Writing System of languages of Nepal

The official language of Nepal, Nepali is written in Devnagari script. Very few languages have literate traditions; they include Nepali, Maithili, Tibetan, Newar, Limbu, Bhojpuri, Awadhi and Lepcha. Most of them use Devnagari script and some have their own scripts.

Language provision in the Constitution

The Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal (1991) has recognized Nepali as ‘the language of the nation’ (raashtrabhaasaa) and all mother tongues spoke in Nepal as its ‘national languages’ (raashtriyabhaasaa) (Article 6).
Provisions about the languages of Nepal can be found in part 1 of the New Constitution of Nepal 2015 (2072 B.S.).
Article 6: All native languages spoken in Nepal are the National language of Nepal
Article 7a: Nepali language in Devnagari script is used for Nepal government work
Article 7b: Beside the Nepali language, any Provinces can choose one or more other languages spoken by the majority population of that province for government work.

Languages are spoken in Nepal

Language       Spoken areas; Population speaking the language (2011 census); Language family; Nationality; Status
Angika             Morang and Sunsari districts; 18,600; Indo-European; Outer language;        Threatened
Athpariya       Dhankuta district; 5,530; Tibeto-Burman; Kirati – Rai; Threatened
Avadhi            Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, Banke, Bardia, Dang, Kailali, and Kanchanpur districts; 502,000; Indo-European; Kushwadiya; Educational
Bagheli            Morang district; 137,000; Indo-European; Gangai; Vigorous
Bahing             Okhaldhunga, Solukhumbu, Khotang and Kathmandu districts; 11,700; Tibeto-Burman; Rai; Vigorous
Bantawa          Morang, Dhankuta, Bhojpur, Sunsari, Khotang, Okhaldhunga, Udayapur, Ilam, Jhapa, Panchthar, and Taplejung districts; 133,000; Tibeto-Burman; Rai; Threatened
Baram              Gorkha and Dhading districts; 160; Tibeto-Burman; Baramou; Nearly extinct
Belhariya         Dhankuta district; 600; Tibeto-Burman; Rai; Threatened
Bengali            Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Saptari, Kathamndu, Bhaktapur, Patan, Birgunj, Bhairawa, Nepalgunj and Janakpur districts; 21,100; Indo-European; Outer language; Dispersed
Bhojpuri          Rautahat, Bara, Parsa, Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, and Sarlahi districts; 1,580,000; Indo-European; Outer language; Educational
Bhujel              Tanahun, Gorkha, Nawalparasi and Chitwan districts; 21,700; Tibeto-Burman; Bhujel; Shifting
Bote                Tanahu, Nawalparasi and Chitwan districts; 8,770; Indo-European; Bote; Threatened
Byangsi           Darchula district; 480; Tibeto-Burman; Byasi; Threatened
Chamling         Khotang and Udayapur districts; 76,800; Tibeto-Burman; Rai; Threatened
Chantyal         Myagdi and Baglung districts; 4,280; Tibeto-Burman; Chhantyal; Threatened
Chepang          Makawanpur, Chitwan, Dhading and Gorkha districts; 48,500; Tibeto-Burman; Chepang; Threatened
Chhintang        Dhankuta district; 3,710; Tibeto-Burman; Rai; Threatened
Chhulung         Dhankuta district; 2,050; Tibeto-Burman; Rai; Shifting
Chukwa           Bhojpur district; 100 – only 5 fluent; Tibeto-Burman; Rai; Moribund
Danuwar         Makawanpur, Sindhuli, Kavrepalanchok and Lalitpur districts; 45,800; Indo-European; Danuwar; Shifting
Darai               Chitwan and Tanahun districts; 11,700; Indo-European; Darai; Threatened
Dhimal            Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari districts; 19,300; Tibeto-Burman; Dhimal; Threatened
