Top Provinces with Highest Population Growth in Last 10 Years

Last updated on 2024-04-15

The population of Nepal has increased by 10.18 percent in the last ten years to 2,64,94,504, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics . According to the bureau, the total also includes the population of the Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura areas, which were counted for the first time in 60 years through an informal census. Below mentioned are the top 10 provinces with highest population growth in the last 10 years.

*The ranking is done based on data collected from Central Bureau of Statistics

7. Karnali province

Image Source: The Kathmandu Post

Karnali Province is one of Nepal's seven federal provinces, covering a total area of 27,984 square kilometers. It is bounded to the north by the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, to the east by Gandaki Province, to the west by Sudurpaschim Province, and to the south by Lumbini Province. This province has 25 municipalities and 54 rural municipalities. The province's population was 15,70,418 in 2011 AD and was 16,94,889 in 2021, representing a 0.76 percent average growth rate and a population change of 6,24,953 in the last ten years, or about 13.89 percent.

Census 2011 : 15,70,418
Census 2021 : 16,94,889
Average Growth Rate : 0.76
Population Change in Last 10 Years : 1,24,471
Percentage Change : 7.93

6. Gandaki Province

Image Source: The Kathmandu Post

Gandaki Province is located in the country's west. Gandaki Province is one of seven federal provinces, with Pokhara as its capital. It is bounded on the east by the Trishuli River, the Budhi Gandaki River, and Bagmati Province, on the west by Lumbini Province, on the north by China, and on the south by Lumbini Province and Uttar Pradesh of India. It has an area of 21914.97 square kilometers.The province's population was 24,03,757 in 2011 AD and 24,79,745 in 2021, with a 0.31 percent average growth rate and a population change of 75,988 (or around 3.16 percent) in the last ten years.

Census 2011 : 24,03,757
Census 2021 : 24,79,745
Average Growth Rate : 0.31
Population Change in Last 10 Years : 75,998
Percentage Change : 3.16

5. Sudurpaschim

Image Source: MOHP

Sudurpaschim Province is bordered to the north by the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, to the east by Karnali Province and Lumbini Province, and to the west and south by India's Kumaon and Uttar Pradesh. The province has a total size of 19,515.52 km2. Godawari has been designated as the Province's capital. The province's population was 25,52,517 in 2011 AD and 27,11,270 in 2021, with a 0.6 percent average growth rate and a population change of 1,58,753 (or around 6.22 percent) in the last ten years.

Census 2011 : 25,52,517
Census 2021 : 27,11,270
Average Growth Rate : 0.6
Population Change in Last 10 Years : 1,58,753
Percentage Change : 6.22

4. Province No.1

Image Source: Tourism Mail

Province 1 is the most eastern of the seven provinces. The province covers other major eastern towns such as Birtamod, Birat Chowk, Damak, Dharan, Itahari, and others, with its headquarters in the industrial city of Biratnagar. It is bounded on the east and south by India, and on the west by Bagmati Province and Province 2, with large mountains separating it from China. The province has a total area of 25,905 km2. The province's population was 45,34,943 in 2011 AD and 49,72,021 in 2021, with a 0.92 percent average growth rate and a population change of 4,37,078 in the last ten years, or about 9.64 percent.

Census 2011 : 45,34,943
Census 2021 : 49,72,021
Average Growth Rate : 0.92
Population Change in Last 10 Years : 4,37,078
Percentage Change : 9.64

3. Lumbini Province

Image Source: MOHP

Lumbini Province is located in western Nepal. It is bounded to the north by Gandaki Province and Karnali Province, to the west by Sudurpaschim Province, and to the south by Uttar Pradesh and Bihar of India. Lumbini is the third largest and third most populous province in Nepal. It covers an area of 22,288 square kilometers, accounting for 15.11 percent of the country's total land area. The province's population was 44,99,272 in 2011 AD and was 51,24,225 in 2021, representing a 1.3 percent average growth rate and a population change of 6,24,953 in the last ten years, or about 13.89 percent.

Census 2011 : 44,99,272
Census 2021 : 51,24,225
Average Growth Rate : 1.3
Population Change in Last 10 Years : 6,24,953
Percentage Change : 13.89

2. Bagmati Province

Image Source: Nepal on Internet

Bagmati Province is one of Nepal's seven provinces, and it is the country's second-most populous and fifth-largest by area. Bagmati is bounded to the north by China's Tibet Autonomous Region, to the west by Gandaki Province, to the east by Province No. 1, and to the south by the Indian states of Bihar and Madhesh Province. With Hetauda as its provincial capital, the province is also home to the country's capital, Kathmandu, and is mostly hilly and mountainous, with few mountain peaks such as Gaurishankar, Langtang, Jugal, and Ganesh. The province's population was 55,29,452 in 2011 AD and was 60,84,042 in 2021, with a 0.96 percent average growth rate and a population change of 5,54,590 in the last ten years, or about 10.3 percent.

Census 2011 : 55,29,452
Census 2021 : 60,84,042
Average Growth Rate : 0.96
Population Change in Last 10 Years : 5,54,590
Percentage Change : 10.03

1. Madhesh Province

Image Source: The Kathmandu Post

On 17 January, the provincial assembly of Province 2 in Nepal, with a majority of more than two-thirds, named Province 2 Madhesh Pradesh, with its capital in Janakpur. It is a province in the southeastern region of Nepal, and it is the country's most populous province,as well as its smallest province by area. Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara, and Parsa are among the eight districts in the Terai region. It is bounded to the east by Province No. 1, to the north by Bagmati Province, and to the south by India's Bihar state. The population of the province was 54,04,145 in 2011 AD and had 61,26,388 in 2021 with an average growth rate of 1.25 percent and a population change of 7,22,143 in the last ten years, or about 13.36 percent.

Census 2011 : 54,04,145
Census 2021 : 61,26,688
Average Growth Rate : 1.25
Population Change in Last 10 Years : 7,22,143
Percentage Change : 13.36