Sunsari District

Sunsari District is one of 14 districts in Koshi province of eastern Nepal. The district is located in the eastern part of the Outer Terai and covers an area of 1,257 km² (485 sq mi). According to the 2011 Nepal census, the population was 753,328.^[1] The district headquarters is located in Inaruwa.

Sunsari District Nepali: सुनसरी जिल्ला
District
Night view of Dharan, Itahari and Tarahara, Barahakshetra Temple, Dharan Clock Tower
Location of Sunsari District in Province
Country	Nepal
Province	Koshi Pradesh
Established	1962
Admin HQ	Inaruwa
Government
• Type	District Coordination Committee
• Body	Sunsari DDC
• CDO	Ramchandra Tiwari
• Head	Rajan Mehta (NC)
• Deputy Head	Kamala Dahal
• District court	Sunsari District court
• Constituencies	Parliamentary constituencies 4 Provincial constituencies 8
Area
• Total	1,257 km2 (485 sq mi)
Population  (2022)
• Total	934,461
• Rank	5
• Density	740/km2 (1,900/sq mi)
Demographics
• Ethnic groups	Bahun, Chhetri, Madheshi, Limbu, Tamang
• HDI	0.5466(medium)
• Male ♂/Female♀	100/94
Education
• Literacy rate	78.1%
Time zone	UTC+05:45 (NST)
Telephone Code	025
Official language	Nepali
Other (s) Languages	Maithili, Limbu, Tharu
Website	DDC, Sunsari DAO, Sunsari

The area was originally part of Morang District but became its own district in 1962 when Nepal was divided into 14 zones and 75 districts. Major cities in Sunsari district are Inaruwa, Itahari, Jhumka, Dharan, and Duhabi. Some religious places of this district are Budha Subba Temple, Ramdhuni, Chataradham, Baraha, Bishnupaduka, Dantakali, and Pindeshor Babadham.

The lowlands of Limbuwan, present day Sunsari, Morang and Jhapa Districts was collectively known as Morang District since the time of King Mung Mawrong Hang of the 7th century.^[2]

Administration

The district consists of two Sub-metropolitan Cities, four urban municipalities and six rural municipalities.^[3] These are as follows:^[4]

Sub-metropolitan cities

• Itahari
• Dharan

Municipalities

• Inaruwa
• Duhabi
• Ramdhuni-Bhasi
• Barahachhetra Municipality

Rural municipalities

• Koshi
• Gadhi
• Barju
• Bhokraha Narsingh
• Harinagar
• Dewanganj

Geography and climate

Map

Climate Zone[5]	Elevation Range	% of Area
Lower Tropical	below 300 m (980 ft)	86.6%
Upper Tropical	300–1,000 m (980–3,280 ft)	7.8%
Subtropical	1,000–2,000 m (3,300–6,600 ft)	2.0%

Demographics

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1981	344,594	—
1991	463,481	+3.01%
2001	625,633	+3.05%
2011	763,487	+2.01%
2021	934,461	+2.04%
Sources:[6]

2021

According to the 2021 Nepal census, 926962 people reside in Sunsari in 212545 households with average family size of 4.36. Out of total population, 48.4% male and 51.6% Female.
Literacy
Literacy rate of Sunsari is 78.1. Male has 84.6% and Female has 72.1%. Different level of Study is shown:

Education in Sunsari

1. Early Childhood (4.6%)
2. Primary Education (28%)
3. lower Secondary (18.8%)
4. SLC/SEE (12.2%)
5. Higher Secondary (16.8%)
6. Intermediate (12.6%)
7. Graduate (3.7%)
8. Post-graduate and above (1.5%)

In 10+2 or equivalent, 39.3% study management, 26.3% Education, 11.6% Humanities and 8.1 Science.

2011

At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, Sunsari District had a population of 763,487.

