Languages of Nepal
Parts of this article (those related to Languages in Nepal by numbers of speakers) need to be
updated . The reason given is:
2021 Nepal census .
Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (March 2024 )
Languages of Nepal Ethnolinguistic map of Nepal
Official Nepali Semi-official Newar , Maithili , Limbu , Bhojpuri , Bajjika , Tamang , Magar , Gurung , Tharu , Awadhi ,Indigenous Many Indo-Aryan languages and Sino-Tibetan languages ; Kurukh , Santali Vernacular Nepalese English Foreign English, Hindi Signed Nepali Sign Language • Jhankot Sign Language • Jumla Sign Language • Ghandruk Sign Language Keyboard layout
Languages of Nepal , referred to as Nepalese languages in the country's constitution , are the languages having at least an ancient history or origin inside the sovereign territory of Nepal , spoken by Nepalis .
There were 124 mother tongues according to the "National Report on caste/ethnicity, language & religion", National Population and Housing Census 2021 in Nepal.
Nepali accounted as a mother tongue for 44.86% while also being a second additional language for 46.2% of the total population. [ 1] Most belong to the Indo-Aryan and Sino-Tibetan language families.
The official working language at federal level is Nepali, but the constitution provisions each province to choose one or more additional official working languages.[ 2] The Language Commission of Nepal in 2021 recommended 14 official languages for different provinces of Nepal.[ 3]
The mother languages of Nepal, or languages of Nepali origin are sometimes referred to as Nepali languages .[ 4] [ 5]
National languages
According to the constitution of Nepal : "All languages spoken as the mother tongue in Nepal are the languages of the nation".[ 6] Many of the languages also have various dialects. For example, the Rai people have about 30 languages. Some of the languages are similar and may be considered dialects. The distinction between dialects and languages is sometimes unclear.[ 7]
Classification
Nepal's languages are mostly either Indo-European or Sino-Tibetan , while only a very few of them are Austro-Asiatic and Dravidian .
Out of 123 languages of Nepal, the 48 Indo-European languages , which are of the Indo-Aryan (Indic) sub-family (excluding English), constitute the largest group in terms of the numeric strength of their speakers, nearly 82.1%[ 8] of population. Nepali , Bhojpuri , Maithili , Awadhi , the Tharu languages and Urdu fall in this group.
The Sino-Tibetan family of Nepal's languages forms a part of its Tibeto-Burman group . Though spoken by relatively fewer people than the Indo-European family (17.3%[ 8] of population), it includes a greater number of languages, about 63 languages. Languages belonging to this group include Tamang , Nepal Bhasa (Newar) , Magar and Limbu .
The small declining number of Dravidian languages are represented by Kurux , and the Munda languages of the Austroasiatic family by Santali and Mundari .
The indigenous languages of Nepal that predated the influx of Indic, Tibeto-Burman, and other families barely survive in the Kusunda language , which is nearly extinct today.[ 9]
Nepal also has at several indigenous village sign languages : Jhankot Sign Language , Jumla Sign Language , and Ghandruk Sign Language , in addition to the Nepali Sign Language designed for national use.[ 10]
Constitutional status
Street sign in Ranjana script , Devanagari script and English in Kathmandu
Part 1 of the Constitution of Nepal 2015 (2072 B.S.) contains these provisions about the languages of Nepal:[ 2]
Article 6: All languages spoken as the mother tongue in Nepal are the languages of the nation.
Article 7(1): The Nepali language in the Devanagari script shall be the official language of Nepal.
Article 7(2): A Province may, by a provincial law, determine one or more than one languages of the nation spoken by a majority of people within the Province as its official language or languages, in addition to the Nepali language.
Languages in Nepal as of 2021
There were 124 mother tongues according to the "National Report on caste/ethnicity, language & religion", National Population and Housing Census 2021 in Nepal.