Dolpo              Dolpa district; 1,760; Tibeto-Burman; Dolpo; Developing
Dotyali            Baitadi, Dadeldhura, Kanchanpur, Darchula, Doti and Bajhang districts; 788,000; Indo-European; Dotel; Vigorous
Dumi               Khotang district; 7,640; Tibeto-Burman; Rai; Shifting
Dungmali         Bhojpur district; 6,260; Tibet-Burman; Rai; Threatened
Dura                Extinct
English            2,030 – users: 7,000,000; Indo-European; Educational
Ghale, Northern          Gorkha district; 4,440; Tibeto-Burman; Ghale; Threatened
Ghale, Southern          Gorkha district; 21, 500; Tibeto-Burman; Ghale; Vigorous
Ghandruk Sign Language         Kaski district; 20; Sign-Language; Nearly extinct
Gurung            Kaski, Syangja, Lamjung, Tanahu, Gorkha, Manang and Parbat districts; 326,000; Tibeto-Burman; Gurung; Threatened
Helambu Sherpa          Nuwakot and Sindhupalchok districts; 10,200; Tibeto-Burman; Hyolmo; Vigorous
Hindi                           Kathmandu valley, Janakpur, and Narayani zones; 77,600; Indo-European; Outer language; Wider communication
Humla                         Bajuraa, Bajhang, Surkhet, Achham, Humla and Kathmandu district; 5,000; Tibeto-Burman; Humli; Vigorous
Jerung                          Sindhuli and Okhaldhunga districts; 1,760; Tibeto-Burman; Rai; Threatened
Jhankot Sign Language            Dolpa district; Sign language; Vigorous
Jirel                             Dolakaha, Nawalparasi, Sindhupalchok and Parsa districts; 4,830; Tibeto-Burman; Jirel; Threatened
Jumla Sign Language   Jumla district; 8; Sign language; Threatened
Jumli                           Jumla, Humla, Kalikot, Mugu, Bajura, Bajhang and Achham districts; 850; Indo-European; Vigorous
Kagate                         Ramechhap district; 100; Tibeto-Burman; Helambu Sherpa; Vigorous
Kaike                           Dolpa district; 50; Tibeto-Burman; Vigorous
Kayort                        Morang district; 22,000; Indo-European; Vigorous
Khaling                        Solukhumbu, Khotang, Sankhuwasabha, Sunsari and Ilam districts; 14,500; Tibeto-Burman; Rai; Vigorous
Kham, Eastern Parbate           Baglung district; 7,500; Tibeto-Burman; Magar; Threatened
Kham, Gamale            Rolpa and Baglung districts; 13,100; Tibeto-Burman; Magar; Vigorous
Kham, Sheshi              Rukum district; 20,000; Tibeto-Burman; Magar; Threatened
Kham, Western Parbate          Rukum, Rolpa and Dolpa districts; 24,500; Tibeto-Burman; Magar; Developing
Kharia                         Jhapa and Morang districts; 1,580; Austro-Asiatic; Bankariya; Threatened
Kisan                           Jhapa district; 1,180; Indo-European; Kisan; Vigorous
Koi                              Khotang district; 1,270; Tibeto-Burman; Rai; Vigorous
Kuke                           Gorkha district; 29; Tibeto-Burman; Ghale; Vigorous
Kulung                        Solukhumbu, Sankhuwasabha and Bhojpur district; 33,200; Tibeto-Burman; Rai; Threatened
Kumhali                      Nawalparasi, Argakhanchi, Palpa, Gorkha, Tanahun and Dang districts; 12,200; Indo-European; Kumal; Shifting
Kurux, Nepali             Sunsari district; 28,600; Dravidian; Threatened
Kusunda                      Extinct
Kyirong                       Rasuwa and Kathmandu valley; 500; Tibeto-Burman; Lama; Vigorous
Lapcha                        Ilam district; 7,500; Tibeto-Burman; Lepcha; Shifting
Lhomi                          Sankhuwasabha district, Arun and Kathmandu valley; 810; Tibeto-Burman; Lhomi; Developing
Limbu                          Dhankuta, Sankhuwasabha, Terhathum, Morang, Taplejung, Panchthar, Ilam and Jhapa districts; 344,000; Tibeto-Burman; Limbu; Dispersed
