Share of the population living in cities in Nepal

Nepal: Share of the population living in cities was 18.47 in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)
18.47
World rank
175th
of 229 countries
All-time high
18.47
in 2020
All-time low
2.56
in 1955
Years of data
15
1950–2020

Share of the population living in cities 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

In 2020, share of the population living in cities in Nepal stood at 18.47. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 17.1% over ten years.

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

Nepal ranks 175th of 229 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

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

Share of the population living in cities in Nepal, year by year

Annual values for Share of the population living in cities 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%

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. 172 Cambodia 19.83 compare
  2. 173 Botswana 19.43 compare
  3. 174 Belize 18.53 compare
  4. 176 Madagascar 18.33 compare
  5. 177 Bhutan 16.92 compare
  6. 178 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 the population living in cities in Nepal?
Share of the population living in cities in Nepal was 18.47 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of the population living in cities recorded in Nepal?
The highest recorded value was 18.47 in 2020.
What is the lowest share of the population living in cities recorded in Nepal?
The lowest recorded value was 2.56 in 1955.
How does Nepal rank for share of the population living in cities?
Nepal ranks 175th out of 229 countries with data for 2020.
Is share of the population living in cities 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 the population living in cities. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of the population living in cities in Nepal. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 23 August 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-the-population-living-in-cities/nepal/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of the population living in cities
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