Population and Demographics of Nepal
Population declining at 0.15% in 2024 · 6.5% aged 65 or older
The age structure puts 65.07% in the 15-to-64 band, leaving a 21.93-point gap between children and older adults. Looking ahead, 34.64 million is projected for 2050 under the medium scenario, compared with 29.65 million in 2024.
Population Over Time in Nepal
Over the 24 years from 2000 to 2024, Nepal added roughly 5.10 million people, leaving the 2024 total at 29.651M. For 2050, the medium projection is 34.642M. That is a difference of about 4.99 million people from the 2024 estimate. The chart connects dated reference points only and should not be read as an annual interpolated series.
Age Structure and Sex Balance
The broad age bands show a young population structure in Nepal. Under-15s account for 28.43% of residents and people 65+ for 6.50%, leaving 65.07% in the broad 15 to 64 range. The age balance is weighted toward younger residents.
Population by broad age group
Nepal's 2024 population is 52.1% female and 47.9% male in the World Bank series. Females exceed males by 4.2 percentage points.
Female and male population share
Females made up 52.1% of the population in the World Bank's 2024 series, compared with 47.9% males.
What Is Shaping Population Change
For Nepal, the latest annual population movement is -0.15%, compared with fertility of 2.0, in a structure where 65.07% are working age and 6.50% are 65 or above.
By 2024, Nepal had shifted +20.8% from its 2000 population level, before a projected +16.8% shift to 2050 under the medium scenario; the page therefore distinguishes measured direction from unmeasured demographic drivers.
2024 estimate for Nepal. The world comparison value is 2.25 children per woman.
Nepal vs. World
In 2024, Nepal's annual population change, fertility and median age do not all sit on the same side of the world benchmarks: they are respectively lower than, below and younger than the global benchmarks.
| Indicator | Nepal | World | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual population change | -0.15% | +0.87% | 2024 |
| Total fertility rate | 2 | 2.25 | 2024 |
| Median age | 25 | 30.6 | 2024 |
These are same-year, same-table comparisons. The underlying country table identifies UN World Population Prospects 2024 as its demographic framework.
Key Takeaways
Nepal has 29,651,054 people in the 2024 estimate, with the population changing -0.15% over the year.
The 2024 age structure is 28.43% under 15, 65.07% aged 15 to 64 and 6.50% aged 65 or older.
The World Bank 2024 sex-share series is 52.1% female and 47.9% male.
The 2050 medium projection is 34.642M, 16.8% above the 2024 estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Nepal?
The 2024 harmonized population estimate for Nepal is 29,651,054 people.
Is the population of Nepal growing or declining?
In the 2024 estimate, Nepal's population is declining, with annual change of -0.15%.
What percentage of the population of Nepal is aged 65 or older?
People aged 65 or older account for 6.50% of Nepal's 2024 population in the UN WPP-based broad age data.
What is the projected population of Nepal in 2050?
The UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium projection puts Nepal's 2050 population at 34,642,027.
What is the fertility rate in Nepal?
The 2024 harmonized fertility estimate for Nepal is 2 children per woman.
Sources & methodology
This profile uses United Nations World Population Prospects 2024 as the primary framework for globally comparable population, age, fertility and projection data. The World Bank is the primary source for the female population share. Some country values were accessed through secondary retrieval interfaces that republish or organize UN data; those interfaces are identified below as secondary and are not treated as the original statistical publishers.
View sources used for this page
Primary global framework for the population estimates and projections.
Harmonized 2024 country table based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized broad age shares based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized reference for the 2000 population point.
Harmonized 2050 country projection based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Used for the 2024 female share; the male share is calculated as the remainder to 100%.