Dalit Population in Nepal - Key Statistics Infographic
Population Overview
Total Population of Nepal: 29,164,578
Dalit Population: 3,898,990 (13.44% of total)
Dalit Breakdown:
Housing Conditions
Only 35.0% of Dalit households have exterior walls made of cement-bonded bricks or stones (17.2% lower than national average)
Others: Wood, mud, etc. - 65%
Majority of Madheshi Dalits (53.7%) live in houses with walls made from wood, planks, or bamboo-based materials
Access to Safe Drinking Water
National: 57% obtain safe drinking water from piped taps
Dalit Households: 52.9% use piped tap water (4.1% lower than national average)
Within Dalit community, only 18% of Madheshi Dalit households use piped tap water
Electricity Access
National: 92.2% of households use electricity as primary lighting source
Dalit Households: 87.6% have access to electricity
Sanitation Facilities
National: 4.5% of households do not have any toilets
Non-Dalit Ethnic Groups: 3.7% without toilets (lower than national)
Dalit Households: 10.1% without any toilet facilities
Property Ownership
National: 24% of households have at least one woman as owner of house, land, or both
Dalit Households: 15.7% have at least one woman as property owner
Poverty Levels
National: 25% of households are very poor
Dalits: Over 36% are very poor
Age of First Marriage
Dalits: Average 18.7 years (20.2 for men, 17.5 for women)
Non-Dalits: Average 20.1 years (21.8 for men, 18.7 for women)
Dalits have lower average marriage age than national average
Literacy and Education
National Literacy Rate (age 5+): 76.2%
Dalit Literacy: 67.4% (Hill: 75.7%, Terai/Madheshi: 51.9%)
Dalits 5-25 never attended school: 13.1% (27.5% for Terai, 31.6% for Terai women)
Illiteracy Rate: 24% national (16.4% men, 30.6% women); 32.6% among Dalits (25.8% men, 38.7% women)
Timeline of Religious and Political Incidents in Nepal
December 29, 2010
The Pashupati Area Development Trust prohibited Christian burials in Shleshmantak/Mrigasthali Forest, Kathmandu. Christians protested in 2010 and signed agreements with the Minister of Culture in 2011, but no government assistance has materialized.
January 5, 2026
A mosque in the Sakhuwa Maran area of Kamala Municipality was vandalized. Protests turned violent in Birgunj, leading to the imposition of a curfew due to religious tensions.
Hyperlink: Nepal Live Today