Nepalis facts for kids
Nepalis are the people who are citizens of Nepal. Nepal is a country in Asia, nestled in the Himalayas. It's a land where many different groups of people live together.
Being a Nepali means you are a citizen of Nepal. It's not just about your family's background or the language you speak. People from Nepal come from many different places. Some have ancestors from Tibet, Myanmar, or even Central Asia.
Nepal is a country rich in different cultures and ethnic groups. The Kathmandu Valley is a small part of Nepal. But it's where most people live, with almost 5% of the country's population.
Who Lives in Nepal?
Nepal is home to many different communities. The government counted all the people in 2011. They found 125 different groups! Here are some of the largest ones:
| Rank | Community Group | Population | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 620,004 | 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 | 150,000 | 1% |
| Others | 132321 | 0.7% | |
| - | Total | 26,494,504 | 100.00% |
Nepali Language Speakers
The Nepali language is spoken by about 16 million people. Around 12 million of these live in Nepal. Others live in India, Bhutan, and other countries. Many Nepalis also live all over the world.
More About Nepali Identity
Sometimes, people who are not citizens of Nepal are still called Nepalis. This happens if they have a strong connection to the country. It could be because their families came from Nepal. Or they might speak the Nepali language.
You can learn more about Nepal's culture by checking out the Nepali calendar.
See also
In Spanish: Nepalíes para niños
