 | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 355,707 (1.22% of the total population of Nepal) 2021 National Census | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Nepal,  India,  Mauritius,  Pakistan,  Burma,  Bangladesh | |
| Languages | |
| Maithili, Nepali and Bhojpuri | |
| Religion | |
| Hinduism 100% (2021) | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Other Indo-Aryan castes and Madhesi communities[1][2] |
Kushwaha (Koiri) is a Terai-dwelling upper caste. In Nepal, the Kushwaha community constitutes about 1.22% of the population. Its number is more than 355,000. This community mainly resides in the districts of Madhesh Province, Koshi Province and Lumbini Province, and is considered an important community in Madhesi society. [3] Their main ancestral occupations are agriculture and landholding. However, they are now engaged in various professions, businesses, education, civil service, the military, and other fields; compared with other Madhesi castes, they are an influential, well-organized and powerful caste. They are considered hardworking. The Kushwaha community belongs to the Vaishya class of the Madhesi upper castes[4], but many also claim Kshatriya status. Although their ancestors were traditionally vegetarian, this has been changing in recent times. Mahato is traditionally a common surname found among this community. Surnames used among the Kushwaha/Koiri community in Nepal include Mahato, Singh, Kushwaha, Mehta, Maurya, Murav, Bhagat, Sinha, and Verma, among others. Some Kushwaha organizations in Nepal have claimed that the population of the Kushwaha (Koiri) community in Nepal is more than 1 million. If this figure is accepted, it would be approximately 3.4% of the total population of Nepal.[5][6]
References[edit source]
- ↑ "Nepali Madhesi Society (Nepalko Madheshi Samaj)". ResearchGate. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
- ↑ Dr. Dilli Ram Dahal (2002-12-30). "Chapter 3. Social composition of the Population: Caste/Ethnicity and Religion in Nepal". Government of Nepal, Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 2013-12-05.
- ↑ Government of Nepal, National Statistics Office. National Population and Housing Census 2021: Caste/Ethnicity Report. Kathmandu: NSO, 2023. https://censusnepal.cbs.gov.np/results/files/result-folder/Caste%20Ethnicity_report_NPHC_2021.pdf
- ↑ Government of Nepal; Central Bureau of Statistics; UNFPA. Population Monograph of Nepal, Volume II: Social Demography. Kathmandu: CBS/UNFPA, 2014. https://nepal.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/Population%20Monograph%20V02.pdf
- ↑ "Kushwaha community claims over 10 lakh population in Nepal". eNews Bureau. 20 January 2021.
- ↑ "National Population and Housing Census 2021" (PDF). Central Bureau of Statistics, Nepal.