ACQUISITION OF CITIZENSHIP CERTIFICATE IN NEPAL
ESTIMATION AND PROJECTION
ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION
The final table that explains the findings of the previous study, the updated estimation and
the projection can be found below:Eligible
population who
lack citizenship
certificate
Percentage of
eligible population
who lack citizenship
certificate
Increment in the
number of people
without citizenship
certificate
Year
Eligible
population
Population with
citizenship
certificates
2011
18,376,317
14,030,271
4,346,046
23.65
-
2012
19,142,837
14,250,307
4,892,530
25.56
546,484
2013
19,803,766
15,376,737
4,427,029
22.35
(465,501)
2014
20,496,710
15,819,657
4,677,053
22.82
250,024
2015
21,223,913
16,287,544
4,936,369
23.26
259,317
2016
21,987,814
16,755,431
5,232,383
23.80
296,014
2017
22,680,937
17,223,317
5,457,619
24.06
225,236
2018
23,411,038
17,691,204
5,719,834
24.43
262,214
2019
24,181,066
18,159,091
6,021,975
24.90
302,141
2020
24,994,243
18,626,978
6,367,265
25.47
345,290
2021
25,854,088
19,094,864
6,759,224
26.14
391,959
The current number of people without citizenship certificate stands at 4.6 million, 22.82%
of the total population of Nepal. The calculation of the projection shows this figure will rise
to 6.7 million persons, or 26.14% of the total population of Nepal, in 2021. It is important to
point out that the percentage decreased significantly from 25.56% to 22.35% from 2012 to
2013 signalling a downward trend due to the special efforts of the government before the
second Constituent Assembly elections. However, due to the discontinuation of the efforts,
the percentage gradually increased in the coming years.
It is of grave concern that a significant number of Nepalese are not issued citizenship
certificates despite being eligible to acquire them. Such population is deprived from
exercising most of the rights that are provided for by the laws of Nepal. Considering
citizenship certificate is the primary identity document and is the basis for acquiring other
identity documents, the increase in the number of people without citizenship certificate
every year is likely to be harmful to the overall development of the nation.
The findings clearly point out to the fact that there is a widening gap between the number of
people who reach the age of 16 and thus become eligible to acquire citizenship certificate
and the number of citizenship certificates distributed each year. Despite the exceptional
deployment of Integrated Mobile Camps and Citizenship Certificate Distribution Camps in
2013, the number of people without citizenship remains massive.
Courtesy: DNF & Sudhar Nepal, Bhang
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