Karnali Province
कर्णाली प्रदेश
Nepal's largest province by area — remote mountains and Rara Lake.
Capital
Birendranagar
Population
1,694,889
5.81% of Nepal (2021)
Area
30,213 km²
10 districts
Density
61/km²
People per km²
Karnali Province is by far the largest of Nepal's provinces by land area, yet the most sparsely populated. Named after the Karnali, the nation's longest river, it is a land of high, remote mountains, deep gorges and isolated valleys such as Jumla, Humla and Dolpo.
Its capital, Birendranagar in the Surkhet valley, is the gateway to a region famed for Rara Lake — Nepal's largest lake — and Shey Phoksundo. The province's economy is dominated by subsistence farming, livestock and the lucrative high-altitude harvest of yarsagumba (caterpillar fungus).
Geography
The vast, mountainous north-west — Nepal's largest province by area and least densely populated, encompassing high ranges, deep valleys and the Karnali, the country's longest river.
Economy
Largely subsistence agriculture, livestock, medicinal herbs (yarsagumba) and emerging tourism around Rara Lake — the province has the lowest population density and faces the steepest development challenges.
Recommended provincial languages: Khas (Karnali Nepali), Magar (Language Commission, 2021 — alongside Nepali)
The 10 districts of Karnali
Karnali Province is divided into 10 districts. The largest by population are listed first.
Karnali Province, answered
What is the capital of Karnali Province?+
The capital of Karnali Province is Birendranagar.
How many districts are in Karnali Province?+
Karnali Province has 10 districts: Dailekh, Dolpa, Humla, Jajarkot, Jumla, Kalikot, Mugu, Rukum West, Salyan, Surkhet.
What is the population of Karnali Province?+
Karnali Province has a population of 1,694,889 (5.81% of Nepal's total), according to the National Census 2021.
What was Karnali Province called before?+
Karnali Province was originally Province No. 6 when the provinces were created in 2015. Named Karnali Province in 2018 (formerly Province No. 6).
Other provinces of Nepal
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).
- Karnali Province — overviewWikipedia ↗
- NPHC 2021 — National Report on Caste/Ethnicity, Language & ReligionNational Statistics Office, Government of Nepal ↗
- NPHC 2021 — results portalNational Statistics Office ↗
- Nepal's final census population 29,164,578OnlineKhabar (24 Mar 2023) ↗
- Provinces of Nepal — structure & namesWikipedia ↗
- Constitution of Nepal 2015 — federal structure (Schedule 4)Nepal Law Commission ↗