Nepali accounted as a mother tongue for 44.86% while also being a second additional language for 46.2% of the total population. [ 1]
Mother tongues
There were 124 mother tongues according to the "National Report on caste/ethnicity, language & religion", National Population and Housing Census 2021 in Nepal .111 were previously reported in the earlier census 2011 and 13 were newly found in the census 2021.
The newly added mother tongues were Bhote, Lowa, Chum/Nubri, Baragunwa, Nar-Phu, Ranatharu, Karmarong, Mugali, Tichhurong Poike, Sadri, Done, Munda/Mudiyari and Kewarat. [ 1]
Population by mother tongue and sex, NPHC 2021 [ 1]
Number of native speakers (2021 Census )
Rank
Language
Total
Percentage
All MotherTongues
29,164,578
100
1
Nepali
13,084,457
44.86
2
Maithili
3,222,389
11.05
3
Bhojpuri
1,820,795
6.24
4
Tharu
1,714,091
5.88
5
Tamang
1,423,075
4.88
6
Bajjika
1,133,764
3.89
7
Avadhi
864,276
2.96
8
Nepalbhasha(Newari)
863,380
2.96
9
Magar Dhut
810,315
2.78
10
Doteli
494,864
1.7
11
Urdu
413,785
1.42
12
Yakthung/Limbu
350,436
1.2
13
Gurung
328,074
1.12
14
Magahi
230,117
0.79
15
Baitadeli
152,666
0.52
16
Rai
144,512
0.5
17
Achhami
141,444
0.48
18
Bantawa
138,003
0.47
19
Rajbanshi
130,163
0.45
20
Sherpa
117,896
0.4
21
Khash
117,511
0.4
22
Bajhangi
99,631
0.34
23
Hindi
98,399
0.34
24
Magar Kham
91,753
0.31
25
Chamling
89,037
0.31
26
Ranatharu
77,766
0.27
27
Chepang
58,392
0.2
28
Bajureli
56,486
0.19
29
Santhali
53,677
0.18
30
Danuwar
49,992
0.17
31
Darchuleli
45,649
0.16
32
Uranw/Urau
38,873
0.13
33
Kulung
37,912
0.13
34
Angika
35,952
0.12
35
Majhi
32,917
0.11
36
Sunuwar
32,708
0.11
37
Thami
26,805
0.09
38
Ganagai
26,281
0.09
39
Thulung
24,405
0.08
40
Bangla
23,774
0.08
41
Ghale
23,049
0.08
42
Sampang
21,597
0.07
43
Marwadi
21,333
0.07
44
Dadeldhuri
21,300
0.07
45
Dhimal
20,583
0.07
46
Tajpuriya
20,349
0.07
47
Kumal
18,435
0.06
48
Khaling
16,514
0.06
49
Musalman
16,252
0.06
50
Wambule
15,285
0.05
51
Bahing/Bayung
14,449
0.05
52
Yakkha
14,241
0.05
53
Sanskrit
13,906
0.05
54
Bhujel
13,086
0.04
55
Bhote
12,895
0.04
56
Darai
12,156
0.04
57
Yamphu/Yamphe
10,744
0.04
58
Nachhiring
9,906
0.03
59
Hyolmo/Yholmo
9,658
0.03
60
Dumi
8,638
0.03
61
Jumli
8,338
0.03
62
Bote
7,687
0.03
63
Mewahang
7,428
0.03
64
Puma
6,763
0.02
65
Pahari
5,946
0.02
66
Athpahariya
5,580
0.02
67
Dungmali
5,403
0.02
68
Jirel
5,167
0.02
69
Tibetan
5,053
0.02
70
Dailekhi
4,989
0.02
71
Chum/Nubri
4,284
0.01
72
Chhantyal
4282
0.01
73
Raji
4247
0.01
74
Thakali
4220
0.01
75
Meche
4203
0.01
76
Koyee
4152
0.01
77
Lohorung
3884
0.01
78
Kewarat
3469
0.01
79
