Federal Nepal · Compared

Nepal's Provinces Comparedजनसंख्या, क्षेत्रफल र घनत्वको तुलना

A side-by-side look at all seven provinces of Nepal, population, share of the national total, density, area, capital, district count and largest city. Pick any pair below for a full head-to-head, or scan the table for the whole picture. Figures follow the National Population and Housing Census 2021.

Most populous

Madhesh

6,126,288 people, 21% of Nepal

Largest by area

Karnali

30,213 km², summed from its districts

Densest

Madhesh

636 people/km²

Side by side

All 7 provinces compared

Each row links to the full province profile. Population and density figures are Census 2021; area is summed from each province's districts.

Province	Capital	Population	% of Nepal	Area (km²)	Density	Districts
Madhesh	Janakpur	6,126,288	21%	9,661	636	8
Bagmati	Hetauda	6,084,042	20.86%	20,300	300	13
Lumbini	Deukhuri (Bhalubang)	5,124,225	17.57%	19,707	230	12
Koshi	Biratnagar	4,972,021	17.05%	25,905	192	14
Sudurpashchim	Godawari (Dhangadhi)	2,711,270	9.3%	19,539	136	9
Gandaki	Pokhara	2,479,745	8.5%	21,856	116	11
Karnali	Birendranagar	1,694,889	5.81%	30,213	61	10

Pick a pair

All 21 province matchups

Every possible pair of Nepal's seven provinces, head-to-head on population, density, area and more.

Common questions

Comparing Nepal's provinces

Which is Nepal's most populous province?

Madhesh, with 6,126,288 people (21% of the national total), per the National Population and Housing Census 2021.

Which is Nepal's largest province by area?

Karnali, at 30,213 km², summed from its constituent districts' official statistical areas.

Which province is most densely populated?

Madhesh, at 636 people per km², entirely within the Terai plains. The least dense is Karnali, Nepal's largest and most mountainous province.

How many districts does each province have?

Koshi 14, Madhesh 8, Bagmati 13, Gandaki 11, Lumbini 12, Karnali 10, Sudurpashchim 9, 77 districts across all seven provinces.

How many provinces does Nepal have, and what are their capitals?

Seven: Koshi (Biratnagar), Madhesh (Janakpur), Bagmati (Hetauda), Gandaki (Pokhara), Lumbini (Deukhuri (Bhalubang)), Karnali (Birendranagar), Sudurpashchim (Godawari (Dhangadhi)).

Explore each province

Full profiles with population, districts, geography and economy, or return to the provinces hub for the interactive map and full comparison table.

Koshi →4,972,021 people · Biratnagar Madhesh →6,126,288 people · Janakpur Bagmati →6,084,042 people · Hetauda Gandaki →2,479,745 people · Pokhara Lumbini →5,124,225 people · Deukhuri (Bhalubang)Karnali →1,694,889 people · Birendranagar Sudurpashchim →2,711,270 people · Godawari (Dhangadhi)

All 7 provinces, map & profiles →

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).