अAmarnepalNepal Data
Federal Nepal

The 7 Provinces of Nepal

Nepal's 2015 constitution reorganised the country into seven provinces, 77 districts and 753 local levels. Explore each province's capital, population, area and districts — drawn from the National Census 2021.

Provinces

7

Plus 77 districts & 753 local levels

Most populous

Madhesh

6,126,288 people (2021)

Largest by area

Karnali

30,213 km²

Densest

Madhesh

636 people/km²

Province by province

Explore each province

Seven provinces, from the eastern tea hills of Koshi to the far-western frontier of Sudurpashchim.

At a glance

All 7 provinces compared

ProvinceCapitalPopulationDistricts
KoshiBiratnagar4,972,02114
MadheshJanakpur6,126,2888
BagmatiHetauda6,084,04213
GandakiPokhara2,479,74511
LumbiniDeukhuri (Bhalubang)5,124,22512
KarnaliBirendranagar1,694,88910
SudurpashchimGodawari (Dhangadhi)2,711,2709
Questions

Nepal's provinces, answered

How many provinces does Nepal have?+

Nepal has 7 provinces, created by the 2015 Constitution: Koshi, Madhesh, Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpashchim. Together with the federal government and 753 local levels, they form Nepal's three-tier federal structure.

What are the capitals of Nepal's 7 provinces?+

Koshi — Biratnagar; Madhesh — Janakpur; Bagmati — Hetauda; Gandaki — Pokhara; Lumbini — Deukhuri (Bhalubang); Karnali — Birendranagar (Surkhet); Sudurpashchim — Godawari (near Dhangadhi).

Which is the largest province of Nepal?+

By land area, Karnali is the largest province (30,213 km²). By population, Madhesh is the most populous, with 6,126,288 people (Census 2021).

Why are Nepal's provinces named instead of numbered?+

When the 2015 constitution created the provinces, they were given numbers (Province No. 1–7). Each provincial assembly was then empowered to choose a permanent name and capital. Province No. 6 became Karnali (2018), No. 7 Sudurpashchim (2018), No. 3 Bagmati, No. 4 Gandaki and No. 5 Lumbini (2020), No. 2 Madhesh (2022) and finally No. 1 Koshi (2023).

Sources & data note

Population, density and share figures are the final published counts of the National Population and Housing Census 2021 (National Statistics Office). Each province's total area is summed from the official statistical areas of its districts, so it stays consistent with the district dataset on this site. Provincial capitals are the permanent headquarters fixed by each provincial assembly. The 2015 constitution created seven provinces, initially numbered; each was later given a name by its assembly (Province No. 1 → Koshi in 2023 being the last).