Dolpali
3244
0.01
80
Done
3100
0.01
81
Mugali
2834
0.01
82
Jero/Jerung
2817
0.01
83
Karmarong
2619
0.01
84
Chhintang
2564
0.01
85
Lhopa
2348
0.01
86
Lapcha
2240
0.01
87
Munda/Mudiyari
2107
0.01
88
Manange
2022
0.01
89
Chhiling
2011
0.01
90
Dura
1991
0.01
91
Tilung
1969
0.01
92
Sign Language
1784
0.01
93
Byansi
1706
0.01
94
Balkura/Baram
1539
0.01
95
Baragunwa
1536
0.01
96
Sadri
1347
0
97
English
1323
0
98
Magar Kaike
1225
0
99
Sonaha
1182
0
100
Hayu/Vayu
1133
0
101
Kisan
1004
0
102
Punjabi
871
0
103
Dhuleli
786
0
104
Khamchi(Raute)
741
0
105
Lungkhim
702
0
106
Lowa
624
0
107
Kagate
611
0
108
Waling/Walung
545
0
109
Nar-Phu
428
0
110
Lhomi
413
0
111
Tichhurong Poike
410
0
112
Kurmali
397
0
113
Koche
332
0
114
Sindhi
291
0
115
Phangduwali
247
0
116
Belhare
177
0
117
Surel
174
0
118
Malpande
161
0
119
Khariya
132
0
120
Sadhani
122
0
121
Hariyanwi
114
0
122
Sam
106
0
123
Bankariya
86
0
124
Kusunda
23
0
125
Others
4201
0.01
126
Not stated
346
0
Second Language
There were 25 languages that were being used as second language by more than 10 thousand population on each in the "National Report on caste/ethnicity, language & religion", National Population and Housing Census 2021 in Nepal, whereas there were only 18 such languages reported as second language in the earlier census 2011.[ 1]
Population by second language, NPHC 2021
Rank
Second Language
Total
Percentage
Total
29164578
100
1
No Second Language
14023086
48.08
2
Nepali
13482904
46.23
3
Maithili
267621
0.92
4
Hindi
223106
0.76
5
Bhojpuri
138572
0.48
6
English
102561
0.35
7
Tharu
89606
0.31
8
Bajjika
86062
0.3
9
Avadhi
75651
0.26
10
Urdu
72128
0.25
11
Tamang
71569
0.25
12
Magar Dhut
54143
0.19
13
Bhote
45292
0.16
14
Bantawa
43536
0.15
15
Nepalbhasha(Newari)
32604
0.11
16
Chamling
29253
0.1
17
Magahi
29191
0.1
18
Gurung
23698
0.08
19
Yakthung/Limbu
19705
0.07
20
Thulung
17187
0.06
21
Magar Kham
16814
0.06
22
Bahing/Bayung
15104
0.05
23
Rai
14398
0.05
24
Doteli
14344
0.05
25
Sampang
14261
0.05
26
Khaling
10370
0.04
27
Baitadeli
9521
0.03
28
Sherpa
9435
0.03
29
Sanskrit
6615
0.02
30
Achhami
6522
0.02
31
Angika
6127
0.02
32
Musalman
6084
0.02
33
Kulung
6039
0.02
34
Dumi
5870
0.02
35
Dadeldhuri
5535
0.02
36
Bangla
5447
0.02
37
Wambule
5227
0.02
38
Darchuleli
4272
0.01
39
Puma
4271
0.01
40
Rajbanshi
4103
0.01
41
Bote
3891
0.01
42
Mewahang
3669
0.01
43
Marwadi
3449
0.01
44
Nachhiring
3176
0.01
45
Tibetan
3134
0.01
46
Bajhangi
2641
0.01
47
Khash
2607
0.01
48
Chhintang
2135
0.01
49
Tilung
1762
0.01
50
Sunuwar
1597
0.01
51
Belhare
1491
0.01
52
Punjabi
1274
0
53
Dungmali
1271
