POPULATION DISTRIBUTION ACCORDING TO ETHINICITY

Nepal’s 2001 census enumerated 103 distinct castes and ethnic groups including an "unidentified group".

The major caste/ethnic groups identified by the 2001 census are Khas Kshatriya or Chhetri (15.8%) along with 1.47% Thakuri/Chhetri, Brahmin or Bahun (12.7%) in the hills (both Caucasian,counted separately from the same castes in the Terai), Magar (7.1%), Tharu (6.8%), Tamang (5.6%), Newar (5.5%), Muslim (4.3%), Kami (3.9%), Rai (2.7%), Gurung (2.5%), and Damai/Dholi (2.4%). The remaining 92 caste/ethnic groups (including the world-famous Sherpa) each constitute less than 2 % of the population ^[1]. The following table is based on endogamous ethnicity, not linguistical ethnic groups.