers of one of the 128 Nepalese languages but are now foreign citizens or of foreign nationality bearing passports and citizenship of the foreign nation. It also strictly does not belong to non-citizen residents, dual citizens, and expatriates.
Nepal is a multicultural and multi-ethnic country with a majority of Hindus (including Kirat and Buddhists) while Islam and Christians of Hindus origin are minorities. Kathmandu Valley, in the middle hill region and the Madhesh Province, constitutes a small fraction of the nation’s area but is the most densely populated, with almost 37 percent of the Nepali’s population.
Names
The name Nepalese has been recorded in usage of English language, however is rejected as an Anglicization. The term Nepa-mi (Nepal Bhasa : 𑐣𑐾𑐥𑐵𑑅𑐩𑐶, नेपाःमि) is used among the Newars.
History
The Gopala and Mahishpala dynasty has been recorded as earliest instance of Nepali people.
Ethnic groups
The population ranking of 125 Nepali castes/ethnic groups as per the 2011 Nepal census.
| Rank | Caste/ethnic groups | Population | Percentage composition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chhetri | 4,398,053 | 16.60% |
| 2 | Hill Brahman/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 Muslims | 1,164,255 | 4.39% |
| 9 | Yadav | 1,054,458 | 3.98% |
| 10 | Rai | 690,989 | 2.34% |
| 11 | Gurung | 522,641 | 1.97% |
| 12 | Sherpa | 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 | Koiri/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 | Dusadh/Pasawan/Pasi | 208,910 | 0.79% |
| 24 | Raute | 618 | 0.00% |
| 25 | Nurang | 278 | 0.00% |
| 26 | Kusunda | 273 | 0.00% |
| 27 | Hyolmo / Yolmo | 1,50,000 | 1% |
| Others | 132,321 | 0.7% | |
| – | Total | 26,494,504 | 100.00% |
Nepali diaspora
The Nepali diaspora or Non Resident Nepali are Nepali people living overseas. The Non-resident Nepali Act, 2064 of Nepal defines a non-resident Nepali as someone who is a foreign citizen of Nepalese origin including a Nepalese citizen residing abroad.
Province division of Nepal
Source article: Administrative divisions Of Nepal
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| province Number | Nick Names | Capital | Districts | Area(km2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Province Number 1 | Purba | Biratnagar | 14 | 25,905 |
| Province Number 2 | Madhesh | Janakpur | 8 | 9,661 |
| Province Number 3 | Bagmati | Hetauda | 13 | 20,300 |
| Province Number 4 | Gandaki | Pokhara | 11 | 21,504 |
| Province Number 5 | Lumbini | Deukhuri | 12 | 22,288 |
| Province Number 6 | Karnali | Birendanagar | 10 | 27,984 |
| Province Number 7 | Sudurpaschim | Godawari | 9 | 19,915 |
Notes:
- There are total of 77 districts in Nepal
- Province No. 1 have maximum number of districts(i.e. 14) and province number 7 has the minimum number of districts
- Province number 6 has got the greater land area coverage
