Ethnic groups in Nepal

Caste/Ethnic groups of Nepal more than 1% of total population (2021 Census)

  Chhetri (16.45%)

  Brahmin-Hill (11.29%)

  Magar (6.9%)

  Tharu (6.2%)

  Tamang (5.62%)

  Kami (5.04%)

  Muslims (4.86%)

  Newar (4.6%)

  Yadav (4.21%)

  Rai (2.2%)

  Damai (1.94%)

  Gurung (1.86%)

  Thakuri (1.7%)

  Sarki (1.55%)

  Teli (1.48%)

  Limbu (1.42%)

  Sharma Badhi (1.35%)

  Kushwaha (1.22%)

  Other (20.11%)

Ethnic Groups of Nepal by District, NHPC 2021.

Ethnographic map of Nepal (Gurung 1998)

Nepal ethnic groups

Magar girls in ethnic dress. Magars are the most populous Janajati group in Nepal.

Ethnic groups in Nepal 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.

Linguistic groups

Gurung people from central Nepal playing one of their traditional drums, Khaijadi

Nepal's diverse linguistic heritage evolved from 2 major language groups: Indo-European languages, Tibeto-Burman languages. Nepal's languages are mostly either Indo-European or Sino-Tibetan, while only a very few of them are Austro-Asiatic and Dravidian.

Out of 123 languages of Nepal, the 48 Indo-European languages constitute the largest group in terms of the numeric strength of their speakers, nearly 82.1% of population. Nepali, Bhojpuri, Maithili, Awadhi, Tharu languages, Urdu, etc. fall in this group.

The Sino-Tibetan family of Nepal's languages forms a part of its Tibeto-Burman group. Though spoken by relatively fewer people than the Indo-European family (17.3% of population), it includes a greater number of languages, about 63 languages. Languages belonging to this group are Tamang, Nepal Bhasa (Newar), Magar, Limbu, etc.

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.

Mother Tongues

There were 124 mother tongues according to the "National Report on caste/ethnicity, language & religion", National Population and Housing Census 2021 in Nepal.111 were previously reported in the earlier census 2011 and 13 were newly found in the census 2021.

The newly added mother tongues were Bhote, Lowa, Chum/Nubri, Baragunwa, Nar-Phu, Ranatharu, Karmarong, Mugali, Tichhurong Poike, Sadri, Done, Munda/Mudiyari and Kewarat.

