Nepal is found in South Asia, on the southern slope of Himalayas. Nepal shares borders with China to the north and India to the south. The country is well known for its high mountains. Mount Everest is located on the border of Nepal and China, and Nepal is also home to the world’s third tallest mountain.
Quick Facts
Population: 29.718 million
Ethnic Groups: Chhettri (16.6%), Brahman-Hill (12.2%), Magar (7.1%), Tharu (6.6%), Tamang (5.8%), Newar (5%), Kami (4.8%), Muslim (4.4%), Yadav (4%), Rai (2.3%), Gurung (2%), Damai/Dholii (1.8%), Thakuri (1.6%), Limbu (1.5%), Sarki (1.4%), Teli (1.4%), Charmar/Harijan/Ram (1.3%), Koiri/Kushwaha (1.2%), Other (19%)
Languages: Nepali (Official) (44.6%), Maithali (11.7%), Bhojpuri (6%), Tharu (5.8%), Tamang (5.1%), Newar (3.2%), Magar (3%), Bajjika (3%), Urdu (2.6%), Avadhi (1.9%), Limbu (1.3%), Gurung (1.2%), Other (10.4%), Unspecified (0.2%)
Religions: Hindu (81.3%), Buddhist (9%), Muslim (4.4%), Kirant (3.1%), Christian (1.4%), Other (0.5%), Unspecified (0.2%)
Capital: Kathmandu
CIA: The World Factbook — Last Updated December 27, 2019
Nepali in Canada
Nepali Population in Canada
17,140
Useful Links
Nepal is home to as many as 100 ethnic groups. Nepal is one of the world’s poorer countries (partly due to geographical isolation), but it has made notable progress in the last half century. Nepal was once the world’s only Hindu Kingdom but became a secular democracy in 2006. The prevalence of Hinduism means that the caste system plays a strong role in the culture. Caste-based discrimination is illegal, but occurs nonetheless. There is some discrimination against religious minorities, but it is less harsh and less common than it was in the past.
- Central Intelligence Agency. (2019, December 18). The World Factbook: Nepal. Retrieved December 27, 2019, from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/nepal/
- Encyclopedia of the Nations. (n.d.). Nepal. Retrieved July 9, 2014, from http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/geography/Morocco-to-Slovakia/Nepal.html
- Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. (2009, October 15). Cultural Information – Nepal. Retrieved July 9, 2014, from https://www.international.gc.ca/cil-cai/country_insights-apercus_pays/culture-culture_np.aspx?lang=eng
- Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. (2011, December 15). Overview – Nepal. Retrieved July 9, 2014, from https://www.international.gc.ca/cil-cai/country_insights-apercus_pays/overview-apercu_np.aspx?lang=eng
- Mandryk, J. (2010). Operation World: The Definitive Prayer Guide to Every Nation (7th ed.). Colorado Springs: Biblica Publishing.
- Nepālīs. (2009). In T. L. Gall & J. Hobby (Eds.), Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life (2nd ed., Vol. 4, pp. 714-720). Detroit: Gale. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- Statistics Canada. (2011, April 7). 2006 Census of Canada: Topic-based tabulations/Ethnic Origin, Single and Multiple Ethnic Origin Responses and Sex for the Population of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2006 Census – 20% Sample Data. Retrieved July 15, 2014, from http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/tbt/Rp-eng.cfm?LANG=E&APATH=3&DETAIL=0&DIM=0&FL=A&FREE=0&GC=0&GID=0&GK=0&GRP=1&PID=92333&PRID=0&PTYPE=88971,97154&S=0&SHOWALL=0&SUB=0&Temporal=2006&THEME=80&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF