Ethnic groups in Nepal
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Ethnic groups in Nepal are a product of both the colonial and state-building eras of Nepal. The groups are delineated using language, ethnic identity or the caste system in Nepal. They are categorized by common culture and endogamy. Endogamy carves out ethnic groups in Nepal.[citation needed]
Linguistic groups[edit]
Nepal's diverse linguistic heritage evolved from three major language groups: Indo-Aryan, Tibeto-Burman languages, and various indigenous language isolates. According to the 2001 national census, 92 different living languages are spoken in Nepal (a 93rd category was "unspecified"). Based upon the 2011 census, the three major languages spoken in Nepal are Nepali, Maithili and Bhojpuri.[2]
Since Nepal's unification, various Nepalese ethnic group became united despite western attempt at instigating chaos. Tribhuvan University began surveying and recording threatened languages in 2010 and the government intends to use this information to include more languages on the next Nepalese census.[3]
Social status[edit]
Hill Hindus of upper caste status i.e., Khas people (Brahmin/Bahun and Chhetri castes) and the upper-caste segments of Newars dominated the civil service, the judiciary and upper ranks of the army throughout the Shah regime (1768–2008). Nepali was the national language and Sanskrit became a required school subject. Children who spoke Nepali natively and who were exposed to Sanskrit had much better chances of passing the national examinations at the end of high school, which meant they had better employment prospects and could continue into higher education. [4][5][6][7][8]
List of ethnic caste-groups in Nepal by population[edit]
The population wise ranking of 125 Nepalese castes groups as per 2011 Nepal census.[9][10][note 1][11]
Rank | Caste & Tribal groups | Broad Ethnic Category | Population (2011) | Percentage (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Khas Chhetri | Khas | 4,398,053 | 16.6 |
2 | Hill Brahmin/Bahun | Khas | 3,226,903 | 12.18 |
3 | Magar | Janajati | 1,887,733 | 7.12 |
4 | Tharu | Janajati | 1,737,470 | 6.56 |
5 | Tamang | Janajati | 1,539,830 | 5.81 |
6 | Newar | Newar | 1,321,933 | 4.99 |
7 | Kami | Khas (Dalit) | 1,258,554 | 4.75 |
8 | Musalman/Nepali Muslims | Muslim | 1,164,255 | 4.39 |
9 | Yadav | Madhesi (Middle) | 1,054,458 | 3.98 |
10 | Rai | Janajati | 690,989 | 2.34 |
11 | Gurung | Janajati | 522,641 | 1.97 |
12 | Damai/Dholi | Khas (Dalit) | 472,862 | 1.78 |
13 | Thakuri | Khas | 425,623 | 1.61 |
14 | Limbu | Janajati | 387,300 | 1.46 |
15 | Sarki | Khas (Dalit) | 374,816 | 1.41 |
16 | SharmaBadhaee Tarai Brahman | Madhesi (High) | 369,688 | 1.4 |
17 | Chamar/Harijan/Ram | Madhesi (Dalit) | 335,893 | 1.27 |
18 | Kushwaha | Madhesi (High) | 306,393 | 1.16 |
19 | Musahar | Madhesi (Dalit) | 234,490 | 0.89 |
20 | Kurmi | Madhesi (Middle) | 231,129 | 0.87 |
21 | Sanyasi/Dasnami | Khas | 227,822 | 0.86 |
22 | Dhanuk | Madhesi (low) | 219,808 | 0.83 |
23 | Kanu/Haluwai | Madhesi (Middle) | 209,053 | 0.79 |
24 | Dusadh/Pasawan/Pasi | Madhesi (Dalit) | 208,910 | 0.79 |
25 | Mallaha | Madhesi (Low) | 173,261 | 0.65 |
26 | Kewat | Madhesi (Middle) | 153,772 | 0.58 |
27 | Kathbaniya | Madhesi (Middle) | 138,637 | 0.52 |
28 | Brahmin-Terai | Maithil Brahmin (High) | 134,106 | 0.51 |
29 | Kalwar | Madhesi (Middle) | 128,232 | 0.48 |
30 | Teli | Madhesi (Low) | 126,000 | 0.46 |
31 | Kumal | Janajati | 121,196 | 0.45 |
