Language map
Nepal, district by district — who speaks what
An accurate map of all 75 districts of Nepal, shaded by how many languages live there. Hover any district to read its languages, or pick one of the 124 languages to see exactly where it is spoken.
Darker district = more languages spoken thereFewerMore
Full index
124 languages and where they live
| Language | Region | Districts |
|---|---|---|
| Nepali | Central / Kathmandu Valley (Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur) | Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur |
| Newar (Nepal Bhasa) | Central / Kathmandu Valley & Hill Districts | Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur |
| Maithili | Eastern / Central Terai (Mithila region: Janakpur, Mahottari, Dhanusha, Siraha, Saptari) | Mahottari, Dhanusa, Siraha, Saptari |
| Bhojpuri | Central / Eastern Terai (Bara, Parsa, Rautahat, Sarlahi) | Parsa, Bara, Rautahat, Sarlahi |
| Tharu | Central Terai & Inner Terai (Chitwan, Makwanpur, Bara, Parsa) | Chitwan, Makwanpur, Parsa, Bara |
| Dangaura Tharu | Western Terai (Kailali, Kanchanpur, Bardiya, Banke, Dang) | Kanchanpur, Kailali, Bardiya, Banke, Dang |
| Rana Tharu | Mid-Western Terai (Dang, Banke, Bardiya) | Bardiya, Banke, Dang |
| Kathariya Tharu | Western Terai & Far-Western Terai | Kanchanpur, Kailali, Bardiya, Banke, Dang, Kapilbastu, Rupandehi |
| Kochila Tharu | Eastern Terai (Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari) | Morang, Sunsari, Jhapa |
| Santhali (Satar) | Eastern Terai (Jhapa, Morang) | Morang, Jhapa |
| Bajjika | Central & Eastern Terai (Mithila Region) | Siraha, Saptari, Morang, Sunsari, Jhapa |
| Doteli | Far-Western Terai (Kailali, Kanchanpur) & Hills | Kanchanpur, Kailali |
| Baitadeli | Mid-Western & Far-Western Hills (Baitadi, Darchula) | Darchula, Baitadi |
| Darchuleli | Far-Western Hills (Darchula) | Darchula |
| Bajhangi | Far-Western Hills (Bajhang) | Bajhang |
| Achhami | Far-Western Hills (Achham) | Achham |
| Dailekhi | Mid-Western Hills (Dailekh) | Dailekh |
| Jumli | Mid-Western Hills (Jumla, Kalikot, Mugu) | Mugu, Jumla, Kalikot |
| Gurung | Central Hills (Gorkha, Kaski, Syangja, Tanahun, Lamjung) | Gorkha, Kaski, Lamjung, Syangja, Tanahu |
| Magar Dhut | Central & Western Hills (Palpa, Gulmi, Arghakhanchi, Syangja, Baglung) | Baglung, Gulmi, Syangja, Arghakhanchi, Palpa |
| Magar Kham | Mid-Western Hills (Rukum, Rolpa) | Rukum, Rolpa |
| Magar Kaike | High Himalayan Regions (Dolpa) | Dolpa |
| Limbu (Yaktung) | Eastern Hills (Sankhuwasabha, Taplejung, Panchthar, Ilam, Dhankuta) | Sankhuwasabha, Taplejung, Panchthar, Dhankuta, Ilam |
| Rai (Bantawa) | Eastern Hills (Solukhumbu, Okhaldhunga, Khotang, Bhojpur, Udayapur) | Solukhumbu, Okhaldhunga, Bhojpur, Khotang, Udayapur |
| Chamling Rai | Eastern Hills (Bhojpur, Khotang) | Bhojpur, Khotang |
| Kulung Rai | Eastern Hills (Sankhuwasabha) | Sankhuwasabha |
| Mewahang Rai | Eastern Hills (Sankhuwasabha) | Sankhuwasabha |
| Yamphu Rai | Eastern Hills (Sankhuwasabha) | Sankhuwasabha |
| Lohorung Rai | Eastern Hills (Sankhuwasabha) | Sankhuwasabha |
| Nachhiring Rai | Eastern Hills (Solukhumbu) | Solukhumbu |
| Thulung Rai | Eastern Hills (Solukhumbu) | Solukhumbu |
| Khaling Rai | Eastern Hills (Solukhumbu) | Solukhumbu |
