Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Nepal
Nepal: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 19.84 million people in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Number of people 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 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people living in urban and rural areas in Nepal is 19.84 million people, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 9.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Nepal peaked at 19.84 million people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 229,156 people, in 1950.
Nepal ranks 43rd of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 285,524 people | 229,156 people | 343,025 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 411,190 people | 355,786 people | 470,437 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.07 million people | 488,150 people | 2.04 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.98 million people | 2.27 million people | 3.66 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.30 million people | 3.86 million people | 7.12 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.63 million people | 7.63 million people | 16.27 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.93 million people | 16.96 million people | 18.75 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.62 million people | 19.15 million people | 19.84 million people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More population data for Nepal
- 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)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.96 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 19,598 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.96 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.96 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 1.2% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 1.98 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in urban and rural areas in Nepal?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Nepal was 19.84 million people 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 number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 19.84 million people in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 229,156 people in 1950.
- How does Nepal rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- Nepal ranks 43rd out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.8%. 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 Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.