View source for Religion in Nepal

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{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religion in Nepal (2023)<ref name="census2023">{{cite book |last1=National Statistics Office |title=National Population and Housing Census 2021: Population Composition of Nepal |date=2024 |publisher=National Statistics Office, Nepal |page=52|url=https://censusnepal.cbs.gov.np/results/files/result-folder/Final_Population_compostion_12_2.pdf |access-date=18 May 2024}}</ref>
|label1 = [[Hinduism in Nepal|Hinduism]]
|value1 = 81.19
|color1 = DarkOrange
|label2 = [[Buddhism in Nepal|Buddhism]]
|value2 = 8.21
|color2 = Gold
|label3 = [[Islam in Nepal|Islam]]
|value3 = 5.09
|color3 = Green
|label4 = [[Kirat Mundhum]]
|value4 = 3.17
|color4 = Brown
|label5 = [[Christianity in Nepal|Christianity]]
|value5 = 1.76
|color5 = DodgerBlue
|label6 = [[Animism|Prakriti (Animism)]]
|value6 = 0.35
|color6 = Red
|label7 = [[Bon]]
|value7 = 0.23
|color7 = darkkhaki
|label8 = [[Sikhism in Nepal|Sikhism]]
|value8 = 0.01
|color8 = Yellow
|label9 = [[Jainism in Nepal|Jainism]]
|value9 = 0.01
|color9 = pink
}}
[[File:Pashupatinath Temple Nepal IMG 7933 2018 15.jpg|thumb|[[Pashupatinath Temple]] in the capital [[Kathmandu]] is a [[World Heritage Site]]]]
'''Religion in Nepal''' encompasses a wide diversity of groups and beliefs.<ref>Interim Constitution of Nepal - Equal Rights Trust</ref> [[Nepal]] is a secular nation and [[secularism]] in Nepal under the Interim constitution (Part 1, Article 4) is defined as "Religious and cultural freedom along with the protection of religion and culture handed down from time immemorial." That is, "The state government is bound for protecting and fostering [[Hindu religion]]  while maintaining "Religious" and "Cultural" freedom throughout the nation as fundamental rights.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://scroll.in/article/756609/nepals-new-constitution-comes-into-force-on-sunday-but-minorities-say-it-privileges-hindus |title=The Interim constitution of Nepal (2015), privileges Hinduism as the state sponsored religion|website= Scroll In|date=20 September 2015 |access-date= 2021-05-06 |archive-date=2021-07-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719023718/https://scroll.in/article/756609/nepals-new-constitution-comes-into-force-on-sunday-but-minorities-say-it-privileges-hindus|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.lawcommission.gov.np/en/archives/category/documents/prevailing-law/constitution/constitution-of-nepal |title= Constitution of Nepal | publisher = Nepal Law Commission|access-date= 2021-07-21 |archive-date=2021-07-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714134437/https://www.lawcommission.gov.np/en/archives/category/documents/prevailing-law/constitution/constitution-of-nepal |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.inspiringvacations.com/au/nepal-tours/insight-articles/a-history-of-religion-in-nepal/965 |title=A history of religion in Nepal |access-date= 2021-07-21|archive-date= 2021-07-09 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210709125719/https://www.inspiringvacations.com/au/nepal-tours/insight-articles/a-history-of-religion-in-nepal/965|url-status=live}}</ref>

Hinduism is the majority religion in Nepal and profoundly influences its social structure and politics, while Buddhism ([[Tibetan Buddhism]]) is practiced by some ethnic groups (such as the [[Newar people]]) in forms that are strongly influenced by Hinduism. [[Kiratism]] is the indigenous religion of the population belonging to the [[Kirati people|Kirati]] ethnicity. Small populations, especially in eastern Nepal, adhere to [[Islam]], [[Christianity]], [[Sikhism]], [[Jainism]], [[Bön]], and the [[Baháʼí Faith]].

