Table 9.3 Population breakdown of Nepal (2001 census) (total: 23.15 million) with figures for hill minority language loss

Parbatiyas (“hill people”)		Hill minorities (Janajatis)		Language loss among minorities		Madhesis (“plains people”)		Others
Bahun	13%	Magar	7.2%	52.1%	(67.9)	Tharu	6.7%	Muslims	4.2%
Chhetri (incl. Thakuri)	18%	Newar	5.5%	34.5%	(33.7)	Yadav	4%
Dalit	9%	Tamang	5.6%	7.1%	(11.2)	(+ many small castes incl. Dalits and Janajatis)
		Rai	3%	23.2%	(16.4)
		Gurung	2.4%	47.5%	(49.5)
		Limbu	1.6%	6.2%	(14.5)
Total	40%		25%				30%		5%

Notes: Dalit = former untouchables; Janajatis (underlined) are mainly those who were formerly called hill tribes (many Tharus, as noted, reject the label “Madhesi”): 59 groups were officially designated as Janajatis in February 2002, not all of which had been included in the 2001 census. Estimated figures for language loss are courtesy of John Whelpton, with the 1991 figures given in parentheses (see Whelpton 1997: 59). All figures are likely to be disputed. Those for language loss require particular care. The apparent increase in minorities speaking “their” language since 1991 may be ascribed to the increased politicization of the issue and the fact that many Magar activists, for example, campaigned for people to return their language as “Magar” regardless of what they spoke at home.