0
54
Jero/Jerung
1245
0
55
Jumli
1125
0
56
Bajureli
1076
0
57
Dhimal
999
0
58
Majhi
971
0
59
Ghale
963
0
60
Koyee
928
0
61
Ranatharu
871
0
62
Thami
859
0
63
Danuwar
845
0
64
Chepang
833
0
65
Sign Language
828
0
66
Bhujel
740
0
67
Thakali
733
0
68
Yakkha
704
0
69
Santhali
703
0
70
Chhiling
685
0
71
Ganagai
644
0
72
Lohorung
622
0
73
Kumal
615
0
74
Kagate
615
0
75
Darai
591
0
76
Khamchi(Raute)
526
0
77
Magar Kaike
515
0
78
Hyolmo/Yholmo
508
0
79
Yamphu/Yamphe
494
0
80
Dailekhi
434
0
81
Chhantyal
394
0
82
Hayu/Vayu
349
0
83
Koche
335
0
84
Jirel
332
0
85
Athpahariya
320
0
86
Balkura/Baram
307
0
87
Waling/Walung
304
0
88
Manange
304
0
89
Dura
278
0
90
Uranw/Urau
245
0
91
Lapcha
242
0
92
Sindhi
217
0
93
Tajpuriya
209
0
94
Dhuleli
187
0
95
Pahari
142
0
96
Lhopa
129
0
97
Dolpali
127
0
98
Sadhani
125
0
99
Sadri
106
0
100
Baragunwa
89
0
101
Phangduwali
85
0
102
Hariyanwi
84
0
103
Sam
79
0
104
Malpande
78
0
105
Raji
76
0
106
Meche
75
0
107
Tichhurong Poike
72
0
108
Surel
64
0
109
Kurmali
60
0
110
Bankariya
42
0
111
Kewarat
38
0
112
Sonaha
35
0
113
Karmarong
34
0
114
Kisan
33
0
115
Byansi
32
0
116
Kusunda
32
0
117
Lungkhim
28
0
118
Mugali
23
0
119
Others
159
0
120
Not stated
8105
0.03
Number of native speakers (2011 Census )[ 8]
Rank
Language
Language family
Count
Percentage
1
Nepali
Indo-European
11,826,953
44.64%
2
Maithili
Indo-European
3,092,530
11.67%
3
Bhojpuri
Indo-European
1,584,958
5.98%
4
Tharu
Indo-European
1,529,875
5.77%
5
Tamang
Sino-Tibetan
1,353,311
5.11%
6
Nepal Bhasa (Newar)
Sino-Tibetan
846,557
3.20%
7
Bajjika
Indo-European
793,416
2.99%
8
Magar
Sino-Tibetan
788,530
2.98%
9
Dotyali/Doteli
Indo-European
787,827
2.97%
10
Urdu
Indo-European
691,546
2.61%
11
Awadhi
Indo-European
501,752
1.89%
12
Limbu
Sino-Tibetan
343,603
1.30%
13
Gurung
Sino-Tibetan
325,622
1.23%
14
Baitadeli
Indo-European
272,524
1.03%
15
Rai (Kiranti)
Sino-Tibetan
159,114
0.60%
16
Aachami
Indo-European
142,787
0.54%
17
Bantawa (Rai )
Sino-Tibetan
132,583
0.50%
18
Rajbanshi
Indo-European
122,214
0.46%
19
Sherpa
Sino-Tibetan
114,830
0.43%
20
Hindi
Indo-European
77,569
0.29%
21
Chamling (Rai )
Sino-Tibetan
76,800
0.29%
22
Bajhangi
Indo-European
67,581
0.26%
23
Santhali
Austro-Asiatic
49,858
0.19%
24
Chepang
Sino-Tibetan
48,476
0.18%
25
Danuwar
Indo-European
45,821
0.17%
26
Sunuwar
Sino-Tibetan
37,898
0.14%
27
Magahi
Indo-European
35,614
0.13%
28
Uranw/Kurux
Dravidian
33,651
0.13%
29
Kulung (Rai )
Sino-Tibetan
33,170
0.13%
30
Kham (Magar)
Sino-Tibetan
27,113
0.10%
31
Rajasthani
Indo-European
25,394
0.10%
32
Majhi
Indo-European
24,422
0.09%
