Kathmandu: According to the recently released 12th National Population and Housing Census 2021, Chitwan district has emerged as one of the fastest-growing regions in the country, ranking third in terms of population growth rate. The districts of Bhaktapur and Rupandehi secured the top two spots, respectively.

The census data reveals that Chitwan district has witnessed a significant increase of 139,875 individuals since the previous census. The District Statistics Office in Chitwan announced on Thursday that the annual population growth rate for the district stood at 2.7 percent, slightly higher than the 2.6 percent recorded in the earlier census.

With this remarkable surge in population, the district's population density has also seen a substantial rise. The current density stands at 325 individuals per square kilometer, compared to 261 in the national census of 2011.

The total population of Chitwan district, as per the recent census report, now amounts to 719,859, including 368,070 females. In 2011, the population was recorded at 579,984, indicating a notable increase over the past decade.

The average family size in the district is reported to be 4.1, and the total number of households amounts to 179,345. Furthermore, the census data reveals that there is an absentee population of 65,064 in Chitwan, including 14,409 females.

The Bharatpur Metropolitan City within the district boasts the highest population, with nearly 370,000 residents. On the other hand, Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality has the lowest population, with 27,643 individuals.

The release of these key findings from the 12th National Population and Housing Census 2021 was marked by a program attended by notable officials such as Chief of the Chitwan District Coordination Committee Narayan Prasad Adhikari and Chief District Officer Surendra Prasad Poudel, among others.