Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Nepal
Nepal: Share of population living in urban and rural areas was 67.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
67.0%
Change on year
up 0.3%
World rank
113th
of 236 countries
All-time high
67.0%
in 2025
All-time low
2.7%
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Nepal, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in urban and rural areas in Nepal is 67.0%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 3.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Nepal peaked at 67.0% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 2.7%, in 1950.
Nepal ranks 113th of 236 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 urban and rural areas in Nepal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2.7% | — |
| 1951 | 2.8% | +2.9% |
| 1952 | 2.9% | +2.9% |
| 1953 | 3.0% | +3.1% |
| 1954 | 3.1% | +2.9% |
| 1955 | 3.2% | +2.8% |
| 1956 | 3.2% | +2.6% |
| 1957 | 3.3% | +2.4% |
| 1958 | 3.4% | +2.2% |
| 1959 | 3.5% | +2.0% |
| 1960 | 3.5% | +1.8% |
| 1961 | 3.6% | +1.6% |
| 1962 | 3.6% | +1.4% |
| 1963 | 3.7% | +1.1% |
| 1964 | 3.7% | +0.9% |
| 1965 | 3.7% | +0.8% |
| 1966 | 3.8% | +0.8% |
| 1967 | 3.8% | +0.8% |
| 1968 | 3.8% | +1.0% |
| 1969 | 3.9% | +1.2% |
| 1970 | 3.9% | +1.5% |
| 1971 | 4.0% | +1.9% |
| 1972 | 4.3% | +8.4% |
| 1973 | 5.1% | +17.5% |
| 1974 | 6.2% | +21.4% |
| 1975 | 7.5% | +21.5% |
| 1976 | 9.0% | +19.7% |
| 1977 | 10.5% | +17.1% |
| 1978 | 12.0% | +14.3% |
| 1979 | 13.4% | +11.5% |
| 1980 | 14.6% | +8.7% |
| 1981 | 15.5% | +6.0% |
| 1982 | 16.1% | +4.1% |
| 1983 | 16.6% | +3.3% |
| 1984 | 17.1% | +2.8% |
| 1985 | 17.5% | +2.4% |
| 1986 | 17.9% | +2.2% |
| 1987 | 18.3% | +2.2% |
| 1988 | 18.7% | +2.3% |
| 1989 | 19.2% | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 19.8% | +2.9% |
| 1991 | 20.4% | +3.3% |
| 1992 | 21.2% | +3.7% |
| 1993 | 22.0% | +4.1% |
| 1994 | 23.0% | +4.4% |
| 1995 | 24.1% | +4.7% |
| 1996 | 25.3% | +4.9% |
| 1997 | 26.6% | +5.1% |
| 1998 | 28.0% | +5.3% |
| 1999 | 29.5% | +5.4% |
| 2000 | 31.1% | +5.5% |
| 2001 | 32.8% | +5.5% |
| 2002 | 35.0% | +6.8% |
| 2003 | 38.0% | +8.6% |
| 2004 | 41.6% | +9.4% |
| 2005 | 45.5% | +9.4% |
| 2006 | 49.5% | +8.8% |
| 2007 | 53.4% | +7.8% |
| 2008 | 56.9% | +6.6% |
| 2009 | 59.9% | +5.2% |
| 2010 | 62.0% | +3.6% |
| 2011 | 63.1% | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 63.7% | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 64.1% | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 64.6% | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 65.0% | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 65.3% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 65.6% | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 65.8% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 66.0% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 66.1% | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 66.1% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 66.3% | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 66.5% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 66.8% | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 67.0% | +0.3% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 67.0% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 50.9%, 1.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 67.0% is above the median for South Asia, which is 39.1%, 1.7× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3.1% | 2.7% | 3.5% | 10 |
| 1960s | 3.7% | 3.5% | 3.9% | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.6% | 3.9% | 13.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 17.2% | 14.6% | 19.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 24.0% | 19.8% | 29.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 44.4% | 31.1% | 59.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 64.5% | 62.0% | 66.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 66.5% | 66.1% | 67.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More population data for Nepal
- Population regions 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 long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.593 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.6271 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 37,401 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8872 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.8575 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.6% (2100)
- Population density 222.05 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.41 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban and rural areas in Nepal?
- Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Nepal was 67.0% in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 67.0% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.7% in 1950.
- How does Nepal rank for share of population living in urban and rural areas?
- Nepal ranks 113th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nepal data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.