There are seven provinces of Nepal. Nepal has now 7 provinces – Koshi, Madhesh, Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpashchim.
According to the Constitution of Nepal-2015, the territory and form of the federal unit of Nepal, which is divided into federal units, has been defined as a province. According to Schedule 4 of the Constitution of Nepal, seven provinces (State) have been provisioned, and the districts lying in the respective provinces.
7 provinces of Nepal with districts:
| Province | Districts |
| Koshi Province | Taplejung, Panchthar, Ilam, Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Bhojpur, Tehrathum, Sankhuwasabha, Dhankuta, Udaypur, Solukhumbu, Okhaldhunga and Khotang |
| Madhesh Province | Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara and Parsa |
| Bagmati Province | Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Chitwan, Rasuwa, Ramechhap, Kavre, Makhwanpur, Dhading, Nuwakot, Sindhupalchoke, Dolakha, Sindhuli. |
| Gandaki Province | Baglung , Gorkha , Kaski , Lamjung , Manang , Mustang , Myagdi , Nawalpur , Parbat , Syangja , Tanahun |
| Lumbini Province | Kapilvastu, Nawalparasi (West of Bardaghat Susta), Rupandehi, Arghakhanchi, Gulmi, Palpa, Dang, Pyuthan, Rolpa, East Rukum, Banke, Bardia |
| Karnali Province | Western Rukum, Salyan, Dolpa, Humla, Jumla, Kalikot, Mugu, Surkhet, Dailekh, Jajarkot |
| Sudurpashchim Province | Kailali Achham Doti Bajhang Bajura Kanchanpur Dadeldhura Baitadi Darchula |
Provincial Map of Nepal:
Population by Province of Nepal:
Nepal’s latest population census was carried out in 2021 after 2011. The most recent population data from that census shows that Bagmati Province is the most populous province with 61,16,8660 people, and Madhesh Province is a little below the Bagmati’s with 61,14,600. The Karnali Province has the lowest population with just 16,88,412. Here is the bar diagram of provincial population distribution.
Accordingly, 7 provinces of Nepal have been briefly discussed as follows:
1. Koshi Province:
Koshi Province is the easternmost province of Nepal. It is bounded on the east by West Bengal and Sikkim, on the south by Bihar state of India, on the north by Tibet Autonomous Region of China, and on the west by Madhesh Province and Bagmati Province of Nepal. Provincial capital of Koshi Province is Biratnagar Metropolitan City in Morang district.
There are 14 districts including Taplejung, Panchthar, Ilam, Sankhuwasabha, Terhathum, Dhankuta, Bhojpur, Khotang, Solukhumbu, Okhaldhunga, Udayapur, Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari. Taplejung (3,646 km) and Tehrathum (679 km) are the largest districts of the province. Biratnagar (Morang) is the capital of the province.
According to the National Census 2021, the province has 11,91,556 rebars and a total population of 49,61,412 (male 24,17,328) and female 25,44,084. The province is mainly inhabited by Brahmins, Chhetris, Rai, Limbu, Tharu, Lepcha, Tamang, Gurung, Meche, Koche, Yadav, Rajbanshi and other ethnic groups, while Nepali, Maithili, Kiranti, Tamang, Limbu, Gurung, Lepcha, Magar and Tharu languages are mainly spoken.
Nestled within its borders are iconic peaks like Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga, Makalu, Lhotse, and Jannu, forming a majestic natural border with China. These formidable giants not only attract mountaineers from around the world but also imbue the province with an aura of awe and wonder.
2. Madhesh Province:
It is bounded on the east by Koshi Province, on the south by India, on the north by Koshi Province and Bagmati Province and on the west by Bagmati Province. There are eight districts in Madhes province namely Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara and Parsa.
Saptari (1,363 km) and Mahottari (1,002 km) are the largest districts of the province. Janakpur (Dhanusha) is the capital of the province. According to the National Census 2011, there are 11,56,715 families in the province and the total population is 61,14,600 (male 30,65,751 and female 30,48,849). Yadav, Gupta, Das, Tharu, Rajbanshi, Muslim and other ethnic groups are mainly spoken in the province, while Maithili, Bajika, Awadhi, Urdu, Hindi, Tharu and Nepali are spoken.
