Nepal’s
2001 census enumerated 103 distinct caste/ethnic groups
including an "unidentified group". The caste
system of Nepal is rooted in the Hindu religion while
the ethnic system is rooted in mutually exclusive
origin myths, historical mutual seclusion and the
occasional state intervention.
The
major caste/ethnic groups identified by the 2001 census
are Chetri (15.8%), Hill
Brahmin (12.7%), Magar
(7.1%), Tharu
(6.8%), Tamang
(5.6%), Newar
(5.5%), Muslim
(4.3%), Kami (3.9%), Rai (3.9),
Gurung (2.8%), and Damai/Dholi (2.4%). The remaining
92 caste/ethnic groups (including the world-famous
Sherpa) each constitute less
than 2 percent of the population. read
more......
CASTE/ETHNIC
GROUPS OF NEPAL
| CASTE/ETHNIC
GROUP |
POPULATION |
PERCENT
OF TOTAL |
| Chetri |
3,593,496 |
15.80 |
| Hill-Brahmin |
2,896,477 |
12.74 |
| Magar |
1,622,421 |
7.14 |
| Tharu |
1,533,879 |
6.75 |
| Tamang |
1,282,304 |
5.64 |
| Newar |
1,245,232 |
5.48 |
| Muslim |
971,056 |
4.27 |
| Kami |
895,954 |
3.94 |
| Yadav |
895,423 |
3.94 |
| Rai |
635,151 |
2.79 |
| Gurung |
543,571 |
2.39 |
| Damai/Dholi |
390,305 |
1.72 |
| Limbu |
359,379 |
1.58 |
| Thakuri |
334,120 |
1.47 |
| Sarki |
318,989 |
1.40 |
| Teli |
304,536 |
1.34 |
| Chamar,
Harijan,
Ram |
269,661 |
1.19 |
| Koiri |
251,274 |
1.11 |
| Kurmi |
212,842 |
0.94 |
| Sanyasi |
199,127 |
0.88 |
| Dhanuk |
188,150 |
0.83 |
| Musahar |
172,434 |
0.76 |
| Dusad/Paswan/Pasi |
158,525 |
0.70 |
| Sherpa |
154,622 |
0.68 |
| Sonar |
145,088 |
0.64 |
| Kewat |
136,953 |
0.60 |
| Terai-Brahmin |
134,496 |
0.59 |
| Baniya |
126,971 |
0.56 |
| Gharti/Bhujel |
117,568 |
0.52 |
| Mallah |
115,986 |
0.51 |
| Kalwar |
115,606 |
0.51 |
| Kumal |
99,389 |
0.44 |
| Hajam/Thakur |
98,169 |
0.43 |
| Kanu |
95,826 |
0.42 |
| Rajbansi |
95,812 |
0.42 |
| Sunuwar |
95,254 |
0.42 |
| Sudhi |
89,846 |
0.40 |
| Lohar |
82,637 |
0.36 |
| Tatma |
76,512 |
0.34 |
| Khatwe |
74,972 |
0.33 |
| Dhobi |
73,413 |
0.32 |
| Majhi |
72,614 |
0.32 |
| Nuniya |
66,873 |
0.29 |
| Kumhar |
54,413 |
0.24 |
| Danuwar |
53,229 |
0.23 |
| Chepang |
52,237 |
0.23 |
| Haluwai |
50,583 |
0.22 |
| Rajput |
48,454 |
0.21 |
| Kayastha |
46,071 |
0.20 |
| Budhae |
45,975 |
0.20 |
| Marwadi |
43,971 |
0.19 |
| Santhal/Satar |
42,698 |
0.19 |
| Dhagar/Jhagar |
41,764 |
0.18 |
| Bantar |
35,839 |
0.16 |
| Barae |
35,434 |
0.16 |
| Kahar |
34,531 |
0.15 |
| Gangai |
31,318 |
0.14 |
| Lodha |
24,738 |
0.11 |
| Rajbhar |
24,263 |
0.11 |
| Thami |
22,999 |
0.10 |
| Dhimal |
19,537 |
0.09 |
| Bhote |
19,261 |
0.08 |
| Bing/Binda |
18,720 |
0.08 |
| Bhediyar/Gaderi |
17,729 |
0.08 |
| Nurang |
17,522 |
0.08 |
| Yakkha |
17,003 |
0.07 |
| Darai |
14,859 |
0.07 |
| Tajpuriya |
13,250 |
0.06 |
| Thakali |
12,973 |
0.06 |
| Chidimar |
12,296 |
0.05 |
| Pahari |
11,505 |
0.05 |
| Mali |
11,390 |
0.05 |
| Bangali |
9,860 |
0.04 |
| Chhantel |
9,814 |
0.04 |
| Dom |
8,931 |
0.04 |
| Kamar |
8,761 |
0.04 |
| Bote |
7,969 |
0.04 |
| Brahmu/Baramu |
7,383 |
0.03 |
| Gaine |
5,887 |
0.03 |
| Jirel |
5,316 |
0.02 |
| Adivasi/Janajati |
5,259 |
0.02 |
| Duga |
5,169 |
0.02 |
| Churaute |
4,893 |
0.02 |
| Badi |
4,442 |
0.02 |
| Meche |
3,763 |
0.02 |
| Lepcha |
3,660 |
0.02 |
| Halkhor |
3,621 |
0.02 |
| Punjabi/Sikh |
3,054 |
0.01 |
| Kisan |
2,876 |
0.01 |
| Raji |
2,399 |
0.01 |
| Byangsi |
2,103 |
0.01 |
| Hayu |
1,821 |
0.01 |
| Koche |
1,429 |
0.01 |
| Dhunia |
1,231 |
0.01 |
| Walung |
1,148 |
0.01 |
| Jaine |
1,015 |
0.00 |
| Munda |
660 |
0.00 |
| Raute |
658 |
0.00 |
| Yehlmo |
579 |
0.00 |
| Patharkata/Kuswadiya |
552 |
0.00 |
| Kusunda |
164 |
0.00 |
| Dalit/Unidentified |
173,401 |
0.76 |
| Unidentified
Caste/Ethnicity |
231,641 |
1.02 |
| NEPAL |
22,736,934 |
100.00 |
|
|
