Share of population living in the capital city in Nepal
Nepal: Share of population living in the capital city was 10.6% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in the capital city in Nepal, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in the capital city in Nepal is 10.6%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 26.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in the capital city in Nepal peaked at 10.6% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 2.6%, in 1955.
Nepal ranks 125th of 170 countries on this measure, 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 the capital city in Nepal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2.6% | — |
| 1955 | 2.6% | -1.7% |
| 1960 | 2.6% | +2.3% |
| 1965 | 2.7% | +4.6% |
| 1970 | 2.8% | +3.7% |
| 1975 | 3.0% | +6.8% |
| 1980 | 3.3% | +9.1% |
| 1985 | 4.0% | +20.1% |
| 1990 | 4.6% | +16.6% |
| 1995 | 5.3% | +13.9% |
| 2000 | 6.1% | +16.6% |
| 2005 | 7.2% | +17.1% |
| 2010 | 8.4% | +17.2% |
| 2015 | 9.7% | +15.3% |
| 2020 | 10.6% | +9.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2 |
| 1960s | 2.7% | 2.6% | 2.7% | 2 |
| 1970s | 2.9% | 2.8% | 3.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 3.6% | 3.3% | 4.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 4.9% | 4.6% | 5.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 6.7% | 6.1% | 7.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 9.1% | 8.4% | 9.7% | 2 |
| 2020s | 10.6% | 10.6% | 10.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
- 122 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 10.9% compare
- 123 Uzbekistan 10.9% compare
- 124 Kenya 10.7% compare
- 126 Iran, Islamic Republic of 10.1% compare
- 127 Yemen 10.1% compare
- 128 Rwanda 10.1% compare
More population data for Nepal
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.6271 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.593 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.0333 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.593 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.6% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.41 million people (2100)
- Population density 222.05 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.6% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.8575 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8872 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in the capital city in Nepal?
- Share of population living in the capital city in Nepal was 10.6% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in the capital city recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 10.6% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in the capital city recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.6% in 1955.
- How does Nepal rank for share of population living in the capital city?
- Nepal ranks 125th out of 170 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in the capital city rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nepal data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in the capital city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the total population living in the country's capital city. City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.