Nepal is home to one of the largest Hindu populations in the world.<ref>[https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/countries-with-the-largest-hindu-populations.html World Atlas, 2019 report, Retrieved 2023-04-26]</ref><ref name=":0" /> A number of prominent Hindu pilgrimage sites are located in Nepal, such as [[Pashupatinath Temple]], a [[World Heritage Site|UNESCO World Heritage Site]]. According to the Hindu epic ''[[Ramayana]]'', the goddess [[Sita]] was born in the [[Mithila (region)|Mithila]] Kingdom of King [[Janaka]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-06-29 |title=10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Nepal |url=https://www.mountainmarttreks.com/blog/10-unesco-world-heritage-sites-nepal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701055454/https://www.mountainmarttreks.com/blog/10-unesco-world-heritage-sites-nepal/ |archive-date=2019-07-01 |access-date=2019-07-01 |website=Adventure Holidays in Nepal |language=en-US}}</ref> The national animal of Nepal is the [[cow]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 September 2015 |title=Cow becomes national animal of Nepal |url=https://www.news18.com/news/world/cow-becomes-national-animal-of-nepal-1107090.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701055452/https://www.news18.com/news/world/cow-becomes-national-animal-of-nepal-1107090.html |archive-date=2019-07-01 |access-date=2019-07-01 |website=News18}}</ref> which is considered a sacred animal in Hinduism,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sanctity of the cow: Hinduism |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/sanctity-of-the-cow |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701170529/https://www.britannica.com/topic/sanctity-of-the-cow |archive-date=2019-07-01 |access-date=2019-07-01 |website=Encyclopedia Britannica}}</ref> and the slaughter of cows is illegal in Nepal.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ojo |first=Kehinde |date=2 November 2018 |title=Nepal's Cattle Slaughter Ban: Impacts on Dairy Producers' Profit |url=https://www.agrilinks.org/post/impacts-slaughter-ban-cattle-dairy-producers-profit-nepal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701055504/https://www.agrilinks.org/post/impacts-slaughter-ban-cattle-dairy-producers-profit-nepal |archive-date=1 July 2019 |access-date=1 July 2019 |website=Agrilinks}}</ref>

Nepal is considered the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama ([[the Buddha]]). As such, Buddhism has a special place in the country and is intertwined with Hinduism in some communities.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url= https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/nepal/ |title=South Asia : Nepal | publisher = Central Intelligence Agency|website= The World Factbook |access-date=2019-07-01|archive-date=2021-01-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109075733/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/nepal/|url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.insidehimalayas.com/different-religion-nepal/|title=Same Same But Different: Religion in Nepal|date=2018-06-20|website= Inside Himalayas|language= en-US |access-date=2019-07-01|archive-date=2021-02-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201101144/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/different-religion-nepal/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/nepal-adopts-first-full-democratic-charter-today-1219574|title=Nepal Adopts New Constitution, Becomes a Secular State: 5 Facts|website=NDTV |access-date=2019-07-01|archive-date=2020-11-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112015604/https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/nepal-adopts-first-full-democratic-charter-today-1219574|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Nepali constitution guarantees freedom of religion. Forced conversion from Hinduism to other religions is against the law, especially when money is used as a direct or indirect incentive to convert. Prior to the movement for democracy in early 2006 and the sacking of [[King Gyanendra]] in 2008, the country was officially a Hindu kingdom, and the constitution still protects and fosters the Hindu religion. Nationalists have sometimes protested against [[secularism]], and some wish to see Nepal become a Hindu-Democratic state.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.worldwatchmonitor.org/coe/religious-freedom-nepal-teetering-edge/|title=Religious freedom in Nepal 'teetering on the edge'|website=World Watch Monitor |date=23 October 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-31|archive-date=2021-02-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204052034/https://www.worldwatchmonitor.org/coe/religious-freedom-nepal-teetering-edge/|url-status=live}}</ref> Senior minister [[Prem Ale]] has advocated for constitutionally declaring Nepal a [[state religion|Hindu state]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://theprint.in/world/nepal-minister-supports-demand-to-declare-country-a-hindu-state/896724/ | title=Nepal minister supports demand to declare country a Hindu state | work = The print | date=31 March 2022}}</ref>

==History==
Hinduism has been present in Nepal since the beginning of recorded history in the area. Muslims came to the country around the 11th century and brought Islam with them. Sikhism came to Nepal during the 18th century and spread throughout Nepal, and Jainism came to Nepal during the 19th century but spread only to Kathmandu and some districts of Nepal.