32 | Bhujel | Janajati | 118,650 | 0.44 |
33 | Hajam/Thakur | Madhesi (Low) | 117,758 | 0.43 |
34 | Rajbanshi | Janajati | 115,242 | 0.43 |
35 | Sherpa | Janajati | 112,946 | 0.41 |
36 | Dhobi | Madhesi (Dalit) | 109,079 | 0.4 |
37 | Tatma/Tatwa | Madhesi (Dalit) | 104,865 | 0.38 |
38 | Lohar | Madhesi (Middle) | 101,421 | 0.38 |
39 | Khatwe | Madhesi (Dalit) | 100,921 | 0.35 |
40 | Sudhi | Madhesi (Middle) | 93,115 | 0.32 |
41 | Danuwar | Janajati | 84,115 | 0.32 |
42 | Majhi | Janajati | 83,727 | 0.3 |
43 | Barai | Madhesi (Middle) | 80,597 | 0.28 |
44 | Bin | Madhesi (Low) | 75,195 | 0.27 |
45 | Nuniya | Madhesi (middle) | 70,540 | 0.26 |
46 | Chepang | Tibetans | 68,399 | 0.24 |
47 | Sonar | Madhesi (Middle) | 64,335 | 0.24 |
48 | Kumhar | Madhesi (Low) | 62,399 | 0.21 |
49 | Sunwar | Janajati | 55,712 | 0.21 |
50 | Bantar/Sardar | Madhesi (Dalit) | 55,104 | 0.2 |
51 | Kahar | Madhesi (Low) | 53,159 | 0.2 |
52 | Santhal | Janajati | 51,735 | 0.19 |
53 | Marwadi | Others | 51,443 | 0.17 |
54 | Kayastha | Madhesi (High) | 44,304 | 0.16 |
55 | Rajput/Terai Kshetriya | Madhesi (High) | 41,972 | 0.15 |
56 | Badi | Khas (Dalit) | 38,603 | 0.14 |
57 | Jhangar/Uraon | Janajati | 37,424 | 0.14 |
58 | Gangai | Janajati | 36,988 | 0.12 |
59 | Lodh | Madhesi (High) | 32,837 | 0.11 |
60 | Badhaee | Madhesi (High) | 28,932 | 0.11 |
61 | Thami | Janajati | 28,671 | 0.11 |
62 | Kulung | Janajati | 28,613 | 0.1 |
63 | Bengali | Others | 26,582 | 0.1 |
64 | Gaderi/Bhediyar/Gangajali | Madhesi (High) | 26,375 | 0.1 |
65 | Dhimal | Janajati | 26,298 | 0.09 |
66 | Yakkha | Janajati | 24,336 | 0.09 |
67 | Ghale | Janajati | 22,881 | 0.07 |
68 | Tajpuriya | Janajati | 19,213 | 0.07 |
69 | Khawas | Janajati | 18,513 | 0.06 |
70 | Darai | Janajati | 16,789 | 0.06 |
71 | Mali | Madhesi (Low) | 14,995 | 0.06 |
72 | Dhuniya | Madhesi (Low) | 14,846 | 0.05 |
73 | Pahari | Janajati | 13,615 | 0.05 |
74 | Rajdhob | Madhesi (Low) | 13,422 | 0.05 |
75 | Bhote | Tibetans | 13,397 | 0.05 |
76 | Dom | Madhesi (Dalit) | 13,268 | 0.05 |
77 | Thakali | Janajati | 13,215 | 0.05 |
78 | Kori | Madhesi (Dalit) | 12,276 | 0.04 |
79 | Chhantyal | Janajati | 11,810 | 0.04 |
80 | Hyolmo | Tibetans | 10,752 | 0.04 |
81 | Bote | Janajati | 10,397 | 0.04 |
82 | Rajbhar | Madhesi (Low) | 9,542 | 0.03 |
83 | Brahmu/Baramo | Janajati | 8,140 | 0.03 |
84 | Punjabi | Others | 7,176 | 0.03 |
85 | Nachhring | Janajati | 7,154 | 0.03 |
86 | Yamphu | Janajati | 6,933 | 0.03 |
87 | Gaine | Khas (Dalit) | 6,791 | 0.03 |
88 | Chamling | Janajati | 6,668 | 0.02 |
89 | Athpahariya | Janajati | 5,977 | 0.02 |
90 | Jirel | Janajati | 5,774 | 0.02 |
91 | Dura | Janajati | 5,394 | 0.02 |
92 | Sarabaria | Madhesi (Dalit) | 4,906 | 0.02 |
93 | Meche | Janajati | 4,867 | 0.02 |
94 | Bantaba | Janajati | 4,604 | 0.02 |
95 | Raji | Janajati | 4,235 | 0.02 |
96 | Dolpo | Janajati | 4,107 | 0.02 |
97 | Halkhor | Madhesi (Dalit) | 4,003 | 0.01 |
98 | Byansi/Sauka | Janajati | 3,895 | 0.01 |
99 | Amat | Madhesi (Low) | 3,830 | 0.01 |
100 | Thulung | Janajati | 3,535 | 0.01 |
101 | Lepcha | Janajati | 3,445 | 0.01 |
102 | Pathakatta/Kushwadia | Janajati | 3,182 | 0.01 |
103 | Mewahang | Janajati | 3,100 | 0.01 |
104 | Bahing | Janajati | 3,096 | 0.01 |
105 | Natuwa | Madhesi (Dalit) | 3,062 | 0.01 |
106 | Hayu | Janajati | 2,925 | 0.01 |
107 | Dhankar/Dharikar | Madhesi (Dalit) | 2,681 | 0.01 |
108 | Lhopa | Janajati | 2,624 | 0.01 |
109 | Munda | Janajati | 2,350 | 0.01 |
110 | Dev | Madhesi (High) | 2,147 | 0.01 |
111 | Dhandi | Madhesi (Dalit) | 1,982 | 0.01 |
