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

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Nepal has an ethnically complex population
as there are 75 different ethnic groups speaking
50 different languages. However, on the basis of
their origin, language and cultural connections
most of these ethnic groups can be classified into
t~~
broad categories:
1. Tibeto-Hangoloids or Tibeto-Nepal ese
2. Indo-Aryans or Indo-Nepalese
The racial composition of the population differs
along \-li th the al ti tude. The higher al ti tude is inhabited
by Sherpas, Limbus, Tamangs and Bhotiyas.
The mid-Hountain region is inhabited by Magar s,
Gurungs, Newars, Brahmins and Chettriyas. In the
Terai region dominant position is held by mainly
Tharu, Danuwar, Chepang and Indian immigrants.
However,
in recent times owing to the movement 0 f
people because of the development of transport net-
.
work one finds a mixture of different races in the
various parts of the country.
people of Nepal are Hindus.
The majority of the
'!he religious composition
of population as recorded in the 1981 census
is as follows: Hindus 89.5 per cent, Buddhists 5.3
per cent, ~mslims
2.7 per cent and other religious
groups 2.5 per cent.