Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in Nepal
Nepal: Population density (people per sq. km of land area) was 207.15 people per sq. km of land area in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
207.15 people per sq. km of land area
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
66th
of 216 countries
All-time high
207.29 people per sq. km of land area
in 2022
All-time low
198.22 people per sq. km of land area
in 2019
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Population density in Nepal, 1961–2023
Source: FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in people per sq. km of land area.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population density in Nepal is 207.15 people per sq. km of land area, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 4.5% over five years.
Over the whole period, population density in Nepal peaked at 207.29 people per sq. km of land area in 2022 and was at its lowest, 198.22 people per sq. km of land area, in 2019.
That places Nepal 66th out of 216 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in Nepal, year by year
| Year | people per sq. km of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 72.16 people per sq. km of land area | — |
| 1962 | 73.57 people per sq. km of land area | +2.0% |
| 1963 | 75.03 people per sq. km of land area | +2.0% |
| 1964 | 76.55 people per sq. km of land area | +2.0% |
| 1965 | 78.14 people per sq. km of land area | +2.1% |
| 1966 | 79.78 people per sq. km of land area | +2.1% |
| 1967 | 81.49 people per sq. km of land area | +2.1% |
| 1968 | 83.26 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 1969 | 85.08 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 1970 | 86.97 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 1971 | 88.88 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 1972 | 90.83 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 1973 | 92.83 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 1974 | 94.88 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 1975 | 97 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 1976 | 99.14 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 1977 | 101.39 people per sq. km of land area | +2.3% |
| 1978 | 103.77 people per sq. km of land area | +2.3% |
| 1979 | 106.23 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 1980 | 108.76 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 1981 | 111.35 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 1982 | 113.97 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 1983 | 116.71 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 1984 | 119.48 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 1985 | 122.22 people per sq. km of land area | +2.3% |
| 1986 | 124.95 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 1987 | 127.63 people per sq. km of land area | +2.1% |
| 1988 | 130.34 people per sq. km of land area | +2.1% |
| 1989 | 133.27 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 1990 | 136.53 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 1991 | 140.12 people per sq. km of land area | +2.6% |
| 1992 | 144.12 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 148.11 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 151.87 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 1995 | 155.56 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 159.03 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 1997 | 162.37 people per sq. km of land area | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 165.6 people per sq. km of land area | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 168.71 people per sq. km of land area | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 171.24 people per sq. km of land area | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 174.03 people per sq. km of land area | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 176.69 people per sq. km of land area | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 179.2 people per sq. km of land area | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 181.49 people per sq. km of land area | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 183.53 people per sq. km of land area | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 185.32 people per sq. km of land area | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 186.88 people per sq. km of land area | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 188.28 people per sq. km of land area | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 189.56 people per sq. km of land area | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 190.74 people per sq. km of land area | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 191.59 people per sq. km of land area | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 192.08 people per sq. km of land area | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 192.47 people per sq. km of land area | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 193.04 people per sq. km of land area | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 194.1 people per sq. km of land area | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 195.01 people per sq. km of land area | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 195.41 people per sq. km of land area | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 195.88 people per sq. km of land area | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 198.22 people per sq. km of land area | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 202.07 people per sq. km of land area | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 205.62 people per sq. km of land area | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 207.29 people per sq. km of land area | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 207.15 people per sq. km of land area | -0.1% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 207.15 people per sq. km of land area is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 80.91 people per sq. km of land area, 2.6× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 207.15 people per sq. km of land area is below the median for South Asia, which is 419.96 people per sq. km of land area, 49% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 78.34 people per sq. km of land area | 72.16 people per sq. km of land area | 85.08 people per sq. km of land area | 9 |
| 1970s | 96.19 people per sq. km of land area | 86.97 people per sq. km of land area | 106.23 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1980s | 120.87 people per sq. km of land area | 108.76 people per sq. km of land area | 133.27 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1990s | 153.2 people per sq. km of land area | 136.53 people per sq. km of land area | 168.71 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2000s | 181.62 people per sq. km of land area | 171.24 people per sq. km of land area | 189.56 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2010s | 193.85 people per sq. km of land area | 190.74 people per sq. km of land area | 198.22 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2020s | 205.53 people per sq. km of land area | 202.07 people per sq. km of land area | 207.29 people per sq. km of land area | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
- 63 North Korea 219.4 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 64 Marshall Islands 215.71 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 65 Antigua and Barbuda 212.08 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 67 Italy 199.46 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 68 Saint Kitts and Nevis 179.84 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 69 Andorra 172.03 people per sq. km of land area compare
More urban development data for Nepal
- Population in the largest city 8.4% (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 53.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.0565 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 1.67 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 3.16 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 10.96 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 1.67 million (2025)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 0.26 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 27.33 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population density in Nepal?
- Population density in Nepal was 207.15 people per sq. km of land area in 2023, according to FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest population density recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 207.29 people per sq. km of land area in 2022.
- What is the lowest population density recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 198.22 people per sq. km of land area in 2019.
- How does Nepal rank for population density?
- Nepal ranks 66th out of 216 countries with data for 2023.
- Where does this Nepal data come from?
- The figures come from FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Population density (people per sq. km of land area). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.