Religious tolerance can be found in royal orders dated Falgun Sudi 12, 1884 [[Vikram Samvat|V.S.]] issued by the Hindu Shah monarch [[Rajendra Bikram Shah]] under the premiership of [[Bhimsen Thapa]] to [[Buddhist]] monks in the [[Kingdom of Nepal]]:
{{Blockquote|Our father [King [[Girvan Yuddha Bikram Shah|Girban]]] has issued a copper plate inscription declaring that nobody shall harass you so long as you observe traditional religious practices ([[dharma]]). We hereby reconfirm that order.|source=Royal Order to Jhimuryas of Tukucha-[[Gumba, Nepal|Gumba]]{{sfn|Regmi|1987|p=18}}}}
According to the [[2021 Nepal census|2021 census]], 81.19% of the Nepalese population is [[Hindu]], 8.21% are [[Buddhist]], 4.39% are [[Muslim]], 3.17% are [[Kirant Mundhum|Kiratist]] (indigenous ethnic religion), 1.76% are [[Christian]], 0.01% are [[Sikhs]], and 0.01% are [[Jains]].<ref name="census2023" /> This varies from the 2001 census, where 80.62% of Nepalese were Hindu, 10.74% were Buddhist, 4.20% were Muslim,<ref name="Becoming an assertive minority">{{Cite web|url=https://madhesi.wordpress.com/2007/10/13/muslims-of-nepal-becoming-an-assertive-minority/|title=MUSLIMS of NEPAL: Becoming an assertive minority|date=October 13, 2007|access-date=August 3, 2019|archive-date=August 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803235851/https://madhesi.wordpress.com/2007/10/13/muslims-of-nepal-becoming-an-assertive-minority/|url-status=live}}</ref> 3.60% were [[Kirant Mundhum|Kirant]] (an indigenous religion), 0.45% were Christian, and 0.4% were classified as other groups such as [[Bön]]. Nepal is home to the most [[Quakers]] of any country in Asia. As of 2017, there were 7,600 Quakers, most belonging to Evangelical Quakerism ([[Gurneyite]]).<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 2017 |title=FWCC World Map 2017 |url=https://fwccawps.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/fwccworldmap2017.pdf |access-date=August 1, 2024 |website=FWCC-AWPS}}</ref>

In 1971, Hindus made up 89.4% of the population, Buddhists 7.5%, and Kirants statistically, 0%. The prevalence of dual-faith practices – particularly among Hindus and Buddhists – complicates statistics on religious groups.

At the beginning of the 1990s, Hindus made up at least 87% of the population in every region of Nepal. The largest concentrations of Buddhists were found in the eastern hills, the [[Kathmandu Valley]], and the central [[Tarai]]; in each area, about 10% of the people were Buddhist. Buddhism was more common among the [[Newar]] and [[Ethnicity and caste in Nepal|Tibeto-Nepalese]] groups. Among the Tibeto-Nepalese, those most influenced by Hinduism were the [[Magar people|Magar]], [[Sunuwar]], and [[Rai (ethnic group)|Rai]] peoples. Hindu influence was less prominent among the [[Gurung]], [[Limbu people|Limbu]], [[Yakkha people|Yakkha]], Tamang, and [[Thakali people|Thakali]] groups, who continued to employ Buddhist monks for their religious ceremonies. Since Hinduism and Buddhism are both [[Indian religions]], their practices usually complement each other, and many people practice a combination of both. In 2015, a new constitution was adopted, and equal rights were granted to all religions in Nepal.

[[Constitution of Nepal#Features|Nepal's constitution]] does not give anyone the right to [[evangelise]] or convert anyone to another religion. Nepal also passed a more stringent anti-conversion law in 2017.<ref>[https://www.csw.org.uk/2022/03/22/report/5614/article.htm Christian Solidarity Worldwide, 2022 report]</ref>

