The population of Nepal cannot be called a single people, as it represents an amalgamation of many different ethnic groups. On the territory of the state, the Caucasoid and Mongoloid races come into contact. The Nepalese nationality does not exist, and the population of Nepal is united only by a common language.
Current population
Almost ten years ago, Nepal could still be called the last Hindu kingdom in the world. The entire population was subject to the monarch. The last ruler was a representative of the Shah dynasty, and after him there were no Hindu monarchs in the world. Since then, a lot has changed: a new constitution was adopted, Nepal became a federal republic, there was a real population explosion.
How many people are in Nepal today? The country, located between the two most populous states in the world, is home to only 29 million people. This is about the same as in Afghanistan or North Korea. The same number of citizens in the Stavropol Territory, the Republic of Dagestan or the Krasnoyarsk Territory. By populationNepal is ranked 41st in the world.
Despite the increase in the number of citizens in recent years, the government is seriously concerned about the decline in annual growth. Today it is about 2.2% annually - like in Libya or the Dominican Republic. This is much more than in developed Western European countries or the United States of America. In Nepal, there are 2.5 children per woman. The government is taking active steps in the demographic direction, but there is no visible effect yet.
Population density of Nepal
The average population density of Nepal, according to statistics, is 216 people per 1 square kilometer. Similar figures were recorded in Italy, Germany, Pakistan, the Dominican Republic and North Korea. In terms of density, Nepal is located on the border between very densely populated states and countries where the indicator is close to the world average. But unlike the listed states with a similar density, the population of Nepal is unevenly dispersed throughout the country.
The nature of settlement
Several factors influence the nature of settlement:
- Natural environment (almost half of the planet's population is concentrated in the lowlands, although they make up no more than 30% of the land). The mountainous regions of the state are poorly populated due to unfavorable natural conditions. There are no permanent settlements above 4 km above sea level.
- Historical past (settlement is affected by the historical factor). Duringthroughout the twentieth century, there was a mass migration of Nepalese to the eastern regions and the area of \u200b\u200bsettlement of the Tarays. People left the western mountainous regions for more livable ones. The trend continues now.
- Modern demographic situation. In some states, the population is increasing rapidly due to high natural growth. The population of Nepal after the demographic surge actively settled not only in the territory of their country. A large number of Nepalese (up to ten million) moved to neighboring India (especially in its mountainous regions in the northeast), Bhutan and Myanmar.
- The level of economic development (in regions where you can find a job, more people are concentrated than in those where there are no industries). The population of the country of Nepal is concentrated in the capital, where the density is more than 1000 people per 1 square kilometer. The biggest cities are near Kathmandu.
Urban and rural population
Most of Nepal's population is concentrated in Kathmandu and in major cities near the capital. The city of Kathmandu has a population of over one million, with an average density reaching a record high of 20,000 inhabitants per square kilometer. This is slightly less than in Calcutta, the most densely populated city in the world (24.2 thousand per 1 km2).
Near Kathmandu and in the historical regions inhabited by the Terai are Lalitpur (or Patan) and Bhaktapur. Patan has about 180 thousand people. It is impossible notcelebrate the amazing beauty of this city. The second name, adopted at the official level, literally means "city of beauty." Nearly 80,000 Nepalese live in Bhaktapur, also known as Khwopa or Bhadgaon.
The largest city in the foothills, near the border with India, has just over two hundred thousand people. Biratnagar is a large industrial center, the fourth largest city in the country. The village of Pokhara is located in the central part of the state. The city is very popular among tourists, mainly because it offers a beautiful view of the Himalayas. The permanent population of Pokhara is almost 200 thousand inhabitants.
The total urban population of Nepal is almost five million citizens, which is 17% of Nepalese. Over time, more and more people are moving to cities. Back in 2004, only three and a half million Nepalese (12%) were concentrated in large population centers.
The relatively small urban population in Nepal indicates that the bulk of the citizens are employed in agriculture. This is also confirmed by the economic structure of employment. Three quarters of able-bodied citizens work in the fields. One fifth of the country's territory is occupied by agricultural land, and more than half of the land is occupied by rice.
