View source for Jhapa District

{{Short description|A district in eastern Nepal}}
{{About||rural municipality|Jhapa rural municipality||Jhapa (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox settlement
| type                     = [[Districts of Nepal|District]]
| name                     = Jhapa District
| native_name              = झापा जिल्ला
| nickname                 = 
| native_name_lang         = <!-- ISO 639-2 code e.g. "fr" for French. If more than one, use {{lang}} instead -->
| motto                    = 
| image_skyline            = Beautifulnepal.jpg
| imagesize                = 
| image_alt                = 
| image_caption            = View of both hills and Terai in Jhapa district
| image_map                = Jhapa district locator.png
| mapsize                  = 
| map_alt                  = 
| map_caption              = 
| image_map1               = 
| mapsize1                 = 
| map_alt1                 = 
| map_caption1             = Administrative divisions of Jhapa
| coordinates              = 
| coordinates_footnotes    = 
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = {{NPL}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[Provinces of Nepal|Province]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Koshi Province]]
| established_title        = Established
| established_date         = 
| seat_type                = Admin HQ.
| seat                     = [[Bhadrapur, Mechi|Bhadrapur]]
| leader_title             = Head
| leader_name              = Mr. Bishwanath Baral 
| leader_party             = 
| leader_title1            = Deputy-Head
| leader_name1             = Mrs. Shanta Rokka 
| leader_title4            = Chief District Officer
| leader_name4             = Chhabilal Rijal <ref>{{cite web |title=Staff Profile of DAO |url=https://daojhapa.moha.gov.np/members |publisher=The Government of Nepal |access-date=23 November 2022}}</ref>
| leader_title2            = [[House of Representatives (Nepal)|Parliamentary constituencies]]
| leader_name2             = 5
| leader_title3            = [[Provincial Assembly (Nepal)|Provincial constituencies]]
| leader_name3             = 10
| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = [[District Coordination Committee|Coordination committee]]
| governing_body           = [[District Coordination Committee|DCC]], Jhapa
| area_footnotes           = 
| area_total_km2           = 1606
| area_note                = 
| area_rank                = 
| elevation_footnotes      = (maximum)
| elevation_m              = 506
| elevation_min_m          = 
| elevation_max_m          = 
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_total         = 994,090
| population_as_of         = 2021
| population_density_km2   = auto
| population_note          = 
| population_rank          = 4th ([[Nepal]])
| population_blank1_title  = Households
| population_blank1        = 219,989
| demographics_type1       = [[Demographics]]
| demographics1_title1     = Ethnic groups
| demographics1_info1      = [[Bahun]], [[Chhetri]], [[Rajbongshi people|Rajbanshi]], [[Gangai or Ganesh]] [[Limbu people|Limbu]], [[Rai people|Rai]]
| demographics1_title2     = Female [[♀]]
| demographics1_info2      = 51.97%
| demographics1_title3     = Male [[♂]]/100 female
| demographics1_info3      = 92,43
| demographics1_footnotes  = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.npc.gov.np/human_development_indicators_by_district |title=Nepal Human Development Report 2014 |publisher=Npc.gov.np |date= |accessdate=2022-04-11}}</ref>
| demographics_type2       = [[Human Development Index]]
| demographics2_title1     = Per Capita Income
| demographics2_info1      = 1,226 USD
| demographics2_title2     = Poverty rate
| demographics2_info2      = 21.82
| demographics2_title3     = Literacy
| demographics2_info3      = 75%
| demographics2_title4     = Life Expectancy
| demographics2_info4      = 67.29
| blank_name_sec1          = [[Languages of Nepal|Main Language(s)]]
| blank_info_sec1          = [[Nepali language|Nepali]], [[Rajbanshi language (Nepal)|Rajbanshi]], [[Surjapuri language]] [[Limbu language|Limbu]], [[Maithili language|Maithili]]
| blank_name_sec2          = [[Roads in Nepal|Major highways]]
| blank_info_sec2          = [[Mahendra Highway]], [[Postal Highway]]
| timezone1                = [[Nepal Time|NPT]]
| utc_offset1              = +05:45
| postal_code_type         = Postal Codes
| postal_code              = 
| area_code_type           = Telephone Code
| area_code                = 023
| website                  = {{URL|daojhapa.moha.gov.np}}
| footnotes                = 
}}