==Demographics==
{| class="wikitable sortable" 
|+Population trends for major religious groups in Nepal<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nepal.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/Population%20Monograph%20V02.pdf|title=Population Monograph of Nepal Volume II (Social Demography)|access-date=2020-11-25|archive-date=2021-11-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126164846/https://nepal.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/Population%20Monograph%20V02.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="census2023" />
|-
! Year
! Hindu
! Buddhist
! Muslim
! Kirant
! Christian
! Other/<br>Unspecified
|-
| 1952-54
| {{percentage bar|width=75|88.87}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|8.59}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|2.54}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.01}}
|-
| 1961
| {{percentage bar|width=75|87.69}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|9.25}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|2.98}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.07}}
|-
| 1971
| {{percentage bar|width=75|89.39}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|7.50}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|3.04}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.02}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.05}}
|-
| 1981
| {{percentage bar|width=75|89.50}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|5.32}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|2.66}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.03}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|2.49}}
|-
| 1991
| {{percentage bar|width=75|86.51}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|7.78}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|3.53}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|1.72}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.17}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.28}}
|-
| 2001
| {{percentage bar|width=75|80.62}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|10.74}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|4.20}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|3.60}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.45}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.39}}
|-
| 2011
| {{percentage bar|width=75|81.34}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|9.04}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|4.39}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|3.04}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|1.41}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.78}}
|-
| 2021
| {{percentage bar|width=75|81.19}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|8.21}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|5.09}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|3.17}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|1.76}}
| {{percentage bar|width=75|0.58}}
|}

{{static row numbers}} 
{| class="wikitable sortable static-row-numbers static-row-header-text" 
|+Religion in Nepal (2021 Census)<ref>https://censusnepal.cbs.gov.np/results/files/caste/Religion_NPHC_2021.xlsx National Statistics Office.</ref>
! class="unsortable" | Religion
!Population
!Percentage
|-
|[[Hinduism in Nepal|Hinduism]]
|23,677,744
|{{percentage bar|81.19}}
|-
|[[Buddhism in Nepal|Buddhism]]
|2,393,549
|{{percentage bar|8.2}}
|-
|[[Islam in Nepal|Islam]]
|1,483,054
|{{percentage bar|5.03}}
|-
|[[Kirat Mundhum|Kirat]]
|924,204
|{{percentage bar|3.17}}
|-
|[[Christianity in Nepal|Christianity]]
|512,313
|{{percentage bar|1.76}}
|-
|Others
|173,702
|{{percentage bar|0.65}}
|-
!Total
!29,164,578
!{{percentage bar|100}}
|}

== Gallery ==

<gallery>
A view of Boudhanath Premises 2017 01.jpg|Boudhanath Stupa, a Buddhist temple in Kathmandu Valley
British Museum Asia 41-2.jpg|The Bodhisattva [[Avalokiteshvara]], gilded bronze. Nepal, 16th century [[Anno Domini|A.D.]]
Jain_Mandir.jpg|The [[Jain temple]] in Kathmandu, Nepal
Ghanta Ghar and Nepali Jame Masjid -IMG4170.jpg|[[Jama Masjid Rahmaniya, Bhairahawa (Nepal)|Nepal Jama Mosque]], one of the largest mosques in Nepal                             
Kirat Dharma Temple 03.jpg|[[Kirat (religion)]] [[Manghim]] or [[Mankhim]] of [[Kirati people|Kirat]] community in [[Lalitpur, Nepal]]
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Portal|Nepal|Religion
}}
* [[Buddhism in Nepal]]
* [[Newar Buddhism]]
* [[Banishment of Buddhist monks from Nepal]]
* [[Hinduism in Nepal]]
* [[Newar Hinduism]]
* [[Gurung shamanism]]
* [[Islam in Nepal]]
** [[Nepali Muslims]]
* [[Judaism in Nepal]]
* [[Christianity in Nepal]]
**[[Roman Catholicism in Nepal]]
* [[Jainism in Nepal]]
* [[Baháʼí Faith in Nepal]]
* [[Sikhism in Nepal]]
* [[Irreligion in Nepal]]
* [[Freedom of religion in Nepal]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
*{{Citation |last= Regmi |first=Mahesh Chandra |title= Regmi Research Series |volume=19 |year=1987|publisher=Regmi Research Centre |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_2NDAAAAYAAJ&q=chandra+bir+kunwar}}

{{Religion in Nepal}}
{{Nepal topics}}
{{Asia in topic|Religion in|PS=Palestinian territories#Religion}}

[[Category:Religion in Nepal| ]]