Age stratification
Less than 5% of Nepal's population is older than 64, despite a life expectancy for both sexes of 66 years. This situation is typical for developing countries, ascreates a minimum social burden on society (a small pension coefficient). But when the population under working age is taken into account, the picture is different.
Children and teenagers under 15 in Nepal make up 34% of the total population. The potential replacement ratio (the ratio of the number of children to adults) in this case is 56.6%. Given these data, the burden on the working-age population, which has more than 17 million people, reaches 63.7%. This means that each person of working age must produce 1.5 times more services and goods that are required for himself.
Nepal has a progressive sex and age pyramid - like the vast majority of developing countries.
Ethnic composition of the inhabitants
The national composition of the population of Nepal is very diverse. On the territory of the country, as mentioned earlier, the border of the Mongoloid and Caucasoid races passes, which creates ethnic diversity.
Southern Europeans of the country are represented mainly by immigrants from India, who massively migrated to Nepal since the beginning of the 11th century. Mongoloids are represented by Tibetans, Thakalis and Sherpas.
Today, more than three-quarters of the population are those same people from India who already identify themselves as indigenous Nepalese. Other numerous ethnic groups are represented by:
- chhetri (almost 13%);
- mountain bahuns (12.7%);
- magars (7%);
- tharu (6,8%);
- tamangami (5.6%);
- Newari (5, 5%).
Languages of the population of the country
Location at the junction of nationalities and between the two most populous states determines the linguistic diversity. The official language of the population - Nepali - is native to almost half of the citizens. In total, 120 different languages and dialects are spoken in Nepal. Indo-European languages, Tibeto-Burman and other local languages are widespread. English is used in business.
Cast system in Nepal
The caste system in the country was formed in parallel with the Indian one. There are four main castes today:
- Priests.
- Military.
- Merchant merchants and some artisans.
- Servants (cleaners, hairdressers, laundresses) and artisans who do repetitive, hard work (tailors, shoemakers, blacksmiths).
Worst of all is women from the lower caste of the "untouchables". To alleviate the plight of many women who have to work as prostitutes, the government has developed a special program. The Nepalese authorities pay these women $200 a month as long as they can look for other jobs. The problem is that this amount is too small to feed yourself and your children. In addition, lower caste women are treated like prostitutes no matter what they do.
Religious composition
Nepal (population 29 million) is officially a secular state, but religion and the caste system have a very strong influence oncitizens. According to official figures, 80% of the inhabitants are adherents of Hinduism, but more realistic figures are as follows: 70% or even less. An incomprehensible situation arises due to the fact that some of the small ethnic groups consider themselves Hindus, but in practice they profess Buddhism or animism.
A tenth of the population, and possibly much more, are Buddhists. Modern Nepalese Buddhism has absorbed many elements of Judaism.
System and level of education
Only in 1975, a free system of primary education was established in Nepal, previously only those close to the monarch and the local nobility had access to education. Today, all children from six to ten children are required to regularly attend a comprehensive primary school. Then they can go to secondary school, but economic and socio-cultural factors often stand in the way of getting an education. The latter include child labor and neglect of girls.
Today the adult literacy rate is 76% for men and 55% for women. Until the 1990s, the situation was even worse. Positive results were achieved by the introduction of a twelve-year educational program for citizens over six and under forty-five years old. By 2003, the literacy rate had risen by 45% compared to 1990, but a large gap between the education of men and women still exists today. Nepal has yet to get rid of socio-cultural prejudicessucceeded.
He alth care in Nepal
The level of medicine in the country is extremely low. The government regularly introduces special social programs, but there are no significant changes. One such program has significantly reduced the incidence of smallpox and malaria in the Terai area, so there are still some results. Endemic goiter is common in rural areas, and cases of leprosy occur in some regions. Malnutrition is a serious problem. The problem is particularly acute in mountainous areas.
Standard of living of the population
In general, the standard of living of the population of Nepal can hardly be called sufficient. The country belongs to the least economically developed and is located on the last lines of global rankings. The average salary in the capital is $171. You can buy an apartment (20 sq. Almost half of the population lives below the poverty line, and the social security system is extremely weak.