| Dumi Rai | Eastern Hills (Khotang) | Khotang |
| Puma Rai | Eastern Hills (Khotang) | Khotang |
| Koyee Rai | Eastern Hills (Khotang) | Khotang |
| Sampang Rai | Eastern Hills (Khotang) | Khotang |
| Wambule Rai | Eastern Hills (Okhaldhunga) | Okhaldhunga |
| Jerung Rai | Eastern Hills (Okhaldhunga) | Okhaldhunga |
| Tilung Rai | Eastern Hills (Okhaldhunga) | Okhaldhunga |
| Chintang Rai | Eastern Hills (Dhankuta) | Dhankuta |
| Belhare Rai | Eastern Hills (Dhankuta) | Dhankuta |
| Athpariya Rai | Eastern Hills (Dhankuta) | Dhankuta |
| Chhulung Rai | Eastern Hills (Dhankuta) | Dhankuta |
| Phancho Rai | Eastern Hills (Dhankuta) | Dhankuta |
| Yakkha Rai | Eastern Hills (Panchthar, Taplejung) | Taplejung, Panchthar |
| Tamang | Central Hills & High Himalayas (Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Sindhupalchok, Makwanpur) | Rasuwa, Dhading, Sindhupalchok, Nuwakot, Makwanpur |
| Sherpa | High Himalayas (Solukhumbu, Taplejung, Dolakha, Mustang) | Mustang, Dolakha, Solukhumbu, Taplejung |
| Thakali | High Himalayas (Mustang) | Mustang |
| Loba (Mustangi) | High Himalayas (Mustang - Upper Mustang) | Mustang |
| Baragaunle | High Himalayas (Mustang - Baragaun region) | Mustang |
| Manange (Gurung family) | High Himalayas (Manang) | Manang |
| Nar-Phu | High Himalayas (Manang - Nar and Phu valleys) | Manang |
| Dolpo / Poike | High Himalayas (Dolpa) | Dolpa |
| Tichurong | High Himalayas (Dolpa - Upper Dolpa) | Dolpa |
| Tsum | High Himalayas (Gorkha - Tsum Valley) | Gorkha |
| Nubri | High Himalayas (Gorkha - Nubri Valley) | Gorkha |
| Tibetan (Bhotia) | High Himalayas (Humla, Mugu, Dolpa) | Humla, Mugu, Dolpa |
| Humli Mahat | High Himalayas (Humla) | Humla |
| Sunuwar (Koinch) | Central Hills (Dolakha, Ramechhap) | Dolakha, Ramechhap |
| Jirel | Central Hills (Dolakha) | Dolakha |
| Thami (Thangmi) | Central Hills (Dolakha) | Dolakha |
| Chepang | Central Hills (Makwanpur, Chitwan, Dhading) | Dhading, Chitwan, Makwanpur |
| Bote | Central Inner Terai (Chitwan, Nawalparasi) | Chitwan, Nawalparasi |
| Darai | Central Inner Terai (Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Tanahun) | Tanahu, Chitwan, Nawalparasi |
| Vayu (Hayu) | Central Inner Terai (Makwanpur, Parsa, Chitwan) | Chitwan, Makwanpur, Parsa |
| Pahari | Central Hills (Ramechhap, Sindhuli) | Ramechhap, Sindhuli |
| Kaling (Rai group) | Eastern Hills (Okhaldhunga, Bhojpur) | Okhaldhunga, Bhojpur |
| Ghale | Central Hills (Dhading) | Dhading |
| Northern Ghale | Central Hills (Gorkha) | Gorkha |
| Southern Ghale | Central Hills (Gorkha) | Gorkha |
| Rajbanshi | Eastern Terai (Jhapa, Morang) | Morang, Jhapa |
| Tajpuriya | Eastern Terai (Jhapa, Morang) | Morang, Jhapa |
| Gangai | Eastern Terai (Jhapa, Morang) | Morang, Jhapa |
| Dhimal | Eastern Terai (Morang, Sunsari) | Morang, Sunsari |
| Meche (Bodo) | Eastern Terai (Jhapa) | Jhapa |
| Kisan | Eastern Terai (Jhapa) | Jhapa |
| Munda | Eastern Terai (Jhapa) | Jhapa |
| Uraon (Kudukh) | Eastern Terai (Jhapa, Morang) | Morang, Jhapa |
| Koche | Eastern Terai (Morang) | Morang |
| Musahar (Dehari/Musahari) | Central & Eastern Terai | Siraha, Saptari, Morang, Sunsari, Jhapa |
| Awadhi | Central & Western Terai | Kanchanpur, Kailali, Bardiya, Banke, Dang, Kapilbastu, Rupandehi |
