Share of population living in cities towns and villages in Nepal

Nepal: Share of population living in cities towns and villages was 18.47 in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)
18.47
World rank
176th
of 236 countries
All-time high
18.47
in 2020
All-time low
2.56
in 1955
Years of data
15
1950–2020

Share of population living in cities towns and villages in Nepal, 1950–2020

51015201950198520201950: 2.61955: 2.61960: 3.31965: 3.51970: 3.61975: 4.31980: 61985: 81990: 10.11995: 11.62000: 132005: 14.32010: 15.82015: 17.62020: 18.5

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

Nepal recorded 18.47 for share of population living in cities towns and villages in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.

That represents a change of up 17.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of population living in cities towns and villages in Nepal peaked at 18.47 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 2.56, in 1955.

That places Nepal 176th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Share of population living in cities towns and villages in Nepal, year by year

Annual values for Share of population living in cities towns and villages in Nepal, 1950 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1950 2.6 —
1955 2.56 -1.7%
1960 3.3 +29.3%
1965 3.48 +5.3%
1970 3.61 +3.7%
1975 4.27 +18.3%
1980 6 +40.6%
1985 8.05 +34.2%
1990 10.08 +25.2%
1995 11.57 +14.8%
2000 12.97 +12.1%
2005 14.33 +10.5%
2010 15.77 +10.1%
2015 17.58 +11.5%
2020 18.47 +5.1%

Nepal compared with similar countries

  • Nepal's 18.47 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 38.18, 48% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
  • Nepal's 18.47 is below the median for South Asia, which is 37.27, 50% of the median. (6 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 2.58 2.56 2.6 2
1960s 3.39 3.3 3.48 2
1970s 3.94 3.61 4.27 2
1980s 7.02 6 8.05 2
1990s 10.82 10.08 11.57 2
2000s 13.65 12.97 14.33 2
2010s 16.68 15.77 17.58 2
2020s 18.47 18.47 18.47 1

Countries ranked near Nepal

  1. 173 Cambodia 19.83 compare
  2. 174 Botswana 19.43 compare
  3. 175 Belize 18.53 compare
  4. 177 Madagascar 18.33 compare
  5. 178 Bhutan 16.92 compare
  6. 179 Solomon Islands 16.61 compare

See the full ranking of 236 places →

More population data for Nepal

All data for Nepal →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of population living in cities towns and villages in Nepal?
Share of population living in cities towns and villages in Nepal was 18.47 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of population living in cities towns and villages recorded in Nepal?
The highest recorded value was 18.47 in 2020.
What is the lowest share of population living in cities towns and villages recorded in Nepal?
The lowest recorded value was 2.56 in 1955.
How does Nepal rank for share of population living in cities towns and villages?
Nepal ranks 176th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
Is share of population living in cities towns and villages rising or falling in Nepal?
Over the last ten years it is up 17.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Nepal data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities towns and villages. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of population living in cities towns and villages in Nepal. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 12 November 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-population-living-in-cities-towns-and-villages/nepal/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of population living in cities towns and villages
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
236 places, 3,540 data points, 1950–2020
Last refreshed