The most spoken language is Nepali: 28.8% spoke Nepali, followed by 28.5% Maithili.^[7]

Language in Sunsari (2011)[8]
Religion			Percent
Nepali			28.8%
Maithili			28.5%
Tharu			11.7%
Urdu			9.6%
Urau			2.9%
Limbu			2.7%
Rai			2.2%
Newar			2.1%
Tamang			1.8%

Ethnicity/caste: 12.1% were Tharu, 11.5% Musalman, 9.2% Chhetri, 7.9% Hill Brahmin, 6.6% Rai, 4.3% Yadav, 4.0% Kushwaha/Koiri, 3.8% Newar, 3.4% Musahar, 3.2% Limbu, 3.1% Jhangad/Dhagar, 2.3% Tamang, 2.3% Teli, 2.2% Kami, 2.0% Magar, 1.6% Dhanuk, 1.5% Bantar/Sardar, 1.2% Chamar/Harijan/Ram, 1.1% Halwai, 1.0% Damai/Dholi, 1.0% Gurung, 0.8% Kathabaniyan, 0.8% Khatwe, 0.6% Gharti/Bhujel, 0.6% Majhi, 0.6% Mallaha, 0.6% Marwadi, 0.6% other Terai, 0.5% Terai Brahmin, 0.5% Dhimal, 0.5% Hajam/Thakur, 0.5% Sanyasi/Dasnami, 0.4% Dusadh/Paswan/Pasi, 0.4% Kulung, 0.4% Sarki, 0.3% Bantawa, 0.3% Bengali, 0.3% Gaderi/Bhedihar, 0.3% Kalwar, 0.3% Kewat, 0.3% Khawas, 0.3% Sarbaria, 0.3% Tatma/Tatwa, 0.2% Badhaee, 0.2% Chamling, 0.2% Dom, 0.2% Kayastha, 0.2% Kumal, 0.2% Kumhar, 0.2% Rajbanshi, 0.2% Rajput, 0.2% Sherpa, 0.2% Sudhi, 0.2% Sunuwar, 0.1% Amat, 0.1% Badi, 0.1% Baraee, 0.1% Bhote, 0.1% Danuwar, 0.1% Dhobi, 0.1% Kurmi, 0.1% Lohar, 0.1% Munda, 0.1% Nuniya, 0.1% Pattharkatta/Kushwadiya, 0.1% Punjabi/Sikh, 0.1% Rajbhar, 0.1% Rajdhov, 0.1% Sonar, 0.1% Thakuri, 0.1% Thulung, 0.1% Yakkha and 0.3% others.^[9]

Religion in Sunsari (2011)[10]
Religion			Percent
Hinduism			73.3%
Islam			11.5%
Kiratism			6.9%
Buddhism			4.4%
Prakriti			1.9%
Christianity			1.5%
Others			0.5%

Religion: 73.3% were Hindu, 11.5% Muslim, 6.9% Kirati, 4.4% Buddhist, 1.9% Prakriti, 1.5% Christian, 0.1% Jain and 0.4% others.^[11]

Literacy: 68.0% could read and write, 2.0% could only read and 29.9% could neither read nor write.^[12]

Former VDCs

Map of the VDCs in Sunsari District

• Amaduwa
• Amahibelha
• Aurabani
• Bakalauri
• Barahachhetra
• Basantapur
• Bhadgaun Sinawari (now Ramdhuni-Bhasi Municipality)
• Bhaluwa (now Duhabi-Bhaluwa Municipality)
• Bharaul VDC
• Bhokraha
• Bishnupaduka (now Dharan Municipality)
• Chadwela
• Chhitaha
• Chimdi
• Dewanganj
• Dharan Municipality
• Duhabi-Bhaluwa Municipality
• Dumaraha
• Gautampur
• Ghuski
• Harinagar
• Haripur
• Inaruwa Municipality
• Itahari Municipality
• Jalpapur
• Kaptanganj
• Laukahi
• Madheli
• Madhesa
• Madhuwan
• Madhyeharsahi
• Mahendranagar
• Narshinhatappu
• Panchakanya (now Dharan Municipality)
• Paschim Kasuha
• Prakashpur
• Purbakushaha
• Ramdhuni-Bhasi Municipality
• Ramganj Belgachhi
• Ramganj Senuwari
• Ramnagar Bhutaha
• Sahebgunj
• Satterjhora
• Simariya
• Singiya (now Ramdhuni-Bhasi Municipality)
• Sonapur
• Sripurjabdi
• Tanamuna

See also

• Zones of Nepal
• Koshi Premier League
• 2025 Koshi Premier League