33
Thami
Sino-Tibetan
23,151
0.09%
34
Bhujel
Sino-Tibetan
21,715
0.08%
35
Bengali
Indo-European
21,061
0.08%
36
Thulung (Rai )
Sino-Tibetan
20,659
0.08%
37
Yakkha
Sino-Tibetan
19,558
0.07%
38
Dhimal
Sino-Tibetan
19,300
0.07%
39
Tajpuriya
Indo-European
18,811
0.07%
40
Angika
Indo-European
18,555
0.07%
41
Sampang (Rai )
Sino-Tibetan
18,270
0.07%
42
Khaling (Rai )
Sino-Tibetan
14,467
0.05%
43
Wambule (Rai )
Sino-Tibetan
13,470
0.05%
44
Kumal
Indo-European
12,222
0.05%
45
Darai
Indo-European
11,677
0.04%
46
Bahing (Rai )
Sino-Tibetan
11,658
0.04%
47
Bajureli
Indo-European
10,704
0.04%
48
Hyolmo
Sino-Tibetan
10,176
0.04%
49
Nachiring (Rai )
Sino-Tibetan
10,041
0.04%
50
Yamphu (Rai )
Sino-Tibetan
9,208
0.03%
51
Bote
Indo-European
8,766
0.03%
52
Ghale
Sino-Tibetan
8,092
0.03%
53
Dumi (Rai )
Sino-Tibetan
7,638
0.03%
54
Lepcha
Sino-Tibetan
7,499
0.03%
55
Puma (Rai )
Sino-Tibetan
6,686
0.03%
56
Dungmali (Rai )
Sino-Tibetan
6,260
0.02%
57
Darchuleli
Indo-European
5,928
0.02%
58
Aathpariya (Rai )
Sino-Tibetan
5,530
0.02%
59
Thakali
Sino-Tibetan
5,242
0.02%
60
Jirel
Sino-Tibetan
4,829
0.02%
61
Mewahang (Rai )
Sino-Tibetan
4,650
0.02%
62
Sign Language
−
4,476
0.02%
63
Tibetan
Sino-Tibetan
4,445
0.02%
64
Meche
Sino-Tibetan
4,375
0.02%
65
Chhantyal
Sino-Tibetan
4,283
0.02%
66
Raji
Sino-Tibetan
3,758
0.01%
67
Lohorung (Rai )
Sino-Tibetan
3,716
0.01%
68
Chhintang (Rai )
Sino-Tibetan
3,712
0.01%
69
Gangai
Indo-European
3,612
0.01%
70
Pahari
Sino-Tibetan
3,458
0.01%
71
Dailekhi
Indo-European
3,102
0.01%
72
Lhopa
Sino-Tibetan
3,029
0.01%
73
Dura
Sino-Tibetan
2,156
0.01%
74
Koch
Sino-Tibetan
2,080
0.01%
75
Chiling (Rai )
Sino-Tibetan
2,046
0.01%
76
English
Indo-European
2,045
0.01%
77
Jerung (Rai )
Sino-Tibetan
1,763
0.01%
78
Khas
Indo-European
1,747
0.01%
79
Sanskrit
Indo-European
1,669
0.01%
80
Dolpali
Indo-European
1,667
0.01%
81
Hayu
Sino-Tibetan
1,520
0.01%
82
Tilung (Rai )
Sino-Tibetan
1,424
0.01%
83
Koi (Rai )
Sino-Tibetan
1,271
0.00%
84
Kisan
Indo-European
1,178
0.00%
85
Waling (Rai )
Sino-Tibetan
1,169
0.00%
86
Musalban
Indo-European
1,075
0.00%
87
Hariyani/Haryanvi
Indo-European
889
0.00%
88
Jumli
Indo-European
851
0.00%
89
Lhomi
Sino-Tibetan
808
0.00%
90
Punjabi
Indo-European
808
0.00%
91
Belhare (Rai )
Sino-Tibetan
599
0.00%
92
Odia
Indo-European
584
0.00%
93
Sonaha
Indo-European
579
0.00%
94
Sindhi
Indo-European
518
0.00%
95
Dadeldhuri
Indo-European
488
0.00%
96
Byangshi
Sino-Tibetan
480
0.00%
97
Assamese
Indo-European
476
0.00%
98
Raute
Sino-Tibetan
461
0.00%
99
Saam (Rai )
Sino-Tibetan
401
0.00%
100
Manange
Sino-Tibetan