Population by mother tongue and sex, NPHC 2021

Rank	Mother Tongue	Total	Percentage
	All MotherTongues	29164578	100
1	Nepali	13084457	44.86
2	Maithili	3222389	11.05
3	Bhojpuri	1820795	6.24
4	Tharu	1714091	5.88
5	Tamang	1423075	4.88
6	Bajjika	1133764	3.89
7	Avadhi	864276	2.96
8	Nepalbhasha(Newari)	863380	2.96
9	Magar Dhut	810315	2.78
10	Doteli	494864	1.7
11	Urdu	413785	1.42
12	Yakthung/Limbu	350436	1.2
13	Gurung	328074	1.12
14	Magahi	230117	0.79
15	Baitadeli	152666	0.52
16	Rai	144512	0.5
17	Achhami	141444	0.48
18	Bantawa	138003	0.47
19	Rajbanshi	130163	0.45
20	Sherpa	117896	0.4
21	Khash	117511	0.4
22	Bajhangi	99631	0.34
23	Hindi	98399	0.34
24	Magar Kham	91753	0.31
25	Chamling	89037	0.31
26	Ranatharu	77766	0.27
27	Chepang	58392	0.2
28	Bajureli	56486	0.19
29	Santhali	53677	0.18
30	Danuwar	49992	0.17
31	Darchuleli	45649	0.16
32	Uranw/Urau	38873	0.13
33	Kulung	37912	0.13
34	Angika	35952	0.12
35	Majhi	32917	0.11
36	Sunuwar	32708	0.11
37	Thami	26805	0.09
38	Ganagai	26281	0.09
39	Thulung	24405	0.08
40	Bangla	23774	0.08
41	Ghale	23049	0.08
42	Sampang	21597	0.07
43	Marwadi	21333	0.07
44	Dadeldhuri	21300	0.07
45	Dhimal	20583	0.07
46	Tajpuriya	20349	0.07
47	Kumal	18435	0.06
48	Khaling	16514	0.06
49	Musalman	16252	0.06
50	Wambule	15285	0.05
51	Bahing/Bayung	14449	0.05
52	Yakkha	14241	0.05
53	Sanskrit	13906	0.05
54	Bhujel	13086	0.04
55	Bhote	12895	0.04
56	Darai	12156	0.04
57	Yamphu/Yamphe	10744	0.04
58	Nachhiring	9906	0.03
59	Hyolmo/Yholmo	9658	0.03
60	Dumi	8638	0.03
61	Jumli	8338	0.03
62	Bote	7687	0.03
63	Mewahang	7428	0.03
64	Puma	6763	0.02
65	Pahari	5946	0.02
66	Athpahariya	5580	0.02
67	Dungmali	5403	0.02
68	Jirel	5167	0.02
69	Tibetan	5053	0.02
70	Dailekhi	4989	0.02
71	Chum/Nubri	4284	0.01
72	Chhantyal	4282	0.01
73	Raji	4247	0.01
74	Thakali	4220	0.01
75	Meche	4203	0.01
76	Koyee	4152	0.01
77	Lohorung	3884	0.01
78	Kewarat	3469	0.01
79	Dolpali	3244	0.01
80	Done	3100	0.01
81	Mugali	2834	0.01
82	Jero/Jerung	2817	0.01
83	Karmarong	2619	0.01
84	Chhintang	2564	0.01
85	Lhopa	2348	0.01
86	Lapcha	2240	0.01
87	Munda/Mudiyari	2107	0.01
88	Manange	2022	0.01
89	Chhiling	2011	0.01
90	Dura	1991	0.01
91	Tilung	1969	0.01
92	Sign Language	1784	0.01
93	Byansi	1706	0.01
94	Balkura/Baram	1539	0.01
95	Baragunwa	1536	0.01
96	Sadri	1347	0
97	English	1323	0
98	Magar Kaike	1225	0
99	Sonaha	1182	0
100	Hayu/Vayu	1133	0
101	Kisan	1004	0
102	Punjabi	871	0
103	Dhuleli	786	0
104	Khamchi(Raute)	741	0
105	Lungkhim	702	0
106	Lowa	624	0
107	Kagate	611	0
108	Waling/Walung	545	0
109	Nar-Phu	428	0
110	Lhomi	413	0
111	Tichhurong Poike	410	0
112	Kurmali	397	0
113	Koche	332	0
114	Sindhi	291	0
115	Phangduwali	247	0
116	Belhare	177	0
117	Surel	174	0
118	Malpande	161	0
119	Khariya	132	0
120	Sadhani	122	0
121	Hariyanwi	114	0
122	Sam	106	0
123	Bankariya	86	0
124	Kusunda	23	0
125	Others	4201	0.01
126	Not stated	346	0

Second Language

There were 25 languages that were being used as second language by more than 10 thousand population on each in the "National Report on caste/ethnicity, language & religion", National Population and Housing Census 2021 in Nepal, whereas there were only 18 such languages reported as second language in the earlier census 2011.

