The Indigenous World 2021: Nepal
According to the 2011 census, the Indigenous Nationalities (Adivasi Janajati) of Nepal comprise 36% of the total population of 30.2 million,[1] although Indigenous Peoples’ organizations claim a larger figure of more than 50%. The 2011 census listed the population as belonging to 125 caste and ethnic groups, including 63 Indigenous Peoples; 59 castes, including 15 Dalit castes;[2] and three religious groups, including Muslim groups.
Even though Indigenous Peoples constitute a significant proportion of the population, they have been systematically discriminated, marginalized, excluded, subjugated, dominated, exploited and internally colonized by the dominant caste groups throughout Nepal’s history in terms of land, territories, resources, language, culture, customary laws, political and economic opportunities and collective way of life.