Urban population growth in Nepal
Nepal: Urban population growth was 0.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population growth in Nepal, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
In 2025, urban population growth in Nepal stood at 0.2%.
That represents a change of up 16.0% on the previous year and down 80.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population growth in Nepal peaked at 21.7% in 1975 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 2024.
Nepal ranks 172nd of 215 countries on this measure, in the bottom 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.1% | 2.8% | 3.5% | 9 |
| 1970s | 14.7% | 3.7% | 21.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.8% | 4.3% | 10.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.6% | 5.2% | 7.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.3% | 5.7% | 10.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.4% | 0.6% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.9% | 0.2% | 2.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
- 169 French Polynesia 0.3% compare
- 170 Greenland 0.3% compare
- 171 Curacao 0.2% compare
- 173 Antigua and Barbuda 0.2% compare
- 174 Saint Lucia 0.2% compare
- 175 Bulgaria 0.2% compare
More climate change data for Nepal
- Population growth -0.1% (2025)
- Population, total 29.62 million (2025)
- Urban population 19.84 million (2025)
- Urban population 67.0% (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 5.6% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 9.5 billion cubic meters (2022)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 4.8% (2022)
- Terrestrial protected areas 23.6% (2025)
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas 23.6% (2025)
- CPIA public sector management and institutions cluster average 2.8 1=low to 6=high (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population growth in Nepal?
- Urban population growth in Nepal was 0.2% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population growth recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 21.7% in 1975.
- What is the lowest urban population growth recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 2024.
- How does Nepal rank for urban population growth?
- Nepal ranks 172nd out of 215 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population growth rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 80.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nepal data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual urban population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear urban population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank total population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects.