Exploring Nepal: A Comprehensive List of 77 Districts of Nepal

Districts of Nepal

In Nepal, districts come after provinces as the level two administrative units. Municipalities and rural municipalities are divisions of districts. Nepal has 77 districts and 7 provinces.

After the state’s administrative divisions were reorganized, the districts of Nawalparasi and Rukum were split into the respective Eastern Rukum District and Western Rukum District, as well as Parasi District (officially Nawalparasi (West of Bardaghat Susta) District) and Nawalpur District (officially Nawalparasi (East of Bardaghat Susta) District).

The Chief District Officer (C.D.O. ), who is chosen by the government and acts as the top administrative figure within a district, is at the top of the hierarchy of district officials. The duties of the C.D.O. include managing the district’s many departments, such as the departments of security, health, and education.

The District Coordination Committee (DCC) also acts as the District Assembly’s executive branch. Particularly when it comes to settling any political disagreements, the DCC is crucial in promoting cooperation between the Provincial Assembly, rural municipalities, and municipalities. Furthermore, it keeps local organizations functioning in the district in harmony with the provincial and federal governments.

History of Districts of Nepal

Nepal was divided into 10 districts during the rule of King Rajendra Bir Bikram Shah and Prime Minister Bhimsen Thapa, with the lands to the east of the Dudh Koshi River constituting a single district known as Dhankuta.

From 1885 until 1950, Nepal was split into 32 districts under the rule of Prime Minister Bir Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana, who founded the Rana administration. Doti, Palpa, and Dhankuta were among those to get the “gaunda” or cantonment area designation. 20 districts made up the hilly region, whereas 12 districts made up the Terai region.

From Bir Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana’s leadership until the fall of the Rana dynasty in Nepal in 1951, and until the proclamation of the new constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal in 1962, this division of 32 districts lasted. Every district had a separate administrative center, which was managed by a district administrator known as the “Bada Haqim.”

A massive administrative reform took place in Nepal in 1962, replacing the 32 old districts with a new system made up of 14 zones and 75 development districts.

Nepal had a four-tiered governmental structure in place from 1962 to 1990 when it was under the Panchayat System. During this time, there were 75 districts in the nation. Later, two more districts were added by severing Nawalparasi and Rukum, increasing the total to 77.

Map of Nepal with District

Map-of-Nepal

 

Province of Nepal

list of the provinces of Nepal with their respective capital city, no. of districts, and area in sq. km

S.N. Provinces Capital No. of Districts Area in (Sq. KM)
1 Koshi Province Biratnagar 14 25905
2 Madhesh Province Janakpur 8 9661
3 Bagmati Province Hetauda 13 20300
4 Gandaki Province Pokhara 11 29504
5 Lumbini Province Deukhuri 12 22288
6 Karnali Province Birendranagar 10 27984
7 Sudurpashchim Province Godawari 9 19539

List of Districts of Nepal: Headquarters and Area

Districts of Province 1: Koshi Province

The total area covered by Koshi Province is 25,905 km Square and its total population is 4,961,412

map-of-koshi province

 

District Name Headquarters Area in (Sq. KM)
Bhojpur District Bhojpur 1507
Dhankuta District Dhankuta 892
Ilam District Ilam 1703
Jhapa District Bhadrapur 1606
Khotang District Diktel 1591
Morang District Biratnagar 1855
Okhaldhunga District Siddhicharan 1074
Panchthar District Phidim 1241
Sankhuwasabha District Khandbari 3480
Solukhumbu District Solududhkunda 3312
Sunsari District Inaruwa 1257
Taplejung District Phungling 3646
Tehrathum District Myanglung 679
Udayapur District Triyuga 2063

Districts of Province 2: Madhesh Province

The total area covered by Province 2 is 9,661 km square and its total population is 6,114,600.

map-of-madhesh province

District Name Headquarters Area in (Sq. KM)
Parsa District Birgunj 1353
Bara District Kalaiya 1190
Rautahat District Gaur 1126
Sarlahi District Malangwa 1259
Dhanusha District Janakpur 1180
Siraha District Siraha 1188
Mahottari District Jaleshwar 1002
Saptari District Rajbiraj 1363

Districts of Province 3: Bagmati Province

The total area covered by Bagmati Province is  20,300 km square whereas its population is 6,116,866.