392
0.00%
101
Dhuleli
Sino-Tibetan
347
0.00%
102
Phangduali (Rai )
Sino-Tibetan
290
0.00%
103
Surel
Sino-Tibetan
287
0.00%
104
Malpande
Indo-European
247
0.00%
105
Chinese
Sino-Tibetan
242
0.00%
106
Khariya
Austro-Asiatic
238
0.00%
107
Kurmali
Indo-European
227
0.00%
108
Baram
Sino-Tibetan
155
0.00%
109
Lingkhim (Rai )
Sino-Tibetan
129
0.00%
110
Sadhani
Indo-European
122
0.00%
111
Kagate
Sino-Tibetan
99
0.00%
112
Dzongkha
Sino-Tibetan
80
0.00%
113
Bankariya
Sino-Tibetan
69
0.00%
114
Kaike
Sino-Tibetan
50
0.00%
115
Garhwali (Gadhawali)
Indo-European
38
0.00%
116
French
Indo-European
34
0.00%
117
Mizo
Sino-Tibetan
32
0.00%
118
Kuki
Sino-Tibetan
29
0.00%
119
Kusunda
Language Isolate
28
0.00%
120
Russian
Indo-European
17
0.00%
121
Spanish
Indo-European
16
0.00%
122
Nagamese
Sino-Tibetan
10
0.00%
123
Arabic
Afro-Asiatic
8
0.00%
−
Not reported
−
47,718
0.18%
−
Others
−
21,173
0.08%
Total
26,494,504
100%
Second language speakers (2011 Census )
Language
Count
Percentage
Nepali
8,682,499
32.77%
Maithili
1,225,950
4.62%
Hindi
195, 287
0.73%
Bhojpuri
159,518
0.60%
Tharu
84,748
0.32%
English
81,447
0.30%
Bajjika
60,863
0.23%
Urdu
45,766
0.17%
Awadhi
45,428
0.17%
Magar
42,952
0.16%
Tamang
33,450
0.12%
Nepal Bhasa (Newar)
32,594
0.12%
Sanskrit
2,975
0.01%
Others
190,327
0.72%
Total
10,883,804
41.04%
Official languages
Government office with signage in Ranjana script , Devanagari and English.
Nepali in Devanagari script is the official working language in federal level. The constitution has provisioned provinces to choose one or more than one official language(s) besides Nepali.[ 2] According to the Language Commission of Nepal Maithili and Limbu are recommended to have official status in Province No. 1 ; Maithili, Bhojpuri and Bajjika in Province No. 2 ; Tamang and Nepal Bhasa in Bagmati Province ; Magar and Gurung in Gandaki Province ; Tharu and Awadhi in Lumbini Province ; Nepali (Khas Bhasa)'s Karnali dialect and Magar in Karnali Province ; Dotyali and Tharu in Sudurpashchim Province .[ 3]
Scripts
Most of the languages are found exclusively in oral form. According to the Language Commission, fifteen scripts are currently in use in Nepal,[ 3] [ 11] including the following:
See also
Further reading
Hale, Austin. 1973. Clause, sentence, and discourse patterns in selected languages of Nepal IV: word lists. SIL and Tribhuvan University Press (CLDF dataset on Zenodo doi :10.5281/zenodo.3537629 )
References
Official language Indigenous languages
Languages of Contemporary languages
Scripts
Prestige language- influence Activism