'''Jhapa District''' ({{langx|ne|झापा जिल्ला}}; {{Audio|Jhapa.ogg|Listen}}) is a [[List of districts of Nepal|district]] of [[Koshi Province]] in eastern [[Nepal]] named after a [[Rajbanshi language (Nepal)|Rajbanshi]] [[Surjapuri language]] word "Jhapa", meaning "to cover" (verb). The [[Demographics of Nepal|2021 Nepal Census]], puts the total population of the district at 994,090.<ref>{{cite web |title=Preliminary Report of National Population Census 2021 |url=https://censusnepal.cbs.gov.np/Home/Details?tpid=1&dcid=0f011f13-7ef6-42dd-9f03-c7d309d4fca3 |website=National Census 2021 |publisher=National Statistical Office |access-date=6 December 2022}}</ref> The total area of the district is 1,606 square kilometres.

The lowlands of [[Limbuwan]] (present-day terai lands of [[Sunsari District|Sunsari]], [[Morang District|Morang]] and Jhapa) was collectively known as Morang since the time of King Mawrong of 7th century. In the beginning of 1400 AD, Morang Kingdom patriated from Kingdom of Ilam and Kingdom of Mikluk Bodhey (Choubise) and started ruling on its own.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chemjong |first=Iman Singh |title=History and Culture of Kirat People}}</ref>

==Location==
Jhapa is the easternmost district of Nepal and lies in the fertile [[Terai]] plains. It is part of the [[Terai#Outer Terai|Outer Terai]]. Jhapa borders with [[Ilam district|Ilam]] in the north, [[Morang district|Morang]] in the west, the Indian state of [[Bihar]] in the south and the Indian state of [[West Bengal]] to the southeast and east. Geographically, it covers an area of {{convert|1606|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}} and lies on 87°39’ east to 88°12’ east longitude and 26°20’ north to 26°50’ north latitude.<ref name="dccjhapa1">{{Citation
| title = District Transport Masterplan-Jhapa
| url = http://dccjhapa.gov.np/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/DTMP-jhapa.pdf
| access-date = May 5, 2020
| archive-date = April 5, 2023
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230405183640/http://dccjhapa.gov.np/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/DTMP-jhapa.pdf
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>

==Climate and geography==
Jhapa receives 250 to 300&nbsp;cm of rainfall a year, and mostly during the monsoon season in the summer, and its hilly northern area receives more rainfall than the south.<ref>{{Citation
| title = Climate in Jhapa
| url = https://www.traveltill.com/destination/Nepal/Jhapa/climate.php
| access-date = May 5, 2020}}
</ref> The maximum temperature recorded is 42.5&nbsp;°C in summer and 1&nbsp;°C in winter.<ref>BhandariG., GurungS., DhimalM., and BhusalC. L., “[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/234029447_Climate_Change_and_Occurrence_of_Diarrheal_Diseases_Evolving_Facts_from_Nepal Climate Change and Occurrence of Diarrheal Diseases: Evolving Facts from Nepa]l”, ''J Nepal Health Res Counc'', Jan. 2013.</ref> The lowest elevation point is 58 meters which is the lowest land in Nepal and the highest elevation point is 500 meters from mean sea level.<ref name="dccjhapa1"/>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! [[Climate of Nepal|Climate Zone]]<ref>
{{Citation
| title = The Map of Potential Vegetation of Nepal - a forestry/agroecological/biodiversity classification system
| series =  Forest & Landscape Development and Environment Series 2-2005 and CFC-TIS Document Series No.110.
| year = 2005
| url = http://curis.ku.dk/ws/files/20497354/de2_001.pdf
| isbn = 87-7903-210-9
| access-date = Nov 22, 2013}}
</ref>
! Elevation Range
! % of Area
|-
| Lower [[Tropical climate|Tropical]]
| below 300 meters (1,000&nbsp;ft)
| 98.8%
|-
| Upper Tropical
| 300 to 1,000 meters<br />1,000 to 3,300&nbsp;ft.
| &nbsp;1.2%
|}

