Zones of Nepal

Until 2015, Nepal was divided into 14 administrative zones (anchal) and 77 districts (jillā). The 14 administrative zones were grouped into five development regions.

In 1962, Nepal reorganized into 14 administrative zones but, around 1995, zones fell into disuse, so the already existing development regions effectively became the primary subdivisions.

The administrative zones, by development regions and from east to west, were the following:


 Region Zone Name for Chief city Population(2011)    Area   (km²) Districts Eastern  Mechi  Mechi River  Ilam  1,422,182  8,196  4  Kosi  Kosi River  Biratnagar  2,335,047  9,669  6  Sagarmatha  Sagarmatha (Mount Everest)  Rajbiraj  2,054,326  10,591  6 Central  Janakpur  Its capital  Janakpurdham  2,837,481  9,669  6  Bagmati  Bagmati River  Kathmandu  3,843,596  9,428  8  Narayani  Narayani (lower Gandaki) river  Birganj  2,975,908  8,313  5 Western  Gandaki  Gandaki River  Pokhara  1,549,857  12,275  6  Lumbini  Lumbini, a pilgrimage site,birth place of Gautama Buddha  Butwal  2,834,612  8,975  6  Dhawalagiri  Dhaulagiri mountain  Baglun  542,296  8,148  4 Mid-Western Region  Rapti  West Rapti River  Tulsipur  1,456,202  10,482  5  Karnali  Karnali River  Jumla  388,713  21,351  5  Bheri  Bheri River   Nepalgunj  1,701,767  10,545  5 Far-Western Region  Seti  Seti River  Dipayal-Silgadhi  1,575,003  12,550  5  Mahakali  Mahakali River  Mahendranagar  977,514  6,989  4

Related pages
Administrative divisions of Nepal
Development Regions of Nepal
Districts of Nepal
Provinces of Nepal

References