199 countries 39,402 visa rules 72,668 airports 7,028 languages 235 holiday calendars 1,260 news stories Visa data verified 13 Oct 2026
Free Passport Photo Maker
Check requirements
Travel photo of Nepal

Languages · Asia

Flag of NepalWhat Language Do They Speak in Nepal?

The official language of Nepal is Nepali. In total about 115 living languages are spoken there, the most common being Nepali (51%), Nepali (44%) and Tichurong (13%).

1
Official language
115
Living languages · #15
0
Regional official languages
36
Endangered languages

Official languages of Nepal

Official

Nepali

नेपाली

44% of the population · Indo-European

Most spoken languages in Nepal

51%
Nepali Official
44%
13%
11%
7%
5%
3%
Jumli
3%
3%
Dotyali
3%
2%
Dangaura Tharu
2%
Share of the population who speak the language (first or second language).

Languages commonly listed for Nepal

BhojpuriHindiMaithiliNepaliNewariTamangTharu

Languages of neighbouring countries

Flag of IndiaEnglish
Flag of ChinaChinese

All languages of Nepal (115)

LanguageSpeakers hereFamilyStatus
Nepali16,000,000 · 51%Indo-EuropeanSafe
Nepali13,693,856 · 44%Indo-EuropeanOfficial
Tichurong4,200,000 · 13%Sino-TibetanSafe
Maithili3,423,464 · 11%Indo-EuropeanSafe
Bhojpuri2,116,323 · 7%Indo-EuropeanSafe
Sonha1,500,000 · 5%Indo-EuropeanVulnerable
Nepal Bhasa1,027,039 · 3%Sino-TibetanSafe
Jumli995,916 · 3%Indo-EuropeanSafe
English933,672 · 3%Indo-EuropeanSafe
Dotyali778,060 · 3%Indo-EuropeanSafe
Awadhi684,692 · 2%Indo-EuropeanSafe
Dangaura Tharu622,448 · 2%Indo-EuropeanSafe
Bantawa466,836 · 2%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Western Tamang404,591 · 1%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Rana Tharu373,468 · 1%Indo-EuropeanSafe
Limbu342,346 · 1%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Eastern Magar342,346 · 1%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Kochila Tharu311,224 · 1%Indo-EuropeanSafe
Chitwania Tharu280,000 · 0.9%Indo-EuropeanSafe
Western Magar258,315 · 0.83%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Bagheli168,060 · 0.54%Indo-EuropeanSafe
Sherpa161,836 · 0.52%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Rajbanshi136,938 · 0.44%Indo-EuropeanSafe
Eastern Tamang133,826 · 0.43%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Hindi130,714 · 0.42%Indo-EuropeanSafe
Gurung90,254 · 0.29%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Camling77,000 · 0.25%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Tibetan74,693 · 0.24%Sino-TibetanSafe
Kathoriya Tharu74,693 · 0.24%Indo-EuropeanSafe
Gamale Kham69,000 · 0.22%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Eastern Parbate Kham69,000 · 0.22%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Sheshi Kham69,000 · 0.22%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Western Parbate Kham69,000 · 0.22%Sino-TibetanSafe
Musasa50,000 · 0.16%Indo-EuropeanThreatened
Chepang49,000 · 0.16%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Dewas Rai46,000 · 0.15%Indo-EuropeanThreatened
Sunwar40,459 · 0.13%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Thulung37,346 · 0.12%Sino-TibetanMoribund
Chukwa33,000 · 0.11%——
Kulung (Nepal)33,000 · 0.11%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Majhi32,917 · 0.11%Indo-EuropeanVulnerable
Bengali29,255 · 0.09%Indo-EuropeanSafe
Southern Ghale26,000 · 0.08%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Northern Ghale26,000 · 0.08%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Thangmi23,200 · 0.07%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Bhujel22,000 · 0.07%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Dhimal20,430 · 0.07%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Bote-Majhi20,000 · 0.06%Indo-EuropeanThreatened
Lambichhong20,000 · 0.06%BookkeepingMoribund
Lumba-Yakkha20,000 · 0.06%BookkeepingThreatened
Phangduwali20,000 · 0.06%BookkeepingVulnerable
Sampang18,000 · 0.06%Sino-TibetanMoribund
Wambule14,000 · 0.05%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Darai12,747 · 0.04%Indo-EuropeanVulnerable
Kumhali12,000 · 0.04%Indo-EuropeanVulnerable
Bahing12,000 · 0.04%Sino-TibetanNearly extinct
Dolpo10,000 · 0.03%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Nachering10,000 · 0.03%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Hyolmo10,000 · 0.03%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Yamphu9,200 · 0.03%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Lhomi7,000 · 0.02%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Puma6,700 · 0.02%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Dungmali6,300 · 0.02%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Lohorung6,200 · 0.02%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Southern Yamphu6,200 · 0.02%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Seke (Nepal)5,900 · 0.02%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Mundari5,602 · 0.02%AustroasiaticSafe
Athpariya5,500 · 0.02%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Humla5,000 · 0.02%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Jirel4,800 · 0.02%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Eastern Meohang4,700 · 0.02%Sino-TibetanMoribund
Western Meohang4,700 · 0.02%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Walungge4,500 · 0.01%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Chantyal4,300 · 0.01%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Eastern Gorkha Tamang4,000 · 0.01%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Rawat3,758 · 0.01%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Chhintange3,700 · 0.01%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Kayort3,508 · 0.01%BookkeepingThreatened
Pahari3,500 · 0.01%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Raji2,900 · 0.01%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Lepcha2,832 · 0.01%Sino-TibetanMoribund
Aimol2,640 · 0.01%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Dumi2,500 · 0.01%Sino-TibetanNearly extinct
Chhulung2,100 · 0.01%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Nubri2,000 · 0.01%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Thakali2,000 · 0.01%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Baraamu1,846 · 0.01%Sino-TibetanNearly extinct
Jerung1,800 · 0.01%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Byangsi1,734 · 0.01%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Kagate1,500 · 0%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Wayu1,500 · 0%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Koi1,300 · 0%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Naaba770 · 0%Sino-TibetanSafe
Belhariya600 · 0%Sino-TibetanMoribund
Nar Phu600 · 0%Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Saam530 · 0%——
Raute460 · 0%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Gyalsumdo200 · 0%——
Kaike50 · 0%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Kuke29 · 0%Sino-TibetanThreatened
Tilung20 · 0%Sino-TibetanNearly extinct
Kusunda1—Nearly extinct
Magahi—Indo-EuropeanSafe
Khaling—Sino-TibetanThreatened
Chaudangsi—Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Dhanwar (Nepal)—Indo-EuropeanVulnerable
Darmiya—Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Kurmukar—Indo-EuropeanThreatened
Kyerung—Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Loke—Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Mugom—Sino-TibetanSafe
Manangba—Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Tseku—Sino-TibetanThreatened
Tsum—Sino-TibetanVulnerable
Yakha—Sino-TibetanVulnerable

Frequently asked questions

What language do they speak in Nepal?

The official language of Nepal is Nepali. In total about 115 living languages are spoken there, the most common being Nepali (51%), Nepali (44%) and Tichurong (13%).

What is the official language of Nepal?

Nepali.

Is English spoken in Nepal?

About 3% of people in Nepal speak English (933,672).

How many languages are spoken in Nepal?

About 115 living languages — #15 in the world for linguistic diversity. 36 of them are endangered.

Data: Languages of the World dataset (MIT) — ISO 639-3, Glottolog (CC BY 4.0), Unicode CLDR, Google LinguaMeta (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata; country lists: samayo/country-json (MIT).

Nepal country profileLanguages by country