patterns of population growth in nepal - Institute for Social and ...

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CHAPTER VII
PATTERNS OF URBAN POPULATION GROWTH IN NEPAL
7.1 Introduction:
Urbanisation in Nepal is a recent phenomenon.
It is estimated that only 2.1 per cent of the total
population of Nepal was urban in 1941 which has
reached 6.3 per cent in 1981.
This level is relati
vely low when compared to the level of urbanization
in some of the other neighbouring Asian
countries. However, there has been a phenomenal
growth in the urban population by 107 per cent
during 1971-81. At this rate the urban population
in Nepal is expected to be doubled just in 9 years
(CBS, 19871 181).
The number of urban units in Nepal bas
increased over time. In 1981 their number bas
reached 23 and out of these 23 urban uni ts the
capital city Kathmandu is the only one urban area
having more than 100 thousand population.
The
trend rates of growth show a considerable variation
across towns over time.
Functions performed by
each of these urban un! ts to a larger extent have
lead to such variations.