Population by second language and sex,  NPHC 2021

Rank	Second Language	Total	Percentage
	Total	29164578	100
1	No Second Language	14023086	48.08
2	Nepali	13482904	46.23
3	Maithili	267621	0.92
4	Hindi	223106	0.76
5	Bhojpuri	138572	0.48
6	English	102561	0.35
7	Tharu	89606	0.31
8	Bajjika	86062	0.30
9	Avadhi	75651	0.26
10	Urdu	72128	0.25
11	Tamang	71569	0.25
12	Magar Dhut	54143	0.19
13	Bhote	45292	0.16
14	Bantawa	43536	0.15
15	Nepalbhasha(Newari)	32604	0.11
16	Chamling	29253	0.10
17	Magahi	29191	0.10
18	Gurung	23698	0.08
19	Yakthung/Limbu	19705	0.07
20	Thulung	17187	0.06
21	Magar Kham	16814	0.06
22	Bahing/Bayung	15104	0.05
23	Rai	14398	0.05
24	Doteli	14344	0.05
25	Sampang	14261	0.05
26	Khaling	10370	0.04
27	Baitadeli	9521	0.03
28	Sherpa	9435	0.03
29	Sanskrit	6615	0.02
30	Achhami	6522	0.02
31	Angika	6127	0.02
32	Musalman	6084	0.02
33	Kulung	6039	0.02
34	Dumi	5870	0.02
35	Dadeldhuri	5535	0.02
36	Bangla	5447	0.02
37	Wambule	5227	0.02
38	Darchuleli	4272	0.01
39	Puma	4271	0.01
40	Rajbanshi	4103	0.01
41	Bote	3891	0.01
42	Mewahang	3669	0.01
43	Marwadi	3449	0.01
44	Nachhiring	3176	0.01
45	Tibetan	3134	0.01
46	Bajhangi	2641	0.01
47	Khash	2607	0.01
48	Chhintang	2135	0.01
49	Tilung	1762	0.01
50	Sunuwar	1597	0.01
51	Belhare	1491	0.01
52	Punjabi	1274	0.00
53	Dungmali	1271	0.00
54	Jero/Jerung	1245	0.00
55	Jumli	1125	0.00
56	Bajureli	1076	0.00
57	Dhimal	999	0.00
58	Majhi	971	0.00
59	Ghale	963	0.00
60	Koyee	928	0.00
61	Ranatharu	871	0.00
62	Thami	859	0.00
63	Danuwar	845	0.00
64	Chepang	833	0.00
65	Sign Language	828	0.00
66	Bhujel	740	0.00
67	Thakali	733	0.00
68	Yakkha	704	0.00
69	Santhali	703	0.00
70	Chhiling	685	0.00
71	Ganagai	644	0.00
72	Lohorung	622	0.00
73	Kumal	615	0.00
74	Kagate	615	0.00
75	Darai	591	0.00
76	Khamchi(Raute)	526	0.00
77	Magar Kaike	515	0.00
78	Hyolmo/Yholmo	508	0.00
79	Yamphu/Yamphe	494	0.00
80	Dailekhi	434	0.00
81	Chhantyal	394	0.00
82	Hayu/Vayu	349	0.00
83	Koche	335	0.00
84	Jirel	332	0.00
85	Athpahariya	320	0.00
86	Balkura/Baram	307	0.00
87	Waling/Walung	304	0.00
88	Manange	304	0.00
89	Dura	278	0.00
90	Uranw/Urau	245	0.00
91	Lapcha	242	0.00
92	Sindhi	217	0.00
93	Tajpuriya	209	0.00
94	Dhuleli	187	0.00
95	Pahari	142	0.00
96	Lhopa	129	0.00
97	Dolpali	127	0.00
98	Sadhani	125	0.00
99	Sadri	106	0.00
100	Baragunwa	89	0.00
101	Phangduwali	85	0.00
102	Hariyanwi	84	0.00
103	Sam	79	0.00
104	Malpande	78	0.00
105	Raji	76	0.00
106	Meche	75	0.00
107	Tichhurong Poike	72	0.00
108	Surel	64	0.00
109	Kurmali	60	0.00
110	Bankariya	42	0.00
111	Kewarat	38	0.00
112	Sonaha	35	0.00
113	Karmarong	34	0.00
114	Kisan	33	0.00
115	Byansi	32	0.00
116	Kusunda	32	0.00
117	Lungkhim	28	0.00
118	Mugali	23	0.00
119	Others	159	0.00
120	Not stated	8105	0.03

Social status

Sunuwar, a division of Kirati people; one of the largest ethnic groups in Eastern Nepal

Hill status i.e. (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. Caste system, prevalent among Hindus, was made illegal in 1961 by Naya Muluki ain.

Caste/ethnicity in Nepal by population

The populations of 125 Nepalese castes groups were recorded in the 2011 Nepal census.

However,there were 142 castes/ethnicities according to the "National Report on caste/ethnicity, language & religion", National Population and Housing Census 2021 in Nepal, out of which 125 were previously reported in the earlier census 2011 and 17 were newly found in the census 2021.

The newly added castes/ethnicities were Ranatharu, Bhumihar, Bankariya, Surel, Chumba/Nubri, Phree, Mugal/Mugum, Pun, Rauniyar, Baniyan, Gondh/Gond, Karmarong, Khatik, Beldar, Chai/Khulaut, Done and Kewarat.

