Development regions of Nepal

Development Regions of Nepal
CategoryFederated state
LocationFederal Democratic Republic of Nepal
Number5 (as of 2037 B.S.)
Government
  • Region government
Subdivisions

Prior to the promulgation of a new constitution in 2015 after an earthquake, Nepal was divided into five development regions (Nepali: विकास क्षेत्र), 14 administrative zones (Nepali: अञ्चल) and 75 districts (Nepali: जिल्ला). The 14 administrative zones were grouped into five development regions. Each district is headed by a Chief District Officer (CDO) responsible for maintaining law and order and coordinating the work of field agencies of the various government ministries.

The five development regions of Nepal were (from east to west):

Development Regions of Nepal
No. English name Nepali name Zones Districts (No.) Headquarters Population Area (km2)
1 Eastern Development Region पुर्वाञ्चल विकास क्षेत्र Mechi
Koshi
Sagarmatha
16 Dhankuta 5,811,555 28,456
2 Central Development Region मध्यमाञ्चल विकास क्षेत्र Janakpur
Bagmati
Narayani
19 Kathmandu 9,656,985 27,410
3 Western Development Region पश्चिमाञ्चल विकास क्षेत्र Gandaki
Lumbini
Dhaulagiri
16 Pokhara 4,926,765 29,398
4 Mid-Western Development Region मध्य पश्चिमाञ्चल विकास क्षेत्र Rapti
Bheri
Karnali
15 Birendranagar 3,546,682 42,378
5 Far-Western Development Region सुदुर पश्चिमाञ्चल विकास क्षेत्र Seti
Mahakali
9 Dipayal 2,552,517 19,539

King Birendra divided the entire Kingdom in 4 different regions in 2029 BS (1972). These regions were as below::

  1. Eastern Development Region,
  2. Central Development Region,
  3. Western Development Region,
  4. Far-Western Development region.

The three regions were:

  • Himalyan region consisting of 21 districts.
  • Hilly region consisting of 35 districts.
  • Terai region consisting of 21 districts from east to west. (Jhapa, Siraha, Saptari, Morang, Sunsari, Dhanusa, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Bara, Parsa, Rautahat, Chitwan, Kapilvastu, Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Dang, Bake, Bardiya, Kailali, Kanchanpur)

To fill the gap between different parts of the nation by balanced or proportionate development. Eight years later in 2037(1982), he further divided the nation adding one more separate development region naming it the mid-western development region taking two zones from Far Western Development region Seti and Mahakali.[1]

  1. ^ "Administrative Div of Nepal".