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.JPG) Mosque inKathmandu, Nepal | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 1,483,060[1] (5.09% of the country's population)  [2] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Nepal | |
| Religions | |
 Islam | |
| Languages | |
| Urdu (27.9%) •Bhojpuri (19.9%) •Maithili (16.7%) •Awadhi (15.9%) •Bajjika (9.1%) •Nepali (5.2%) •Hindi (2.2%) •Other regional languages (2.4%)[3] | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Kashmiri Muslims •Bihari Muslims •Madheshi people[4] •GorkhaliMuslims •Tibetan Muslims |
Islam (Nepali:नेपाली मुसलमान) is the third largest religion inNepal.[5] According to the2021 Nepal census, approximately 1.483 millionMuslims, comprising 5.09% of the population, live in Nepal.[6]
Nepalese Muslims (Nepali:नेपाली मुसलमान;Nepali Musalman) areNepalis who followIslam. Their ancestors arrived in Nepal from different parts ofSouth Asia and have since lived amidst the numerically dominant Hindus and Buddhists. Most muslims of Nepal ethnically are not Nepalese. They are similar to the Muslim population of Uttarpradesh and Bihar in India and they integrated in Nepalese Society. Most of the Muslim community lives in theTerai region, while the remaining live mainly inKathmandu andGorkha and the western hills. The community numbers 971,056, about 3.8% of the total population of Nepal. Districts with large Muslim population includeSarlahi (9.9%),Rautahat (17.2%),Bara (11.9%),Parsa (17.3%),Banke (16%) in the western Terai,Siraha (7%),Sunsari (10%),Saptari (10%) andGorkha (13%) hill.[7]
According to the2021 Nepal census, there are around 1.483 millionMuslims in Nepal. Almost all of them live inTerai region.[8] Districts with large Muslim concentrations are:Rautahat,Banke,Kapilvastu,Parsa,Mahottari,Bara, andSunsari. There are only 21,866 Muslims in the capital city ofKathmandu (1.25% of the total population).[citation needed]
Islam is believed to have been introduced inNepal as early as the 11th century through trade and migration routes fromKashmir,Tibet, andNorthern India. The earliestMuslim settlers were primarilyKashmiri merchants and traders who established themselves in theKathmandu Valley and other parts of the Terai region.[4]
During themedieval period and particularly under the rule of theMalla kings, Muslims continued to arrive and engage in artisanal crafts, arms manufacturing, and trade. TheRana regime (1846–1951) further encouraged the settlement ofIndian Muslims, particularly in the Terai belt, to strengthen agriculture and local economies.[9][unreliable source?]
A significant wave of migration occurred following theIndian Rebellion of 1857, as Muslim refugees from northern India sought asylum in neighboring Nepal. Many of these refugees were granted land and permission to settle by the ruling Rana regime.[10]
Muslims played a small but notable role in Nepalese society during these times, including in the royal courts as metalworkers, arms suppliers, and scholars. Today, the historical roots of Islam in Nepal remain reflected in old settlements,mosques, and family lineages acrossKathmandu,Nepalgunj, and the EasternTerai districts.
Ahmadis maintain a small presence in Nepal.[11]
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1952/54 | 209,718 | — |
| 1961 | 280,507 | +33.8% |
| 1971 | 351,301 | +25.2% |
| 1981 | 399,607 | +13.8% |
| 1991 | 652,735 | +63.3% |
| 2001 | 972,359 | +49.0% |
| 2011 | 1,162,370 | +19.5% |
| 2021 | 1,483,060 | +27.6% |
| Source: Nepal Censuses | ||
The Muslim population was 1,483,060 as per Nepal 2021 Official census which make up 5.09% of Nepal's population. The Muslim population increased from 4.39% in 2011 to 5.09% in 2021.[14]
| Year | Percent | Increase |
|---|---|---|
| 1952/54 | 2.54% | |
| 1961 | 2.98% | +0.44% |
| 1971 | 3.04% | +0.06% |
| 1981 | 2.66% |  -0.38% |
| 1991 | 3.53% | +0.87% |
| 2001 | 4.20% | +0.67% |
| 2011 | 4.39% | +0.19% |
| 2021 | 5.09% | +0.70% |
| Year | Population | % |
|---|---|---|
| 2030 | 2.2 million | 5.5% |
| 2040 | 2.7 million | 6% |
| 2050 | 3.2 million | 6.6% |
Islam is the fastest-growing religion in Nepal. ThePew Research Center has estimated that Nepal will have 3.34 million Muslims by 2050 who will constitute roughly around 7% of the country's population,[14] thus surpassingBuddhism in Nepal which is currently the 2nd largestreligion in Nepal as of2021 Nepal census reports.[16]