The Madeshi Commission also removed Muslims and Tharus from the list of Madeshis in 2021. In the surname listing of ‘Surname Enumeration of Madheshi Community in Nepal -2078 B.S.' conducted by the Madheshi Commission, Tharus in sub-group-1 and Muslims in sub-group-2 have been removed.

List of Castes/Ethnicities by population in Nepal-2011

Rank	Caste & Tribal groups	Population (2011)	Percentage (%)
1	Chetri	4,398,053	18.80
2	Bahun	3,226,903	14.18
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 Musalman	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	Damai/Dholi	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	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	Kanu/Haluwai	209,053	0.79
24	Dusadh/Pasawan/Pasi	208,910	0.79
25	Mallaha	173,261	0.65
26	Kewat	153,772	0.58
27	Kathbaniya	138,637	0.52
28	Brahmin-Terai	134,106	0.51
29	Kalwar	128,232	0.48
30	Kumal	121,196	0.45
31	Bhujel	118,650	0.44
32	Hajam/Thakur	117,758	0.43
33	Rajbanshi	115,242	0.43
34	Sherpa	112,946	0.41
35	Dhobi	109,079	0.40
36	Tatma/Tatwa	104,865	0.38
37	Lohar	101,421	0.38
38	Khatwe	100,921	0.35
39	Sudhi	93,115	0.32
40	Danuwar	84,115	0.32
41	Majhi	83,727	0.30
42	Barai	80,597	0.28
43	Bin	75,195	0.27
44	Nuniya	70,540	0.26
45	Chepang	68,399	0.24
46	Sonar	64,335	0.24
47	Kumhar	62,399	0.21
48	Sunuwar	55,712	0.21
49	Bantar/Sardar	55,104	0.21
50	Kahar	53,159	0.20
51	Santhal	51,735	0.20
52	Marwadi	51,443	0.19
53	Kayastha	44,304	0.17
54	Rajput/Terai Kshetriya	41,972	0.16
55	Badi	38,603	0.15
56	Jhangar/Uraon	37,424	0.14
57	Gangai (Ganesh & Mandal)	36,988	0.12
58	Lodh	32,837	0.11
59	Badhaee	28,932	0.11
60	Thami	28,671	0.11
61	Kulung	28,613	0.1
62	Bengali	26,582	0.1
63	Gaderi/Bhediyar/Gangajali	26,375	0.1
64	Dhimal	26,298	0.09
65	Yakkha	24,336	0.09
66	Ghale	22,881	0.07
67	Tajpuriya	19,213	0.07
68	Khawas	18,513	0.06
69	Darai	16,789	0.06
70	Mali	14,995	0.06
71	Dhuniya	14,846	0.05
72	Pahari	13,615	0.05
73	Rajdhob	13,422	0.05
74	Bhote	13,397	0.05
75	Dom	13,268	0.05
76	Thakali	13,215	0.05
77	Kori	12,276	0.04
78	Chhantyal	11,810	0.04
79	Hyolmo	10,752	0.04
80	Bote	10,397	0.04
81	Rajbhar	9,542	0.03
82	Brahmu/Baramo	8,140	0.03
83	Punjabi	7,176	0.03
84	Nachhring	7,154	0.03
85	Yamphu	6,933	0.03
86	Gaine	6,791	0.03
87	Chamling	6,668	0.02
88	Athpahariya	5,977	0.02
89	Jirel	5,774	0.02
90	Dura	5,394	0.02
91	Sarabaria	4,906	0.02
92	Meche	4,867	0.02
93	Bantawa	4,604	0.02
94	Raji	4,235	0.02
95	Dolpo	4,107	0.02
96	Halkhor	4,003	0.01
97	Byansi/Sauka	3,895	0.01
98	Amat	3,830	0.01
99	Thulung	3,535	0.01
100	Lepcha	3,445	0.01
101	Pathakatta/Kushwadia	3,182	0.01
102	Mewahang	3,100	0.01
103	Bahing	3,096	0.01
104	Natuwa	3,062	0.01
105	Hayu	2,925	0.01
106	Dhankar/Dharikar	2,681	0.01
107	Lhopa	2,624	0.01
108	Munda	2,350	0.0087
109	Dev	2,147	0.0081
110	Dhandi	1,982	0.0075
111	Kamar	1,787	0.0067
112	Kisan	1,739	0.0066
113	Sampang	1,681	0.0063
114	Koche	1,635	0.0062
115	Lhomi	1,614	0.0061
116	Khaling	1,571	0.0059
117	Topkegola	1,523	0.0057
118	Chidimar	1,254	0.0047
119	Walung	1,249	0.0047
120	Lohorung	1,153	0.0044
121	Kalar	1,077	0.004
122	Raute	618	0.002
123	Nurang	278	0.001
124	Kusunda	273	0.001
	Foreigners	6,651	0.03
−	Others/Undefined	275,670	1.04%
Total		26,494,504	100.00%

