Every nation wants to keep the demographic data of the population of their country. Census is the best way to collect and record the demographic data of the population of a nation. In Nepal also, the Government Of Nepal collects and records the demographic data of a country through Census. Nepal conducts the census to count the total population of a country after every 10 years.
In this post, we have talked about the history of a census in Nepal, the method of the census in Nepal, and the recently conducted Nepal Census 2021. There are many facts and information about the census that you probably haven’t heard before.
What Is Census Of Nepal?
Most of us must have read about the Census in our school. Though let us remind you what is Census.
A census is a systematic procedure of calculating, acquiring, and recording the information of every citizen of a particular place or nation. In other words, it is a process of counting a total population in a particular territory. and recording their different data. This data includes statistics on population size, households, sex and age distribution, place of birth, residence characteristics, literacy, marital status, religion, language spoken, caste/ethnic group, economically active population, education, number of children, employment status, and occupation.
A population census is a total process of collecting, compiling, evaluating, analyzing, and publishing demographic, economic, and social data pertaining at a specific time to all persons in the country or in a well-determined territory of a country.
In the 2011 census, Nepal’s population was approximately 26 million people with a population growth rate of 1.35% and a median age of 21.6 years.
The same process of counting the total population of Nepal by the Central Bureau Of Statistics is known as the Census Of Nepal.
History Of Census Of Nepal
Nepal had no official census conducted until 1952 A.D. Though the earliest attempt to conduct a census is believed to have been made by the first Prime Minister of Nepal-Jung Bahadur Rana more than a century ago in 1911 A.D. In Bikram Sambat(B.S), it was the year 1968, when the first census was conducted in Nepal. This first population count in 1911 is considered the first census of Nepal. This census wasn’t systematic and scientific.
The modern census of Nepal was started in 1952. In 1950, the Department of Statistics was established to conduct an official census on a scientific basis but political troubles in the
country led to the suspension of its work temporarily. Despite having problems, Census was taken in two parts. The first part was held in 1952 by counting the population of East Nepal & the second part was held in 1954 by counting the population of West Nepal. That’s why this census is known as the 1952/54 Nepal Census.
There was 4 census taken before 1952/1954, and all those four were known as “Head Counts“.
The next census was taken in 1961, and it was the first census that was taken properly and was the first census of the international standard. Since then Census of Nepal is taken every 10 years. The last census of Nepal was taken in 2011. In the 2011 census, Nepal’s population was approximately 26 million people with a population growth rate of 1.35% and a median age of 21.6 years.
The next census in Nepal is going to conduct this year in 2021. Now census is conducted under the guidelines provided by the UN.
Method Of Census In Nepal
Census is the main source of collection of demographic data of a country. As you know it is conducted by the government to know the overall population of a country on the basis of age, sex, religion, etc.
Usually, there are three types of methods of Census. They are:
- De Facto Method
- De Jure Method
- Modified De Jure Method
De Facto Method
It is a method in which census is conducted on the basis of the usual place of residence in which the government declares the actual date as “Census Date” and the people are pre-informed of counting. People are counted where they are found. This method is also known as “One Night Enumeration” because it is conducted at the night. This method is mostly used in urban areas.
De Jure Method
This is a method that many developing countries use to conduct Census. It is a method of a census in which census is conducted on the basis of the permanent address of the people. The people or foreigners living in a temporary residence aren’t calculated. In this method, the government declares a census period(usually of 2 to 3 weeks). The counting of the population should be done within this given period. This method is also known as “Period Enumeration”.
Modified De Jure Method
As its name, it is a modified form of the De Jure method of the census. In this method, people are counted on the basis of their usual place of residence. The residence where the respondents are living for more than six months is perceived as the usual place of residence. This is a method that is used in most countries for taking the census.
Among these three methods of Census, the method of the census of Nepal is Modified De Jure Method. It is a method that Nepal is using since the Census of 1952/1954.
Nepal Census 2021
In the span of every 10 years, the Central Bureau Of Statistics under the Government Of Nepal conducts a national census. The 12the nationwide Census Of Nepal was supposed to start from June 8 to June 22, 2021. But it was postponed indefinitely due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Nepal. Nepal Census 2021 was successfully conducted from November 11 to November 25, 2021 (Kartik 25 to Mansir 9, 2078 BS).
The last Census was conducted by the Central Bureau Of Statistics in 2011. According to the 2011 Nepal Census, the total population of Nepal was 26, 494, 504. After a decade the total population of Nepal is more than 30 Million.
FAQs
1. When was the first census held in Nepal in BS?
The first census was held in Nepal in 1968 BS(1911 AD).
2. What is the method of Census in Nepal?
There are three methods of Census-De Facto Method, De Jure Method & Modified De Jure Method. Among these three, Modified De Jure Method is a method of the census in Nepal. It has been a method of the census of Nepal since the 1952/54 Nepal Census.
3. When was the first scientific census taken in Nepal?
The first scientific census of Nepal was taken in 1952/54 A.D.
4. When was the last census taken in Nepal?
The last census was taken in Nepal in 2021.
5. How many censuses have been conducted in Nepal till now?
Till now, there are 11 censuses conducted in Nepal from 1911 to 2011.