== Administrative divisions ==
Jhapa consists of 15 administrative divisions including eight [[municipalities]] and seven [[Rural municipality|rural municipalities]]. Each division has wards according to the demographic and geographic size. These are:

=== Municipalities ===

* [[Mechinagar|Mechinagar Municipality]]
* [[Bhadrapur, Jhapa|Bhadrapur Municipality]]
* [[Birtamod|Birtamod Municipality]]
* [[Arjundhara Municipality]]
* [[Kankai Municipality]]
* [[Shivasatakshi Municipality]]
* [[Gauradaha|Gauradaha Municipality]]
* [[Damak|Damak Municipality]]

=== Rural municipalities ===

* [[Buddhashanti|Buddhashanti Rural Municipality]]
* [[Haldibari, Nepal|Haldibari Rural Municipality]]
* [[Kachankawal|Kachankawal Rural Municipality]]
* [[Barhadashi|Barhadashi Rural Municipality]]
* [[Jhapa Rural Municipality]]
* [[Gauriganj, Nepal|Gauriganj Rural Municipality]]
* [[Kamal, Jhapa|Kamal Rural Municipality]]

=== Villages ===
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a location to this list if they already have their own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦---> 
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order ♦♦♦--->
*[[Hattikilla]]

== Demographics ==
At the time of the [[2011 Nepal census]], Jhapa District had a population of 812,650.

As first language, 55.7% spoke [[Nepali language|Nepali]], 31.3% [[Rajbanshi language (Nepal)|Rajbanshi]], 5.6% [[Limbu language|Limbu]], 5.5% [[Maithili language|Maithili]], 3.6% [[Santali language|Santali]], 2.5% [[Kiranti languages|Rai]], 2.4% [[Urdu]], 2.1% [[Tamang language|Tamang]], 1.5% [[Newar language|Newar]], 1.5% [[Rajbanshi language (Nepal)|Tajpuriya]], 1.2% [[Magar language|Magar]], 1.0% [[Dhimal language|Dhimal]], 0.8% [[Tharu language|Tharu]], 0.7% [[Bengali language|Bengali]], 0.6% [[Gurung language|Gurung]], 0.5% [[Boro language (India)|Meche]], 0.4% [[Bantawa language|Bantawa]], 0.4% [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]], 0.4% [[Hindi]], 0.4% [[Rajasthani languages|Rajasthani]], 0.2% [[Chamling language|Chamling]], 0.2% [[Danwar language|Danuwar]], 0.2% [[Sunwar language|Sunuwar]], 0.2% [[Kurukh language|Uranw/Urau]], 0.1% [[Bhujel language|Bhujel]], 0.1% [[Surjapuri language|Ganagai]], 0.1% [[Haryanvi language|Haryanvi]], 0.1% [[Nagpuri language|Kisan]], 0.1% [[Kulung language (Nepal)|Kulung]], 0.1% [[Kumhali language|Kumhali]], 0.1% [[Majhi language|Majhi]], 0.1% [[Sherpa language|Sherpa]], 0.1% [[Yakkha language|Yakkha]] and 0.4% other languages.<ref> NepalMap Language [https://nepalmap.org/data/table/?table=LANGUAGE&primary_geo_id=district-28&geo_ids=district-28,province-1,country-NP]</ref>

