Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Nepal
Nepal: Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents was 10.6% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Nepal, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Nepal recorded 10.6% for share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 26.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Nepal peaked at 10.6% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1950.
That places Nepal 113th out of 180 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Nepal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 0.0% | — |
| 1955 | 0.0% | — |
| 1960 | 0.0% | — |
| 1965 | 0.0% | — |
| 1970 | 0.0% | — |
| 1975 | 0.0% | — |
| 1980 | 0.0% | — |
| 1985 | 0.0% | — |
| 1990 | 0.0% | — |
| 1995 | 5.3% | — |
| 2000 | 6.1% | +16.6% |
| 2005 | 7.2% | +17.1% |
| 2010 | 8.4% | +17.2% |
| 2015 | 9.7% | +15.3% |
| 2020 | 10.6% | +9.5% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 10.6% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 17.4%, 61% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 10.6% is below the median for South Asia, which is 14.8%, 72% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 2.6% | 0.0% | 5.3% | 2 |
| 2000s | 6.7% | 6.1% | 7.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 9.1% | 8.4% | 9.7% | 2 |
| 2020s | 10.6% | 10.6% | 10.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More reference data data for Nepal
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.7753 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7853 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.6 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.7974 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 11.28 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 19.44 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.28 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Nepal?
- Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Nepal was 10.6% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 10.6% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1950.
- How does Nepal rank for share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents?
- Nepal ranks 113th out of 180 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nepal data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the total population living in cities with 1 million or more people. City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.