Lohorrung                   Sankhuwasabha district; 3,720; Tibeto-Burman; Rai; Threatened
Loke                            Mustang and Dolpa districts; 3,030; Tibeto-Burman; Bahragaunle, Lhopa; Vigorous
Lumba-Yakkha            Dhankuta district; 1,200; Tibeto-Burman; Threatened
Magar, Eastern            Tanahu, Gorkha, Palpa, Nawalparasi, Dhading, Sindhuli, and Okhaldhunga districts, Mechi and Koshi zone; 462,000; Tibeto-Burman; Magar; Threatened
Magar, Western          Palpa, Syangja, Tanahun, Parbat, Surkhet, Jajarkot and Dailekh districts, Bheri zone; 308,000; Tibeto-Burman; Magar; Threatened
Maithili                       Rautahat, Sarlahi, Mahottari, Dhanusa, Siraha, Saptari, Sunsari and Morang districts; 3,890,000; Indo-European; Dispersed
Majhi                          Ramechhap district; 24,400; Indo-European; Majhi; Threatened
Manangba                   Manag district; 390; Tibeto-Burman; Gurung-Tamang; Threatened
Marwari                      Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Parsa, Kathmandu, and other urban areas; 22,600; Indo-European; Marwari; Developing
Meche                         Jhapa district; 4,380; Tibeto-Burman; Meche (Bodo); Threatened
Mewahang, Eastern    Sankhuwasabha, and Sunsari districts; 4,650; Tibeto-Burman; Rai; Threatened
Mewahang, Western   Sankhuwasabha district; 4,650; Tibeto-Burman; Rai; Threatened
Mugali                         Dhankuta district; 1,500; Tibeto-Burman; Rai; Shifting
Mugom                       Mugu, Jumla and Kathmandu districts; 6,500; Tibeto-Burman; Mugali; Vigorous
Mundari                      Jhapa and Morang districts; 7,780; Austro-Asiatic; Jhangad; Developing
Musasa                       Sindhuli, Dolakha, Mahottari, Dhanusa, Morang, Sunsari, Siraha and Saptari districts; 50,000; Indo-European; Musahar; Threatened
Naaba                          Sankhuwasabha district; 770; Tibeto-Burman; Nawa Sherpa; Vigorous
Nachering                    Khotang district; 10,000; Tibeto-Burman; Rai; Shifting
Nar Phu                       Manang district; 600; Tibeto-Burman; Gurung-Tamang; Vigorous
Nepalese Sign Language          Scattered; 20,000; Sign language; Developing
Nepali                         East and adjacent south-central regions; 12,300,000; Indo-European; Statutory Official language
Newar                         Kathmandu valley, other urban areas; 847,000; Tibeto-Burman; Newar; Educational
Nubri                           Gorkha district; 2,000; Tibeto-Burman; Larke; Vigorous
Palpa                           Extinct
Phangduwali                Dhankuta district; 290; Tibeto-Burman; Rai; Shifting
Puma                           Khotang and Udayapur districts; 6,690; Tibeto-Burman; Rai; Threatened
Rajbanshi                    Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari districts; 143,000; Indo-European; Rajbanshi; Developing
Raji                              Surkhet, Banke, Bardiya, Kailai, and Kanchanpur districts; 3,760; Tibeto-Burman; Rajhi; Threatened
Raute                           Dadeldhura and Surkhet districts; 460; Tibeto-Burman; Raute; Vigorous
Saam                            Bhojpur and Ilam districts; 530; Tibeto-Burman; Rai; Nearly extinct
Sampang                      Khotang and Bhojpur districts; 18,300; Tibeto-Burman; Rai; Threatened
Sanskrit                       Widely dispersed; 1,670; Indo-European; Dormant
Santhali                       Morang, Sunsari and Jhapa districts; 49,900; Austro-Asiatic; Satar (Santhal); Dispersed
Seke                             Mustang district, Jomson, and Pokhara; 700; Tibeto-Burman; Tangbe; Vigorous