Ethnicity/caste: 23.8% were [[Bahun|Hill Brahmin]], 15.7% [[Chhetri]], 29.1% [[Rajbanshi people|Rajbanshi]], 8.6% [[Limbu people|Limbu]], 4.5% [[Rai people|Rai]], 3.8% Satar/[[Santal people|Santal]], 3.3% [[Newar people|Newar]], 3.2% [[Nepalese Muslims|Musalman]], 3.0% [[Kami (caste)|Kami]], 2.9% [[Tamang people|Tamang]], 2.2% [[Magars|Magar]], 1.9% [[Damai]]/Dholi, 1.5% [[Rajbanshi people|Tajpuriya]], 1.3% Sanyasi/Dasnami, 1.2% Gangai, 1.2% [[Tharu people|Tharu]], 1.1% [[Dhimal]], 0.9% Gharti/[[Bhujel]], 0.9% [[Gurung people|Gurung]], 0.9% Majhi, 0.7% [[Teli]], 0.6% [[Sarki (ethnic group)|Sarki]], 0.6% [[Yadav]], 0.5% [[Bengalis|Bengali]], 0.5% [[Marwari people|Marwadi]], 0.5% [[Mech people|Meche]], 0.5% other Terai, 0.4% Terai [[Brahmin]], 0.4% [[Hajjam|Hajam]]/Thakur, 0.4% [[Musahar]], 0.3% Danuwar, 0.3% [[Dhanuk]], 0.3% [[Halwai]], 0.3% [[Kumal people|Kumal]], 0.3% [[Sunuwar people|Sunuwar]], 0.2% Jhangad/Dhagar, 0.2% Kathabaniyan, 0.2% [[Kurmi]], 0.2% [[Mallaah|Mallaha]], 0.2% [[Sherpa people|Sherpa]], 0.1% Baraee, 0.1% [[Chamar]]/Harijan/Ram, 0.1% Chamling, 0.1% other [[Dalit]], 0.1% [[Dom (caste)|Dom]], 0.1% Dusadh/[[Paswan]]/Pasi, 0.1% other [[Adivasi|Janajati]], 0.1% [[Kalwar (caste)|Kalwar]], 0.1% [[Kayastha]], 0.1% Kewat, 0.1% Khawas, 0.1% [[Kisan people|Kisan]], 0.1% [[Koch people|Koche]], 0.1% [[Koeri|Koiri]]/[[Kushwaha]], 0.1% [[Kulung people|Kulung]], 0.1% [[Munda people|Munda]], 0.1% Nuniya, 0.1% [[Punjabis|Punjabi]]/Sikh, 0.1% [[Rajput]], 0.1% [[Sunar|Sonar]], 0.1% Sudhi, 0.1% Tatma/Tatwa, 0.1% [[Thakuri]], 0.1% [[Yakkha people|Yakkha]] and 0.5% others.<ref> NepalMap Caste [https://nepalmap.org/data/table/?table=CASTE&primary_geo_id=district-28&geo_ids=district-28,province-1,country-NP]</ref>

{{bar box
| title    = Religion in Jhapa District
| titlebar = #Fcd116
| left1    = Religion
| right1   = Percent
| float    = right
| bars     = 
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism]]|Orange|79.9}}
{{bar percent|[[Kiratism]]|Pink|8.3}}
{{bar percent|[[Buddhism]]|Yellow|4.8}}
{{bar percent|[[Islam]]|Green|3.2}}
{{bar percent|[[Christianity]]|Blue|1.9}}
{{bar percent|[[Prakriti]]|Blue|1.4}}
{{bar percent|Others|Black|0.3}}
}}

Religion: 79.9% were [[Hinduism in Nepal|Hindu]], 8.3% [[Kirat Mundhum|Kirati]], 4.8% [[Buddhism in Nepal|Buddhist]], 3.2% [[Islam in Nepal|Muslim]], 1.9% [[Christianity in Nepal|Christian]], 1.4% [[Animism|Prakriti]] and 0.3% others.<ref> NepalMap Religion [https://nepalmap.org/data/table/?table=RELIGION&primary_geo_id=district-28&geo_ids=district-28,province-1,country-NP]</ref>

Literacy: 75.0% could read and write, 1.8% could only read and 23.2% could neither read nor write.<ref> NepalMap Literacy [https://nepalmap.org/data/table/?table=LITERACY_SEX&primary_geo_id=district-28&geo_ids=district-28,province-1,country-NP]</ref>

Jhapa District has average population density of around 619 per square kilometer. The district population growth rate is 1.93%. However, the growth is balanced and in-migration is rapidly increasing day to day into the district. At the time of the [[2021 Nepal census]], Jhapa District had a population of 994,090 making it the 4th largest district in Nepal after [[Kathmandu]], [[Morang District|Morang]] and [[Rupandehi District|Rupandehi]].

