Page 80 - Health, Population and Environment Education 9

Population distribution by development regions
All the development regions in Nepal have no equal availability of facilities and services.
Hence, there is no equal distribution of population in all the development regions. Central
development region has the highest population distribution and far western development
has the least population distribution.

Table: Population Distribution by Development Regions:
Census year
Area
Development 2001 A.D. 2011 A.D.
Region Population Population
Sq. km % Population Population
% %
Eastern Dev. 28456 19.3 5344476 23.09 5811555 21.93
Region
Central Dev.
Region 27410 18.6 8031629 34.09 9656985 36.45
Western Dev. 29398 20.0 4571013 19.74 4926765 18.60
Region
Mid-Western 42378 28.8 3012975 13.01 3546682 13.39
Dev. Region
Far-Western 19539 13.3 2191330 9.47 2552517 9.63
Dev. Region
Total 23151423 100 26494504 100

Source: CBS 2001 and 2011 A.D.
The above table shows that central development region covers only 18.6% of total area of
Nepal. But there is more distribution of population (i.e. 34. 09% and 36.45%) in 2001 A.D.
and 2011 A.D. The main reasons of more population in this region are due to presence
of cultivable land, health services, education, transportation, communication, sufficient
rainfall etc. The mid western development region covers 28.8 % of total area in Nepal.
But it has 13% population in 2001 A.D. and 2011 A.D. The far western development
region covers 13.3% area of Nepal and contains only 9% people in both the censuses. The
major reasons of less population distribution in those regions are due to difficult land
topography, lack of plain land, lack of facilities, etc. Eastern development region has
second highest population in Nepal. It consists of 21.93% population in 2011 A.D. less
than that of 2001 A.D. in which population was 23.09%. This region consists of big cities,
more cultivable land and industrial development. Hence, the population is more there.

Distribution of Population by Urban Areas and Rural Areas
Different parts of Nepal are categorized into urban areas and rural areas. Urban areas have
availability of facilities, employment, opportunities and are geographically accessible
whereas rural areas have lack of facilities, lack of infrastructures and are geographically
remote. The following table shows the distribution of population by urban and rural
areas:
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