MigrantoImmigrants in Nepal
458.9K foreign-born residents — the #81 largest immigrant population in the world
Where immigrants come from
The top 3 countries account for 100% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| India | 412190 |
| Bhutan | 26552 |
| China | 18757 |
| Pakistan | 1170 |
| Bangladesh | 214 |
| Sri Lanka | 41 |
By region of origin
Asia is the leading region of origin at 100%
458.9K
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about immigration in Nepal.
India is the leading source of immigration by a wide margin
India accounts for 90% of all immigrants, far ahead of the second-largest source at just 6%.
Nepal is a primary destination for emigrants from Bhutan
Nepal attracts 40% of all emigrants from Bhutan, making it the leading destination for those leaving the country.
How immigration changed over time
Total immigrant population by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 411030 |
| 1995 | 651911 |
| 2000 | 680689 |
| 2005 | 645878 |
| 2010 | 559202 |
| 2015 | 496702 |
| 2020 | 475347 |
| 2024 | 458924 |
Top sources over time
Immigration from the 5 largest source countries
| Year | India | Bhutan | China | Pakistan | Bangladesh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 origins
How immigration from each country has changed since the selected year
Nepal as a destination, by diaspora
Share of each country's emigrants who settled in Nepal
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many immigrants live in Nepal?
Around 458.9K foreign-born residents live in Nepal, making it the #81-largest immigrant population in the world.
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 foreign-born residents.
What share 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.
How has immigration to Nepal changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the immigrant population in Nepal has fallen from 496.7K to 458.9K people, a decline of about 8%.
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