Being at the cross-roads of the eastern hills and the eastern Terai, Jhapa has huge ethnic diversity with 110 castes/ethnic groups represented. The largest communities are [[Bahun]] and [[Chhetri]] . Other communities include the Janajati [[Limbu people|Limbu]] and other [[Kirati people]]s, Dalit communities like Kami and Damai, as well as [[Tamang people|Tamang]], [[Newar people|Newar]] and [[Magars|Magar]] and Adivasi communities like the [[Rajbongshi people|Rajbanshi/Tajpuriya]], [[Surjapuri language|Gangai or Ganesh]], [[Santal people|Santal]], [[Tharu languages|Tharu]] and [[Dhimal]] in the Terai. 
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Languages spoken at home<ref>{{cite web|title=National Data Portal-Nepal|url=http://nationaldata.gov.np/|access-date=2020-06-29|website=nationaldata.gov.np}}</ref>
!Rank
!Language
!Speakers
!Percentage
|-
|1
|[[Nepali language|Nepali]] (lingua franca)
|453,536
|55.82%
|-
|2
|[[Rajbanshi language (Nepal)|Rajbanshi/Tajpuria]]
|267,329
|45.72%
|-
|3
|[[Limbu language|Limbu]]
|45,484
|5.60%
|-
|4
|[[Maithili language|Maithili]]
|45,038
|5.54%
|-
|5
|[[Santali language|Santali]]
|29,464
|3.63%
|-
|6
|[[Kiranti languages|Rai]]
|20,665
|2.54%
|-
|7
|[[Urdu]]
|19,796
|2.44%
|-
|8
|[[Tamang (language)|Tamang]]
|17,218
|2.12%
|-
|9
|[[Newar language|Newari]]
|11,992
|1.48%
|-
|10
|[[Magar language|Magar]]
|10,203
|1.26%
|-
|11
|[[Dhimal language|Dhimal]]
|8,123
|1.0%
|-
|12
|[[Tharu languages|Tharu]]
|6,545
|0.8%
|}

== International Borders ==
Jhapa borders the Indian state of [[Bihar]] to the south and the Indian state of [[West Bengal]] to the east. Jhapa is an eastern entry point of Nepal from India. [[Mechinagar Municipality|Kakarbhitta-Mechinagar]] border lies in Jhapa and is an important trade point for Nepal.

==Education==
Among 77 districts, Jhapa has a literacy rate of 75.2%, higher than the national average.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbs.gov.np/national_report_2001.php |title=Census 2001 |access-date=2008-08-24 |work=Census |publisher=central bureau of statistics, Nepal |year=2001 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924185510/http://www.cbs.gov.np/national_report_2001.php |archive-date=2008-09-24 }}</ref> There are enough primary schools, secondary schools, high schools and colleges available both from private sector and the government.

== Notable people ==
Jhapa district is home to notable personalities including one former prime minister and two former deputy prime ministers.
* [[KP Sharma Oli]], former prime minister of Nepal and chairman of [[Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist)|CPN (UML)]]
* [[Bishwa Prakash Sharma]], general secretary of [[Nepali Congress]] 
* [[Rajendra Prasad Lingden]], chairman of [[Rastriya Prajatantra Party]]
* [[Krishna Prasad Sitaula]], former Home minister and senior leader of [[Nepali Congress]] 
* [[Radha Krishna Mainali]], senior Communist leader
*[[C.P. Mainali|CP Mainali]], chairman of [[Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist–Leninist) (2002)|CPN (ML)]] and former [[Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal|Deputy prime minister of Nepal]]
* [[Ananta Tamang]], National Football Player, All Nepal Football Association


==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* {{statoids|id=ynp|title=Districts of Nepal}}

{{Geographic location
|Centre =Jhapa
|North = [[Ilam District|Ilam]]
|Northeast = 
|East = {{flagicon|India}} [[West Bengal]]
|Southeast = 
|South = {{flagicon|India}} [[Bihar]]
|Southwest = 
|West = [[Morang District|Morang]]
|Northwest =
}}
{{Jhapa District}}
{{Districts of Nepal}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|27.917373|N|84.193726|E|region:NP-GA_type:adm2nd_source:dewiki|display=title}}

[[Category:Jhapa District| ]]
[[Category:Districts of Koshi Province]]
[[Category:Districts of Nepal established in 1962]]