Population in the largest city in Nepal
Nepal: Population in the largest city was 8.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
8.4%
Change on year
up 2.9%
World rank
145th
of 153 countries
All-time high
33.5%
in 1960
All-time low
5.7%
in 2010
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population in the largest city in Nepal, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of urban population.
Analysis
In 2025, population in the largest city in Nepal stood at 8.4%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.9% on the previous year and up 29.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in the largest city in Nepal peaked at 33.5% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 5.7%, in 2010.
Nepal ranks 145th of 153 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in the largest city in Nepal, year by year
| Year | % of urban population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 33.5% | — |
| 1961 | 32.9% | -1.9% |
| 1962 | 32.5% | -1.1% |
| 1963 | 32.2% | -0.9% |
| 1964 | 32.0% | -0.7% |
| 1965 | 31.8% | -0.7% |
| 1966 | 31.5% | -0.7% |
| 1967 | 31.3% | -0.8% |
| 1968 | 31.0% | -1.0% |
| 1969 | 30.6% | -1.2% |
| 1970 | 30.2% | -1.5% |
| 1971 | 29.6% | -1.8% |
| 1972 | 28.0% | -5.6% |
| 1973 | 24.4% | -12.9% |
| 1974 | 20.5% | -15.7% |
| 1975 | 17.3% | -15.8% |
| 1976 | 14.8% | -14.5% |
| 1977 | 12.9% | -12.7% |
| 1978 | 11.5% | -10.6% |
| 1979 | 10.6% | -8.4% |
| 1980 | 9.9% | -6.1% |
| 1981 | 9.6% | -3.6% |
| 1982 | 9.5% | -0.5% |
| 1983 | 9.5% | +0.2% |
| 1984 | 9.6% | +0.7% |
| 1985 | 9.7% | +1.2% |
| 1986 | 9.8% | +1.4% |
| 1987 | 10.0% | +1.5% |
| 1988 | 10.1% | +1.5% |
| 1989 | 10.3% | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 10.3% | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 10.3% | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 10.1% | -1.8% |
| 1993 | 9.9% | -2.1% |
| 1994 | 9.7% | -2.2% |
| 1995 | 9.5% | -2.3% |
| 1996 | 9.3% | -2.3% |
| 1997 | 9.0% | -2.4% |
| 1998 | 8.8% | -2.4% |
| 1999 | 8.6% | -2.4% |
| 2000 | 8.4% | -2.3% |
| 2001 | 8.2% | -2.3% |
| 2002 | 7.9% | -4.0% |
| 2003 | 7.5% | -5.5% |
| 2004 | 7.0% | -6.0% |
| 2005 | 6.6% | -5.9% |
| 2006 | 6.2% | -5.2% |
| 2007 | 6.0% | -4.3% |
| 2008 | 5.8% | -3.1% |
| 2009 | 5.7% | -1.7% |
| 2010 | 5.7% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 5.8% | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 6.0% | +3.0% |
| 2013 | 6.1% | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 6.3% | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 6.5% | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 6.7% | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 7.0% | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 7.2% | +3.5% |
| 2019 | 7.3% | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 7.4% | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 7.5% | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 7.7% | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 8.0% | +3.0% |
| 2024 | 8.2% | +3.0% |
| 2025 | 8.4% | +2.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 31.9% | 30.6% | 33.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 20.0% | 10.6% | 30.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.8% | 9.5% | 10.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.6% | 8.6% | 10.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.9% | 5.7% | 8.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.5% | 5.7% | 7.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.9% | 7.4% | 8.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More urban development data for Nepal
- Population density 207.15 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- 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 in the largest city in Nepal?
- Population in the largest city in Nepal was 8.4% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in the largest city recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 33.5% in 1960.
- What is the lowest population in the largest city recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.7% in 2010.
- How does Nepal rank for population in the largest city?
- Nepal ranks 145th out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in the largest city rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nepal data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in the largest city (% of urban population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population in largest city is the percentage of a country's urban population living in that country's largest metropolitan area.