Urban population share — all countries

Urban population share — Nepal

Urban population share in Nepal in 2025 — 67%. Ranked 99 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 63.5 pp.

2025 67% +0.2 pp vs 2024
World rank 99of 217
Period maximum 67%2025
Period minimum 3.5%1960

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Urban population share — Nepal, 1960–202502040608019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 3.5%1962: 3.6%1964: 3.7%1966: 3.8%1968: 3.8%1970: 3.9%1972: 4.3%1974: 6.2%1976: 9%1978: 12%1980: 14.6%1982: 16.1%1984: 17.1%1986: 17.9%1988: 18.7%1990: 19.8%1992: 21.2%1994: 23%1996: 25.3%1998: 28%2000: 31.1%2002: 35%2004: 41.6%2006: 49.5%2008: 56.9%2010: 62%2012: 63.7%2014: 64.6%2016: 65.3%2018: 65.8%2020: 66.1%2022: 66.3%2024: 66.8%2025: 67%
Change over the period: +63.5 pp Annual average: 0.98 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Nepal

Nepal 67%
World 57.8%
South Asia 35.8%
Southern Asia computed 37.9%
Urban population share — Nepal, by year Nepal All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 67 +0.2 pp
2024 66.8 +0.2 pp
2023 66.5 +0.2 pp
2022 66.3 +0.2 pp
2021 66.1 +0 pp
2020 66.1 +0.1 pp
2019 66 +0.2 pp
2018 65.8 +0.2 pp
2017 65.6 +0.3 pp
2016 65.3 +0.3 pp
2015 65 +0.4 pp
2014 64.6 +0.4 pp
2013 64.1 +0.5 pp
2012 63.7 +0.5 pp
2011 63.1 +1.1 pp
2010 62 +2.2 pp
2009 59.9 +3 pp
2008 56.9 +3.5 pp
2007 53.4 +3.9 pp
2006 49.5 +4 pp
2005 45.5 +3.9 pp
2004 41.6 +3.6 pp
2003 38 +3 pp
2002 35 +2.2 pp
2001 32.8 +1.7 pp
2000 31.1 +1.6 pp
1999 29.5 +1.5 pp
1998 28 +1.4 pp
1997 26.6 +1.3 pp
1996 25.3 +1.2 pp
1995 24.1 +1.1 pp
1994 23 +1 pp
1993 22 +0.9 pp
1992 21.2 +0.8 pp
1991 20.4 +0.6 pp
1990 19.8 +0.5 pp
1989 19.2 +0.5 pp
1988 18.7 +0.4 pp
1987 18.3 +0.4 pp
1986 17.9 +0.4 pp
1985 17.5 +0.4 pp
1984 17.1 +0.5 pp
1983 16.6 +0.5 pp
1982 16.1 +0.6 pp
1981 15.5 +0.9 pp
1980 14.6 +1.2 pp
1979 13.4 +1.4 pp
1978 12 +1.5 pp
1977 10.5 +1.5 pp
1976 9 +1.5 pp
1975 7.5 +1.3 pp
1974 6.2 +1.1 pp
1973 5.1 +0.8 pp
1972 4.3 +0.3 pp
1971 4 +0.1 pp
1970 3.9 +0.1 pp
1969 3.9 +0 pp
1968 3.8 +0 pp
1967 3.8 +0 pp
1966 3.8 +0 pp
1965 3.7 +0 pp
1964 3.7 +0 pp
1963 3.7 +0 pp
1962 3.6 +0 pp
1961 3.6 +0.1 pp
1960 3.5

About the indicator

The share of population living in urban settlements, as a percent of the total. One caveat is central: each country sets the criteria for a city itself — in some places it is a settlement of 2,000 residents or more, in others 20,000, in others administrative status. Cross-country comparisons of urbanization are therefore always approximate, while the trend within a single country is informative.

Important: Sharp jumps in individual years are usually explained not by people moving but by changes in the administrative boundaries of cities.

Source: World Population Prospects (UN), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.