On June 3, the Government of Nepal launched caste, ethnicity and language stats primarily based totally on Census 2021. As per the information provided by the Government of Nepal, Islam and Christianity are on the rise inside the nation. On the other hand, the inhabitants of Hindus, which is the predominant religion inside the nation, and Buddhists, have declined. The entire inhabitants of the nation stands at 29 million with an absent inhabitants of two.2 million.
As per the latest census report revealed by the Central Bureau of Statistics, 81.19 per cent of the entire inhabitants follows Hinduism. Buddhism, the second most adopted religion in Nepal, is adopted by 8.2 per cent inhabitants. Followers of Hinduism have declined by 0.11 per cent and followers of Buddhism have declined by 0.79 per cent inside the nation over the earlier 10 years.
In the 2011 census, the federal authorities well-known that 81.3 per cent of the inhabitants of the nation adopted Hinduism, 9 per cent Buddhism, 4.4 per cent Islam and 0.1 per cent Christianity. However, inside the latest census, Islam and Christianity for the time being are adopted by 5.09 per cent and 1.76 per cent respectively. Kirats have moreover seen a rise of 0.36 per cent inside the latest census and stand at 3.17 per cent of the entire inhabitants.
The authorities moreover launched data on the languages spoken inside the nation. There are 124 mother tongues spoken in Nepal out of which 44 per cent converse Nepali adopted by 11.05 per cent Maithali and 6.24 per cent Bhojpuri. Other customary languages embrace Tharu (5.88 per cent) and Tamang (4.88 per cent).
Nepal conducts a census every 10 years and it was scheduled for 2021. However, it was delayed attributable to an increase in Covid-19 cases all through the nation.
Missionaries altering Hindus in Nepal at a rampant tempo
In January 2023, OpIndia reported that the Christian inhabitants has in all probability elevated by 68 per cent in Nepal in decrease than a decade, attributable to Christian missionaries, significantly from South Korea. A report by BBC titled ‘Christian missionaries target birthplace of Buddha in Nepal’ outlined how South Korea, particularly, has been sending a tsunami of evangelists to Nepal. As per the report, Nepal had 3,76,000 Christians in 2011 (census numbers), which has elevated to approx 5,45,000 now, a soar of 68 per cent. As per the latest census, the amount stood at 5,12,313 which is fairly close to the estimate.
The quick rise of Islam in Nepal
In September 2022, OpIndia did an distinctive sequence on the demographic change on the borders of Nepal. It was in sync with the demographic change on India’s aspect the place loads of mosques and madrasas mushrooms inside the border areas. OpIndia’s employees visited Nepal and situated that inside the closing 20 years, the Muslim inhabitants inside the nation doubled from 4 per cent to 9 per cent. It may double inside the coming 20 years. Furthermore, demographic change is a phenomenon not restricted to the Indo-Nepal border areas solely, nonetheless the demographics inside the hilly areas of Nepal are moreover altering in a short time.
Nepal’s MP Abhishek Pratap Shah highlighted the difficulty of Rohingya Muslims in Nepal. He talked about, “A large number of Rohingyas have infiltrated the northern areas of Nepal while speaking to our reporters. This infiltration took place because the appearance of Rohingyas is slightly similar to the residents of northern Nepal.” Notably, Pakistan’s ISI was reportedly serving to inside the demographic change inside the nation. Shah added, “Pakistani intelligence agency ISI has been active in Nepal for a long time. ISI not only promotes cross-border terrorism but is also running illicit businesses like fake currency notes.”