Evolution of Population Policy in Nepal

Abstract

The evolution of population policy in Nepal has a history of about half century. This paper tries to discuss on the evolution of population policy discourse from the first five year plan to fifteenth five years plan. This study was based on descriptive as well as analytical in nature. Sources of information in this study are secondary in nature like published and unpublished research papers, national level report and journal’s articles. Data are presented into tabular form and they are analyzed into descriptive form. Nepal has been following anti-natalist population policy to regulate fertility, mortality and migration from its first five year plan. The population policy of Nepal mainly shifted into three phases during the year 1950-2019. First, fertility regulating policy was focused during the year 1950-1980. Second, it was shifted into mortality regulating policy during the year 1980-2007 and finally, it is shifted into migration regulating policy since 2007 to still now. Nepal’s population policy has made three major shifted during seventy year periods. There was major role of national and international conference of UN on population and major political changes of the country to give new direction of national population policy in Nepal.