Hill & Mountain Janajati

Rai

राई

The Rai are a caste/ethnic community of Nepal numbering 640,674 — 2.2% of the population and the 10th largest group (Census 2021).

Population

640,674

Census 2021

Share of Nepal

2.2%

Group

Hill & Mountain Janajati

Rank

#10

By population (top 20)

The Hill & Mountain Janajati group

Indigenous nationalities of the hills and high Himalaya — Magar, Tamang, Newar, Rai, Gurung, Limbu, Sherpa and others — ≈21.5%.

Same group

Other Hill & Mountain Janajati communities

Yakthung (Limbu) · 1.42%

← All caste & ethnic groups

Questions

Rai, answered

What is the population of the Rai in Nepal?+

The Rai number 640,674 people — 2.2% of Nepal's population (Census 2021).

Which group does the Rai belong to?+

The Rai are classified in the Hill & Mountain Janajati group. Indigenous nationalities of the hills and high Himalaya — Magar, Tamang, Newar, Rai, Gurung, Limbu, Sherpa and others — ≈21.5%.

Sources & data note

All population, ethnicity, language and religion figures are the final published counts of the National Population and Housing Census 2021 (National Statistics Office). The NSO enumerates 142 caste/ethnic groups and 124 mother tongues; entries for 'others/foreigners/not stated' explain small residuals. Where community-chosen names replaced older census labels (Bishwokarma for Kami, Pariyar for Damai/Dholi, Mijar for Sarki), both are shown. Language-family shares follow the NSO's own table (Indo-Aryan 83.07%, Sino-Tibetan 16.59%); some secondary sources round differently.