MigrantoImmigrants in Nepal
458.9K foreigners live in Nepal — 2% of the country's population
Immigrants in Nepal by country
The 3 largest groups make up 100% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| India | 412190 |
| Bhutan | 26552 |
| China | 18757 |
| Pakistan | 1170 |
| Bangladesh | 214 |
| Sri Lanka | 41 |
By region of origin
100% of immigrants come from Asia
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Key facts
Immigrants in Nepal in numbers
Indians are the largest group by a wide margin
90% of all immigrants were born in India, while the next group accounts for just 6%.
40% of all emigrants from Bhutan live in Nepal
No other country has more people born in Bhutan.
Immigrant population in Nepal over time
Foreigners living in Nepal, by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 411030 |
| 1995 | 651911 |
| 2000 | 680689 |
| 2005 | 645878 |
| 2010 | 559202 |
| 2015 | 496702 |
| 2020 | 475347 |
| 2024 | 458924 |
Largest groups over time
The 5 largest groups in Nepal, by year
| Year | Indians | Bhutanese | Chinese | Pakistanis | Bangladeshis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 369370 | 16805 | 21906 | 2371 | 500 |
| 1995 | 515578 | 107664 | 25260 | 2734 | 577 |
| 2000 | 543594 | 111196 | 22820 | 2470 | 522 |
| 2005 | 514650 | 108387 | 20155 | 2156 | 453 |
| 2010 | 461186 | 75457 | 20977 | 1296 | 244 |
| 2015 | 446113 | 28740 | 20302 | 1268 | 233 |
| 2020 | 426941 | 27502 | 19428 | 1212 | 222 |
| 2024 | 412190 | 26552 | 18757 | 1170 | 214 |
Fastest-changing groups
How each group's numbers have changed since the selected year
Share of each diaspora living in Nepal
Of each group's emigrants worldwide, the share who live in Nepal
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many foreigners live in Nepal?
Around 458.9K immigrants live in Nepal — the world's #81 largest immigrant population.
What percentage of the population of Nepal are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 2% of the population of Nepal — that's 458.9K out of a total population of 29.7M.
Where do most immigrants in Nepal come from?
Most immigrants in Nepal come from India, Bhutan and China — these three countries account for about 100% of all immigrants.
How many Indians live in Nepal?
Around 412.2K Indians live in Nepal — about 90% of all immigrants, the largest group.
Is the immigrant population in Nepal growing?
No — over the past decade, the number of immigrants in Nepal has fallen from 496.7K to 458.9K, about 8%.
Where does the data on immigrants in Nepal come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born abroad who now live in Nepal. Their children born in Nepal are not included.
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Living in Nepal
See the full country overview