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Islam in Nepal
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Islam (Nepali: नेपाली मुसलमान) is the third largest religion in Nepal.[4] According to the 2021 Nepal census, approximately 1.483 million Muslims, comprising 5.09% of the population, live in Nepal.[5]
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Nepalese Muslims (Nepali: नेपाली मुसलमान; Nepali Musalman) are Nepalis who follow Islam. Their ancestors arrived in Nepal from different parts of South Asia and have since lived amidst the numerically dominant Hindus and Buddhists. Most muslims of Nepal ethnically are not Nepalese. They are similar to the Muslim population of Uttarpradesh and Bihar in India and they share a similar culture and speak the same language. Most of the Muslim community lives in the Terai region, while the remaining are found mainly in the city of Kathmandu and Gorkha and the western hills. The community numbers 971,056, about 3.8% of the total population of Nepal. Districts with large Muslim population include Sarlahi (9.9%), Rautahat (17.2%), Bara (11.9%), Parsa (17.3%), Banke (16%) in the western Terai, Siraha (7%), Sunsari (10%), Saptari (10%) and Gorkha (13%) hill.[6]
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Demographics
According to the 2021 Nepal census, there are around 1.483 million Muslims in Nepal. Almost all of them live in Terai Region.[7] Districts with large Muslim concentrations are: Rautahat, Banke, Kapilvastu, Parsa, Mahottari, Bara, and Sunsari. There are only 21,866 Muslims in the capital city of Kathmandu (1.25% of the total population).
Early Islam in Nepal
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Islam is believed to have been introduced in Nepal as early as the 11th century through trade and migration routes from Kashmir, Tibet, and Northern India. The earliest Muslim settlers were primarily Kashmiri merchants and traders who established themselves in the Kathmandu Valley and other parts of the Terai region.[8]
During the medieval period and particularly under the rule of the Malla kings,[disambiguation needed] Muslims continued to arrive and engage in artisanal crafts, arms manufacturing, and trade. The Rana regime (1846–1951) further encouraged the settlement of Indian Muslims, particularly in the Terai belt, to strengthen agriculture and local economies.[9]
A significant wave of migration occurred following the Indian Rebellion of 1857, as Muslim refugees from northern India sought asylum in neighboring Nepal. Many of these refugees were granted land and permission to settle by the ruling Rana regime.[10]
Muslims played a small but notable role in Nepalese society during these times, including in the royal courts as metalworkers, arms suppliers, and scholars. Today, the historical roots of Islam in Nepal remain reflected in old settlements, mosques, and family lineages across Kathmandu, Nepalgunj, and the Eastern Terai districts.
Ahmadis maintain a small presence in Nepal.[11]
The Muslim population was 1,483,060 as per Nepal 2021 Official census which make up 5.09% of Nepal's population. The Muslim population increased from 4.39% in 2011 to 5.09% in 2021.[14]
Islam is the fastest-growing religion in Nepal. By 2050 Pew Research Center have estimated that Nepal will have 3.34 million Muslims and will constitute roughly around 7% of the country's population,[17] thus surpassing Buddhism which is currently the 2nd largest Religion in Nepal as of 2021 Nepal census reports.[18]
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