Census 2021

Religion in Nepal

Nepal is a secular state of remarkable religious diversity. Here is the composition of faiths by share of population, from the National Census 2021, with how each changed since 2011.

Largest religion

Hindu

81.19% of population

Second

Buddhist

8.21% — land of the Buddha

Religions counted

Secular state since 2008

Composition

Religions by share of population

Hindu हिन्दू81.19%

23,677,744 people-0.15 pp vs 2011

Buddhist बौद्ध8.21%

2,393,549 people-0.83 pp

Islam इस्लाम5.09%

1,483,066 people+0.70 pp

Kirat किराँत3.17%

924,204 people+0.12 pp

Christian क्रिश्चियन1.76%

512,313 people+0.34 pp

Prakriti (nature worship) प्रकृति0.35%

102,048 people-0.11 pp

Bon बोन0.23%

67,223 people+0.18 pp

Others (Jain, Sikh, Bahá'í) अन्य0.02%

4,431 people≈unchanged

Total population counted: 29,164,578 (NPHC 2021).

Questions

Religion in Nepal, answered

What is the main religion of Nepal?+

Hinduism is the main religion of Nepal, followed by 81.19% of the population (Census 2021). Buddhism (8.21%) is second, then Islam (5.09%), Kirat (3.17%) and Christianity (1.76%).

Is Nepal a Hindu country?+

Nepal was the world's only Hindu kingdom until 2008, when it became a secular republic. Hinduism remains the majority religion, but the constitution now guarantees freedom of religion to all.

What percentage of Nepal is Buddhist?+

8.21% of Nepalis are Buddhist (Census 2021), making it the second-largest religion. Nepal is also the birthplace of the Buddha, at Lumbini.

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.