Nawalpur is one of 11 districts of Gandaki Province of Nepal. The headquarters of the district is Kawasoti.
Nawalpur District and Parasi District were formerly a single district, Nawalparasi District, until a reorganization effective 20 September 2015.
The total area of Nawalpur District is 1,331.16 square kilometres (513.96 sq mi) and total population of this district as of 2011 Nepal census is 310864 individuals.[2]
History
During Rana regime, Nawalpur district was a sub-district of Chitwan District then it established separately and again merged with a small portion (Parasi) of Butwal District and established Nawalparasi District. In 2015 again Nawalpur District was again separately reestablished.
Divisions
The district is divided into four urban municipalities and four rural municipalities.[2][3]
Urban municipalities
- Kawasoti Municipality (Headquarters)
- Gaindakot Municipality
- Devchuli Municipality
- Madhyabindu Municipality
Rural municipalities
- Baudikali Rural Municipality
- Bulingtar Rural Municipality
- Binayi Tribeni Rural Municipality
- Hupsekot Rural Municipality
Demographics
| Census year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 149,543 | — |
| 1991 | 211,228 | +3.51% |
| 2001 | 272,557 | +2.58% |
| 2011 | 311,604 | +1.35% |
| 2021 | 381,105 | +2.03% |
| Source: Citypopulation[4] | ||
At the time of the 2021 Nepal census, Nawalpur District had a population of 378079. 7.54% of the population is under 5 years of age. It has a literacy rate of 82.35% and a sex ratio of 1125 females per 1000 males. 285,264 (75.45%) lived in municipalities.[5]
Castes/ethnic groups in Nawalpur district (2021)[6]
- Magar (27.5%)
- Bahun (23.7%)
- Tharu (11.0%)
- Chhetri (8.25%)
- Kami (6.24%)
- Kumal (3.78%)
- Newar (2.92%)
- Gurung (2.89%)
- Damai (2.68%)
- Thakuri (1.70%)
- Tamang (1.44%)
- Sarki (1.44%)
- Terai Brahmin (1.05%)
- Other Hill Janjati (2.60%)
- Others (2.85%)
Khas people make up 44% of the population, of which Bahun and Chhetri are the largest groups. Khas Dalits are 10% of the population. Magars are the single largest ethnicity, making up 27% of the population. There is also a large Tharu population.[6]
Languages of Nawalpur district (2021)[7]
- Nepali (59.9%)
- Magar (22.0%)
- Tharu (10.4%)
- Gurung (1.76%)
- Bhojpuri (1.42%)
- Nepal Bhasha (1.27%)
- Others (3.30%)
At the time of the 2021 census, 59.88% of the population spoke Nepali, 22.00% Magar, 10.37% Tharu, 1.76% Gurung, 1.42% Bhojpuri and 1.27% Nepal Bhasha as their first language.[7] In 2011, 55.3% of the population spoke Nepali as their first language.[8]
| Religion | Percent | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hinduism | 87.13% | |||
| Buddhism | 8.80% | |||
| Christianity | 3.01% | |||
| Islam | 0.67% | |||
| Other or not stated | 0.39% | |||