Map-of-Bagmati Province

District Name Headquarters Area in (Sq. KM)
Sindhuli District Kamalamai 2491
Ramechhap District Manthali 1546
Dolakha District Bhimeshwar 2191
Bhaktapur District Bhaktapur 119
Dhading District Nilkantha 1926
Kathmandu District Kathmandu 395
Kavrepalanchok District Dhulikhel 1396
Lalitpur District Lalitpur 385
Nuwakot District Bidur 1121
Rasuwa District Dhunche 1544
Sindhupalchok District Chautara 2542
Chitwan District Bharatpur 2218
Makwanpur District Hetauda 2426

Districts of Province 4:  Gandaki Province

The total area covered by Gandaki province is 21,793km square and its population is 2,466,427. 

Map-of-gandaki province

District Name Headquarters Area in (Sq. KM)
Baglung District Baglung 1784
Gorkha District Gorkha 3610
Kaski District Pokhara 2017
Lamjung District Besisahar 1692
Manang District Chame 3573
Mustang District Jomsom 2246
Myagdi District Beni 2297
Nawalparasi (East of Bardaghat Susta) District Kawasoti 1043
Parbat District Kusma 494
Syangja District Putalibazar 1164
Tanahun District Damauli 1546

Districts of Province 5: Lumbini Province

The total area covered by Lumbini province is 19,271 km square and the total population is

5,122,078.

Map-of-Lumbini province

District Name Headquarters Area in (Sq. KM)
Kapilvastu District Taulihawa 1738
Nawalparasi (West of Bardaghat Susta) District Ramgram 634.88
Rupandehi District Siddharthanagar 1360
Arghakhanchi District Sandhikharka 1193
Gulmi District Tamghas 1149
Palpa District Tansen 1373
Dang District Ghorahi 2955
Pyuthan District Pyuthan 1309
Rolpa District Liwang 1879
Eastern Rukum District Rukumkot 1161.13
Banke District Nepalganj 2337
Bardiya District Gulariya 2025

Districts of Province 6: Karnali Province

The total area covered by Karnali Province is 30, 702 km square, and the total population is 1,688,412.

Map-of-Karnali Province

District Name Headquarters Area in (Sq. KM)
Western Rukum District Musikot 1213.49
Salyan District Salyan 1462
Dolpa District Dunai 7889
Humla District Simikot 5655
Jumla District Chandannath 2531
Kalikot District Manma 1741
Mugu District Gamgadhi 3535
Surkhet District Birendranagar 2451
Dailekh District Narayan 1502
Jajarkot District Khalanga 2230

Districts of Province 7: Sudurpaschim Province

The total area covered by this province is 19,539 km square and its total population is 515,069

Map-of-sudurpaschim Province

District Name Headquarters Area in (Sq. KM)
Kailali District Dhangadhi 3235
Achham District Mangalsen 1680
Doti District Dipayal Silgadhi 2025
Bajhang District Jayaprithvi 3422
Bajura District Martadi 2188
Kanchanpur District Bheemdatta 1610
Dadeldhura District Amargadhi 1538
Baitadi District Dasharathchand 1519
Darchula District Darchula 2322

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FAQs:

Which is the largest province according to area?

Karnali province is the largest province according to area.

Which is the smallest province according to area?

Madhesh province is the smallest province according to area.

Which is the largest province according to population?

Bagmati province is the largest according to population.

Which is the smallest province according to both area and population?

Madhesh province( province 2) is the smallest province according to both area and population.

Which is the smallest province according to population?

Karnali is the smallest province according to population only.

What are the new two districts of Nepal?

The names of two districts — Rukum and Nawalparasi — that were split into two each will remain the same if the constitution is not amended by a two-thirds majority.

How many districts are there in 7 provinces of Nepal?

There are 77 districts in 7 provinces where each districts are divided into municipalities and rural municipality.


Conclusion:

The division of 77 districts significantly consolidated authority not just in the national capital but also at the district headquarters. Therefore, the federalization process must ensure that the authorities consolidated in district headquarters are decentralized. However, it seems like there should be a detailed discussion about the importance or lack of district-level authority. Any devolution must guarantee that the current public services provided at the local level are not impacted during the transition.