# Nepalese in the United Kingdom

According to ONS estimates in 2019 there were 76,000 Nepalese citizens and Nepalese British citizens in the United Kingdom.

## History

From the first quarter of the 19th century, Gurkhas from Nepal served in the British Army, and Gurkha soldiers' families lived in the UK. People from Nepal living in the UK belong to many different Nepalese ethnic groups or castes and may have different languages although all speak Nepali as a mother tongue.
In 1965, the first settlement of London's Nepalese community was made at 145 Whitfield Street in Camden. A commemorative plaque now stands on the site.

## Demographics

The 2001 UK Census recorded 5,943 Nepali-born people were residing in the UK. In 2008, the president of the Himalayan Yeti Nepalese Association was reporting as estimating that up to 50,000 Nepalese might be living in the UK. The 2011 UK Census recorded 48,497 people born in Nepal living in England, 1,011 in Wales, 1,268 in Scotland and 105 in Northern Ireland. Office for National Statistics estimates suggest that 62,000 Nepalese-born people were resident in the UK in 2016.
The 2021/22 UK censuses recorded 77,349 people born in Nepal living in England, 1,271 in Wales, 2,478 in Scotland and 270 in Northern Ireland. The census recorded 103,888 people of Nepali ethnicity in England and Wales and 2,842 in Scotland.
At the time of the 2011 census, the regions with the largest Nepalese-born populations were London and South East England, with 19,051 and 19,111 people respectively. In particular there are significant communities in Aldershot and Folkestone due to links with the British Army. Of the 49,508 Nepalese-born in England and Wales, 56 per cent stated that they were Hindus, 25.9 per cent Buddhists and 3.8 per cent Christians. 1.7 per cent stated that they did not have a religion and a small number specified other religions. 11.8 per cent did not provide an answer to the religion question. 52.9 per cent of the Nepalese-born population of England and Wales had arrived during the period 2007 to 2011, 34.6 per cent between 2001 and 2006, 11.4 per cent between 1981 and 2000, and 1.1 per cent prior to 1981.
Religion of Nepalese Born - England and Wales :
| Religion | Census 2021 | Census 2021 |
| Religion | Number | % |
| Hinduism | 40,553 | 51.6% |
| Buddhism | 20,513 | 26.1% |
| Other Religions | 6,226 | 7.9% |
| No Religion | 3,966 | 5.0% |
| Christianity | 3,532 | 4.5% |
| Islam | 179 | 0.2% |
| Judaism | 17 | 0.0% |
| Sikhism | 16 | 0.0% |
| Not Stated | 3,617 | 4.6% |
| Total | 78,619 | 100% |
The London borough with the highest Nepalese born residents was Greenwich with 4,853 people.

## Employment

As of 1 April 2019, 3,430 Gurkhas were serving in the British Army. According to the 2001 UK census, 34.8 per cent of Nepalese-born people in London were working in hotels or restaurants, 15.7 per cent in real estate and renting, 15.3 per cent in wholesale and retail, 9.6 per cent in health and social care.

## Notable individuals

* Lachhiman Gurung
* Jassita Gurung
* Dipprasad Pun
* Tul Bahadur Pun
* Amita Suman
* Nirmal Purja
* Santosh Shah
* Yama Buddha
* Rambahadur Limbu
* Kulbir Thapa
* Miruna Magar
* Sushant Subedi