Sherpa                         Solukhumbu, Dolakham Ramechhap, and Sindhupalchok districts; 145,000; Tibeto-Burman; Sherpa; Developing
Sonha                          Kailali, Surkhet, Bardia and Kanchanpur districts; 580; Indo-European; Sonha; Shifting
Sunwar                        Ramechaap, Dolakha and Okhaldhunga districts; 38,200; Tibeto-Burman; Sunuwar; Threatened
Tamang, Eastern         Kathmandu, Sindhuli, Ramechhap, Dolakha, Kavrepalanchok, Sindhupalchok, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Nuwakot, Makawanpur, Chitwan, Okhaldhunga, Khotang, Udayapur, Dhading, Bara, Parsa and Rautahat districts; 1,180,000; Tibeto-Burman; Tamang; Educational
Tamang, Eastern Gorkha        Gorkha district; 3,980; Tibeto-Burman; Tamang; Vigorous
Tamang, Northwestern           Nuwakot district; 55,000; Tibeto-Burman; Tamang; Vigorous
Tamang, Western        Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Dhading, Sindhupalchok, Makawanpur and Kathmandu districts; 323,000; Tibeto-Burman; Tamang; Vigorous
Thakali                        Mustang district; 5,240; Tibeto-Burman; Thakali, Chhairotan, Marphali Thakali, Tieengaule Thakali; Shifting
Thangmi                      Dolakha, Ramechhap, Sindhupalchok and Kathmandu districts; 23,200; Tibeto-Burman; Threatened
Tharu, Chitwania        Chitwan, Bara, Parsa, Rautahat, Makawanpur, Nawalparasi and Tanahu distrits; 285,000; Indo-European; Tharu; Developing
Tharu, Dangaura         Dang, Bardiya, Banke, Surkhet, Kailali, Kanchanpur, Rupandehi and Kapilvastu districts; 28,500; Indo-European; Tharu; Developing
Tharu, Kathariya        Kailali district; 106,000; Indo-European; Tharu; Vigorous
Tharu, Kochila            Morang, Sunsari, Saptari, Udayapur, Jhapa, Bara, Parsa and Rautahat districts; 258,000; Indo-European; Tharu; Vigorous
Tharu, Rana                Kanchanpur and Kailali districts; 336,000; Indo-European; Tharu; Developing
Thudam                       Sankhuwasabha district; 1,800; Tibeto-Burman; Thudam; Vigorous
Thulung                       Solukhumbu, Khotang, Bhojpur and Sankhuwasabha districts; 20,700; Tibeto-Burman; Rai; Developing
Tibetan                        Kathmandu, Pokhara and Solukhumbu districts; 4,450; Tibeto-Burman; Bodish group; Educational
Tichurong                    Dolpa district; 2,420; Tibeto-Burman; Bodish; Vigorous
Tilung                          Khotang district; 1,420; Tibeto-Burman; Vigorous
Tsum                           Gorkha district; 4,790; Tibeto-Burman; Siyar; Vigorous
Urdu                            Lowland districts of Mechi, Koshi, Sagarmatha, Janakpur, Narayani and Bheri zones; 692,000; Indo-European; Muslim; Dispersed
Waling                         Extinct
Walungge                     Taplejung district; 1,500; Tibeto-Burman; Walung, Topkegola; Threatened
Wambule                     Okhaldhunga, Udayapur, Khotang and Sindhuli districts; 13,500; Tibeto-Burman; Rai; Developing
Wayu                          Ramechhap district; 1,520; Tibeto-Burman; Hayu; Shifting
Yakkha                        Sankhuwasabha and Dhankuta districts; 19,600; Tibeto-Burman; Yakkha; Threatened
Yamphu                      Sankhuwasabha and Bhojpur districts; 9,210; Tibeto-Burman; Rai; Threatened
Yamphu, Southern      Dhankuta, and Sankhuwasabha districts; 2,500; Tibeto-Burman; Rai; Threatened

Since the lack of literate tradition, many languages are losing their identity and such languages are on the verge of extinction.
Nepal, being a multilingual country is home to more than a hundred languages but with increasing generalizations of spoken languages, minor languages are vanishing.
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