3. Bagmati Province:
It is bounded on the east by Koshi Province, on the west by Gandaki Province, on the north by China and on the south by Madhes Province and India. Bagmati Province has 13 districts including Dolakha, Ramechhap, Sindhuli, Kavrepalanchowk, Sindhupalchowk, Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Chitwan, Makawanpur, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur and Kathmandu.
Sindhupalchowk (2,542 km) and Bhaktapur (119 km) are the largest districts of the province. Hetauda (Makawanpur) is the capital of the province. According to the National Census 2021, there are 15,70,927 families in the province and the total population is 61,16,866 (male 30,48,684 and female 30,68,182).
The Bagmati Province of Nepal, which has ethnic and linguistic diversity, and is mainly inhabited by Tamang, Brahmin, Chhetri, Newar and other castes, while Nepali, Newari and Tamang languages are mainly spoken.
4. Gandaki Province:
Gandaki Province is bordered by Bagmati Province on the east, Karnali Province and Lumbini Province on the west, China on the north and Lumbini Province on the south and Bihar State of India on the south. Gandaki Province has 11 districts including Gorkha, Lamjung, Tanahun, Kaski, Manang, Mustang, Parbat, Syangja, Myagdi, Baglung and Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta East).
Gorkha (3,610 km) and Parbat (494 km) are the largest districts of the province. Pokhara (Kaski) is the capital of the province. According to the National Census 2011, there are 6,62,480 households in the province and the total population is 24,66,427 (male 11,70,833 and female 12,95,594). The Gandaki Province, which has ethnic and linguistic diversity, is mainly inhabited by Brahmins, Chhetris, Gurungs, Magars and other castes, while Nepali, Gurung and Magar languages are mainly spoken.
5. Lumbini Province:
It is bounded on the east by Gandaki State, on the west by Karnali State and SudurPaschim Province, on the north by Gandaki State and Karnali State and on the south by India. There are 12 districts in Lumbini Province including Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta West), Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, Palpa, Arghakhanchi, Gulmi, Rukum (Eastern Part), Rolpa, Pyuthan, Dang, Banke and Bardiya.
Dang (2,955 km) and Bardaghat Susta West (634.88 km) are the largest districts of the province. According to the National Census 2021, the province has 11,41,902 households, with a total population of 5,122,078 (male 24,54,408 male and 26,67,670 female).
The province is mainly inhabited by Brahmins, Chhetris, Magars, Tharus, Tamangs, Nepal, Muslims, among others, while Nepali, Tharu, Awadhi, Bhojpuri, Urdu and Magar languages are mainly spoken.
6. Karnali Pradesh:
Gandaki Province and Lumbini province are on the eastern side of Karnali Province. It is bounded on the west by Sudurpaschim Province and China, on the north by China and on the south by Lumbini and Sudurpaschim Province.
Karnali Province has 10 districts including Rukum (West), Salyan, Dolpa, Jumla, Mugu, Humla, Kalikot, Jajarkot, Dailekh and Surkhet. Dolpa (7,889 km) and Rukum West (1,213.49 km) are the largest districts of the province. The capital of this province is located in Surkhet of Birendranagar.
According to the National Census 2021, there are 3,66,255 families in the province and the total population is 16,88,412 (male 8,23,761 and female 8,64,651). The province, which has ethnic and linguistic diversity, is mainly inhabited by Brahmins, Thakuris, Chhetris, Sherpas, Gurungs, Magars and other castes, while Nepali, Gurung and Magar languages are mainly spoken.
7. Sudurpashchim Province:
Sudurpaschim Province is bounded by Karnali Province and Lumbini Province to the east, India to the west, Karnali Province and China to the north and India to the south.
Bajura, Bajhang, Doti, Achham, Darchula, Baitadi, Dadeldhura, Kanchanpur and Kailali are the nine districts in the far-western province. Bajhang (3,422 km) and Baitadi (1,519 km) are the largest districts of the province.
Watch this video on Badimalika, Tribeni in Bajura of Sudurpashchim Province of Nepal:
Godavari (Kailali) is the capital of the province. According to the National Census 2021, there are 5,77,102 households in the province and the total population is 26,94,783 (male 12,72,786 and female 14,21,997).
The province, which has ethnic and linguistic diversity, is mainly inhabited by Brahmins, Chhetris, Thakuris and Tharus, while Doteli, Khas and Tharu languages are mainly spoken.