Total population (thousands) in Nepal
Nepal: Total population (thousands) was 29,628 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
29,628 thousands
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
51st
of 233 countries
All-time high
29,716 thousands
in 2022
All-time low
12,299 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Nepal, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total population in Nepal is 29,628 thousands, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 6.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Nepal peaked at 29,716 thousands in 2022 and was at its lowest, 12,299 thousands, in 1970.
Nepal ranks 51st of 233 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in Nepal, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 12,299 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 12,573 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1972 | 12,847 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1973 | 13,131 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1974 | 13,419 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1975 | 13,718 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1976 | 14,024 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1977 | 14,332 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1978 | 14,667 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1979 | 15,013 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1980 | 15,368 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1981 | 15,738 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1982 | 16,107 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1983 | 16,489 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1984 | 16,889 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1985 | 17,281 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1986 | 17,674 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1987 | 18,062 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1988 | 18,439 thousands | +2.1% |
| 1989 | 18,838 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1990 | 19,277 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1991 | 19,772 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1992 | 20,301 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 20,918 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 21,442 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1995 | 21,993 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 22,498 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 22,986 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1998 | 23,453 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 23,908 thousands | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 24,343 thousands | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 24,750 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 25,143 thousands | +1.6% |
| 2003 | 25,515 thousands | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 25,863 thousands | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 26,170 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 26,448 thousands | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 26,682 thousands | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 26,895 thousands | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 27,086 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 27,261 thousands | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 27,423 thousands | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 27,506 thousands | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 27,564 thousands | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 27,616 thousands | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 27,729 thousands | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 27,918 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 27,992 thousands | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 28,030 thousands | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 28,129 thousands | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 28,699 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 29,234 thousands | +1.9% |
| 2022 | 29,716 thousands | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 29,715 thousands | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 29,674 thousands | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 29,628 thousands | -0.2% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 29,628 thousands is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12,314 thousands, 2.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 29,628 thousands is above the median for South Asia, which is 26,398 thousands, 1.1× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 13,602 thousands | 12,299 thousands | 15,013 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 17,089 thousands | 15,368 thousands | 18,838 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 21,655 thousands | 19,277 thousands | 23,908 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 25,890 thousands | 24,343 thousands | 27,086 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 27,717 thousands | 27,261 thousands | 28,129 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 29,444 thousands | 28,699 thousands | 29,716 thousands | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
- 48 Saudi Arabia 34,264 thousands compare
- 49 Madagascar 32,352 thousands compare
- 50 Cote d'Ivoire 32,321 thousands compare
- 52 Cameroon 29,500 thousands compare
- 53 Venezuela 28,460 thousands compare
- 54 Niger 27,472 thousands compare
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 total population in Nepal?
- Total population in Nepal was 29,628 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 29,716 thousands in 2022.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 12,299 thousands in 1970.
- How does Nepal rank for total population?
- Nepal ranks 51st out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nepal data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release