| Urdu | Western Terai (Banke, Kapilvastu) | Banke, Kapilbastu |
| Danuwar | Central Terai (Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara) | Bara, Rautahat, Sarlahi |
| Rai-Danuwar (Kachhariya) | Central Terai & Inner Terai (Sindhuli, Udayapur, Makwanpur) | Makwanpur, Sindhuli, Udayapur |
| Majhi | Central Inner Terai (Sindhuli, Makwanpur) | Makwanpur, Sindhuli |
| Raji | Western & Mid-Western Hills (Surkhet, Dailekh, Jajarkot) | Dailekh, Jajarkot, Surkhet |
| Raute | Far-Western Hills & Terai (Dadeldhura, Kanchanpur) | Dadeldhura, Kanchanpur |
| Byansi (Sauka) | Far-Western Terai (Kailali) | Kailali |
| Rangas / Byangsi | High Himalayas (Darchula - Vyas Valley) | Darchula |
| Chaurasya | Far-Western Hills (Darchula) | Darchula |
| Chantyal | Western Hills (Kaski, Tanahun) | Kaski, Tanahu |
| Chantyal Thakali | Western Hills (Baglung, Myagdi) | Myagdi, Baglung |
| Kurmali | Central Terai (Rautahat, Bara) | Bara, Rautahat |
| Angika | Central Terai (Parsa, Bara) | Parsa, Bara |
| Ganat | Eastern Terai (Saptari, Siraha) | Siraha, Saptari |
| Kewat | Eastern Terai (Siraha, Saptari) | Siraha, Saptari |
| Malla | Central & Eastern Terai | Siraha, Saptari, Morang, Sunsari, Jhapa |
| Sadri / Sadani | Central Terai | Parsa, Bara, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Mahottari, Dhanusa |
| Malpahariya | Western Terai (Dang, Banke) | Banke, Dang |
| Lepcha | Eastern Hills (Ilam, Panchthar) | Panchthar, Ilam |
| Walungge | High Himalayas (Taplejung) | Taplejung |
| Lhomi (Shing Saapa) | High Himalayas (Sankhuwasabha) | Sankhuwasabha |
| Nawa | High Himalayas (Sankhuwasabha) | Sankhuwasabha |
| Hyolmo (Helambu Sherpa) | Central Hills (Sindhupalchok) | Sindhupalchok |
| Balami | Central Hills (Kathmandu Valley & surrounds) | Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur |
| Maithili-Dehati | Central Terai (Janakpur region) | Parsa, Bara, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Mahottari, Dhanusa |
| Bhojpuri-Local | Central Terai (Bara, Parsa) | Parsa, Bara |
| Doti-Khas | Far-Western Hills (Doti) | Doti |
| Pyuthani | Mid-Western Hills (Pyuthan) | Pyuthan |
| Rolpali | Mid-Western Hills (Rolpa) | Rolpa |
| Salyani | Mid-Western Hills (Salyan) | Salyan |
| Larke | Western Hills (Gorkha) | Gorkha |
| Seke | High Himalayas (Mustang) | Mustang |
| Gyasumdo | High Himalayas (Manang) | Manang |
| Kutang | High Himalayas (Gorkha) | Gorkha |
| Kagate | High Himalayas (Dolpa) | Dolpa |
| Yholmo-Ramechhap | Central Hills (Ramechhap) | Ramechhap |
| Sign Language (Nepali Sign Language) | Central Hills (Kathmandu Valley) | Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur |
| Kumal | Central Hills (Kaski, Tanahun) | Kaski, Tanahu |
| Kusunda | Eastern Terai (Sunsari) | Sunsari |
| Kusunda (Nomadic/Restored) | Western Hills (Pyuthan, Arghakhanchi, Dang) | Pyuthan, Dang, Arghakhanchi |
| Kaye | Western Hills (Baglung) | Baglung |
| Dungmali | Eastern Hills (Bhojpur) | Bhojpur |
| Syam | Eastern Hills (Sankhuwasabha) | Sankhuwasabha |
Know a language we placed wrong?
District boundaries are official, but speech communities cross them. Tell us where a language really lives and we will correct the map with you.
Start a conversation