List of Castes/Ethnicities by population in Nepal- NPHC 2021

Rank	Caste/ethnicity	Total	Total %
1	Total	29164578	100
2	Kshetri	4796995	16.45
3	Brahman - Hill	3292373	11.29
4	Magar	2013498	6.9
5	Tharu	1807124	6.2
6	Tamang	1639866	5.62
7	Bishwokarma	1470010	5.04
8	Musalman	1418677	4.86
9	Newa: (Newar)	1341363	4.6
10	Yadav	1228581	4.21
11	Rai	640674	2.2
12	Pariyar	565932	1.94
13	Gurung	543790	1.86
14	Thakuri	494470	1.7
15	Mijar	452229	1.55
16	Teli	431347	1.48
17	Yakthung/Limbu	414704	1.42
18	Chamar/Harijan/Ram	393255	1.35
19	Koiri/Kushwaha	355707	1.22
20	Kurmi	277786	0.95
21	Musahar	264974	0.91
22	Dhanuk	252105	0.86
23	Dusadh/Pasawan/Pasi	250977	0.86
24	Brahman - Tarai	217774	0.75
25	Mallaha	207006	0.71
26	Sanyasi/Dasnami	198849	0.68
27	Kewat	184298	0.63
28	Kanu	152868	0.52
29	Hajam/Thakur	136487	0.47
30	Kalwar	134914	0.46
31	Rajbansi	132564	0.45
32	Sherpa	130637	0.45
33	Kumal	129702	0.44
34	Tatma/Tatwa	126018	0.43
35	Khatwe	124062	0.43
36	Gharti/Bhujel	120245	0.41
37	Majhi	111352	0.38
38	Nuniya	108723	0.37
39	Sundi	107380	0.37
40	Dhobi	101089	0.35
41	Lohar	100680	0.35
42	Bin	96974	0.33
43	Kumhar	95724	0.33
44	Sonar	93380	0.32
45	Chepang/Praja	84364	0.29
46	Ranatharu	83308	0.29
47	Danuwar	82784	0.28
48	Sunuwar	78910	0.27
49	Haluwai	71796	0.25
50	Baraee	68011	0.23
51	Bantar/Sardar	61687	0.21
52	Kahar	59882	0.21
53	Santhal	57310	0.2
54	Baniyan	53655	0.18
55	Kathabaniyan	52466	0.18
56	Badhaee/Badhee	52437	0.18
57	Oraon/Kudukh	46840	0.16
58	Rajput	46577	0.16
59	Amat	46471	0.16
60	Gangai	41446	0.14
61	Lodh	39872	0.14
62	Gaderi/Bhediyar	35497	0.12
63	Ghale	35434	0.12
64	Marwadi	33803	0.12
65	Kayastha	33502	0.11
66	Kulung	33388	0.11
67	Thami	32743	0.11
68	Bhumihar	32199	0.11
69	Rajbhar	29240	0.1
70	Rauniyar	27258	0.09
71	Dhimal	25643	0.09
72	Khawas	22551	0.08
73	Tajpuriya	20989	0.07
74	Kori	20670	0.07
75	Dom	19901	0.07
76	Mali	19605	0.07
77	Darai	18695	0.06
78	Yakkha	17460	0.06
79	Bhote	15818	0.05
80	Bantawa	15719	0.05
81	Rajdhob	15391	0.05
82	Dhunia	15033	0.05
83	Pahari	15015	0.05
84	Bangali	13800	0.05
85	Gondh/Gond	12267	0.04
86	Chamling	12178	0.04
87	Chhantyal/Chhantel	11963	0.04
88	Thakali	11741	0.04
89	Badi	11470	0.04
90	Bote	11258	0.04
91	Pun	9827	0.03
92	Hyolmo/Yholmopa	9819	0.03
93	Khatik	9152	0.03
94	Yamphu	9111	0.03
95	Kewarat	8809	0.03
96	Baram / Baramu	7859	0.03
97	Dev	7418	0.03
98	Nachhiring	7300	0.03
99	Gaine	6971	0.02
100	Bahing	6547	0.02
101	Thulung	6239	0.02
102	Jirel	6031	0.02
103	Khaling	5889	0.02
104	Aathpahariya	5878	0.02
105	Dolpo	5818	0.02
106	Sarbaria	5793	0.02
107	Mewahang	5727	0.02
108	Byasi/Sauka	5718	0.02
109	Dura	5581	0.02
110	Meche	5193	0.02
111	Raji	5125	0.02
112	Sampang	4841	0.02
113	Chai/Khulaut	4805	0.02
114	Chumba/Nubri	4414	0.02
115	Dhankar/ Dharikar	4090	0.01
116	Munda	3589	0.01
117	Lepcha	3578	0.01
118	Pattharkatta/ Kushwadiya	3343	0.01
119	Hayu	3069	0.01
120	Beldar	3037	0.01
121	Halkhor	2929	0.01
122	Natuwa	2896	0.01
123	Loharung	2598	0.01
124	Kamar	2532	0.01
125	Dhandi	2339	0.01
126	Done	2125	0.01
127	Mugal/Mugum	2124	0.01
128	Punjabi/Sikh	1846	0.01
129	Karmarong	1663	0.01
130	Chidimar	1615	0.01
131	Kisan	1479	0.01
132	Lhopa	1390	0
133	Kalar	931	0
134	Phree	921	0
135	Koche	847	0
136	Topkegola	642	0
137	Raute	566	0
138	Walung	481	0
139	Lhomi	355	0
140	Surel	318	0
141	Kusunda	253	0
142	Bankariya	180	0
143	Nurang	36	0
144	Others	5888	0.02
145	Foreigner	137407	0.47
146	Not stated	4436	0.02