112 | Kamar | Madhesi (Low) | 1,787 | 0.01 |
113 | Kisan | Janajati | 1,739 | 0.01 |
114 | Sampang | Janajati | 1,681 | 0.01 |
115 | Koche | Janajati | 1,635 | 0.01 |
116 | Lhomi | Janajati | 1,614 | 0.01 |
117 | Khaling | Janajati | 1,571 | 0.01 |
118 | Topkegola | Janajati | 1,523 | 0 |
119 | Chidimar | Janajati | 1,254 | 0 |
120 | Walung | Janajati | 1,249 | 0 |
121 | Lohorung | Janajati | 1,153 | 0 |
122 | Kalar | Madhesi (low) | 1,077 | 0 |
123 | Raute | Janajati | 618 | 0 |
124 | Nurang | Madhesi (Low) | 278 | 0 |
125 | Kusunda | Janajati | 273 | 0.03 |
− | Foreigners | − | 6,651 | 1.04 |
− | Others/Undefined | − | 275,670 | 1.04% |
Total | 26,494,504 | 100.00% |
Rank | Broad Ethnic Category | Sub-Category | Sub-Category
Percentage |
Linguistic family | Population
Percentage |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Khas / Khas-Aryan
(Hill Caste Group) |
Khas Chhetri | 16.60% | Indo-Aryan | 39.37% |
Khas Bahun | 12.18% | ||||
Khas Dalit | 8.12% | ||||
Khas Thakuri | 1.61% | ||||
Khas Dashnami | 0.86% | ||||
2 | Adibasi & Janajati | Hill: Sherpas, Tamangs, Magars, Ghale, Kirat (Rai, Limbu, Sunuwar),Gurungs etc. | 22.28% | Sino-Tibetan | 30.81% |
Terai: Tharu, Rajbanshi, Dhimal, etc | 8.53% | Indo-Aryan and Sino-Tibetan | |||
3 | Newars
(Newar Caste Group) |
Newar (Middle) | 3.1% | Indo-Aryan and Sino-Tibetan | 5.5% |
Newar (Low) | 0.4% | ||||
Newar (Buddhists) | 0.8% | ||||
Newar (High-Hindus) | 1.1% | ||||
4 | Madhesi
(Terai Caste Group) |
Madhesi (Middle) | 9.97% | Indo-Aryan | 23.43% |
Madhesi (Dalit) | 4.50% | ||||
Madhesi (Muslim) | 4.39% | ||||
Madhesi (Low) | 3.86% | ||||
Madhesi (High) | 2.5% | ||||
5 | Other | − | − | Indo-Aryan | 0.32% |
6 | Undefined and Foreigners | − | − | − | 1.07% |
Total | 100% |
References[edit]
Footnotes[edit]
- ^ Pages 191/192 of the total pdf or pages 156/157 in the scanned material shows Nepalese castes/ethnic groups
Notes[edit]
- ^ "South Asia ::NEPAL". CIA The World Factbook.
- ^ "Official Summary of Census" (PDF). Central Bureau of Statistics, Nepal. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 December 2012.
- ^ Tumbahang, Govinda Bahadur (2010). "Marginalization of indigenous languages of Nepal". Contributions to Nepalese Studies. 37: 69 – via Expanded Academic.
- ^ "OCHA Nepal – Situation Overview" (PDF). Issue 12. OCHA. April 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 November 2009. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ^ "OCHA Nepal – Situation Overview" (PDF). Issue 16. OCHA. July–August 2007. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
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: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ^ "OCHA Nepal – Situation Overview" (PDF). Issue 30. OCHA. June–July 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 February 2010. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ^ Sharma, Hari (2010-11-18). "Body of murder victim found in Gulmi". Gulmi: The Himalayan Times online. Archived from the original on 25 May 2012. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
- ^ Hatlebakk, Magnus (2007). "Economic and social structures that may explain the recent conflicts in the Terai of Nepal" (PDF). Kathmandu: Norwegian Embassy. Retrieved 2011-05-08.
- ^ a b "Population Monograph of Nepal Volume II (Social Demography)" (PDF).
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-09-18. Retrieved 2018-06-30.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Nepal Census 2011" (PDF).