Broad Ethnic Categories of Nepal (2011 Census)

Rank	Broad Ethnic Category	Sub-Category	Sub-Category Percentage	Linguistic family	Population Percentage
1	Khas-Arya (Hill Group)	Chhetri	16.60%	Indo-Aryan	39.37%
		Brahmin	12.18%
		Dalit	8.12%
		Thakuri	1.61%
		Sanyasis/Dashnami	0.86%
2	Janajatis	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, Austroasiatic, Sino-Tibetan languages
3	Newars	Newar (Middle)	3.1%	Sino-Tibetan	5.5%
		Newar (Low)	0.4%
		Newar (Buddhists)	0.8%
		Newar (Upper)	1.1%
4	Madhesi (Terai Caste Group)	Madhesi (Middle)	9.97%	Indo-Aryan	23.43%
		Madhesi (Dalit)	4.50%
		Madhesi (Nepali Muslims)	4.39%
		Madhesi (Low)	3.86%
		Madhesi (High) Maithili Brahmins, Rajput/Terai Kshetriya, Thakur, etc.	2.5%
5	Other (Marwadi, Bengali and Punjabi)		−	Indo-Aryan	0.32%
6	Undefined and Foreigners	−	−	−	1.07%
Total					100%

Religion

According to "National Report on caste/ethnicity, language & religion", National Population and Housing Census 2021 the number of religions adopted by the individuals in census 2021 and 2011 were as follows:

	Census 2021					Census 2011
Religion	Population		Percent		Religion	Population	Percent
Hindu	23677744		81.19		Hindu	21551492	81.34
Bouddha	2393549		8.21		Bouddha	2396099	9.04
Islam	1483066		5.09		Islam	1162370	4.39
Kirat	924204		3.17		Kirat	807169	3.05
Christian	512313		1.76		Christian	375699	1.42
Prakrit	102048		0.35		Prakriti	121982	0.46
Bon	67223	0.23			Bon	13006		0.05
Jain	2398	0.01			Jain	3214		0.01
Bahai	537	0.00			Bahai	1283		0.00
Sikha	1496	0.01			Sikha	609		0.00
Unidentified	-	-			Unidentified	61581		0.23
Total	29164578	100			Total	26494504		100