Sub-metropolitan city in Nepal is a type of local-level government body of the federal structure of Nepal. Sub-metropolitan cities in Nepal are advanced forms of municipalities in our local level governments.
The local level government mainly consists of municipalities, rural municipalities, and district assembly. There are a total of 753 local levels excluding district assemblies. Among them, 460 are rural municipalities and 293 are municipalities.
Among the 293 municipal local governments of Nepal, there are 276 municipalities, 6 Metropolitan cities, and 11 sub-metropolitan cities in Nepal. Metropolitan cities and sub-metropolitan cities in Nepal are advanced forms of municipalities in Nepal. They are advanced in terms of availability of facilities and amenities.
Sub-Metropolitan Cities In Nepal
The following is the list of 11 sub-metropolitan cities in Nepal with their respective district, province, area, and population details presented in east-to-west directional order.
| SN | Name of Sub-Metropolitan Cities | District (Province) | Area (km2) | Populaltion | No. of wards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City | Sunsari (Koshi) | 192.32 | 166,531 | 20 |
| 2 | Itahari Sub-Metropolitan City | Sunsari (Koshi) | 93.78 | 197,241 | 20 |
| 3 | Janakpur Sub-Metropolitan City | Dhanusha (Madhesh) | 91.17 | 194,556 | 25 |
| 4 | Jeetpur Simara Sub-Metropolitan City | Bara (Madhesh) | 309.67 | 127,307 | 24 |
| 5 | Kalaiya Sub-Metropolitan City | Bara (Madhesh) | 108.94 | 136,222 | 27 |
| 6 | Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City | Makwanpur (Bagmati) | 261.59 | 193,576 | 19 |
| 7 | Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City | Rupandehi (Lumbini) | 101.61 | 194,335 | 19 |
| 8 | Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan City | Dang (Lumbini) | 522.21 | 200,530 | 19 |
| 9 | Tulsipur Sub-Metropolitan City | Dang (Lumbini) | 384.63 | 179,755 | 19 |
| 10 | Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan City | Banke (Lumbini) | 85.94 | 164,444 | 23 |
| 11 | Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City | Kailali (Sudur-Paschim) | 261.75 | 198,792 | 19 |
Top 5 Sub-Metropolitan Cities in Nepal by Area
The following are the top 5 sub-metropolitan cities in Nepal by the area covered by them.
- Ghorahi Sub-metropolitan City – Area 522.21 Km2
- Tulsipur sub-metropolitan city – Area 384.63 Km2
- Jeetpur Simara Sub-Metropolitan City – Area 309.67 Km2
- Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City – Area 261.75 Km2
- Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City – Area 261.59 Km2
Top 5 Sub-Metropolitan Cities in Nepal by Population
The following are the top 6 most populated sub-metropolitan cities in Nepal.
- Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan City – Population: 200,530
- Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City – Population: 198,792
- Itahari Sub-Metropolitan City – Population: 197,241
- Janakpur Sub-Metropolitan City -Population: 194,556
- Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City – Population: 194,335
Criteria For Being Declared As A Sub-Metropolitan City
The following are the minimum criteria to be fulfilled by the local levels in order to become a sub-metropolitan city in Nepal. In addition to the following criteria, they must fulfill all the criteria to be fulfilled by a municipality under the Local Government Operation Act, 2064.
| SN | Subject | Criteria for Sub-Metropolitan Cities in Nepal |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Population | The population with permanent residency must be at least 200,000 in that specific area. |
| 2 | Income/ Revenue | The average annual internal revenue or income of a local level must be at least NPR. 250,000,000 (25 crore rupees) in the last 5 years. |
| 3 | Health | Hospitals with at least 200 beds in that region including one with at least 100 beds. |
| 4 | Waste Management | Facility of waste management and processing |
| 5 | Meeting Hall | Having a meeting hall, |
| 6 | Infrastructures | Having a National level stadium, gymnasium and covered hall, |
| 7 | Basic Facilities | Availability of electricity, water, and communication services |
| 8 | Roads | Major roads within the city are paved |
| 9 | Education | Availability of higher education and techcnical education facilities |
| 10 | Public Places | A public garden and a nagar sabha hall (municipal assembly hall) |
| 11 | Facility of modern slaughterhouse and organized crematorium | Facility of modern slaughterhouse and organized crematorium |
| 12 | Disable Friendly Environment | Public places and buildings are accessible to handicapped and physically challanged people, |
| 13 | Tourism | Tourist level hotels, motels and resorts, |
| 14 | Other | All other criteria set for a municipality in addition to the above and others as specified. |
Commonly Asked Questions
The following are the commonly asked questions regarding the sub-metropolitan cities in Nepal. This information helps boost your general knowledge for the preparation for competitive examinations as well as for general understanding.
Which is the largest sub-metropolitan city in Nepal?
Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan City located in the Dang district is the largest sub-metropolitan city in Nepal with a huge area of 522.21 square kilometers. The top 6 sub-metropolitan cities in Nepal in the ascending order of area are:
| Rank | Sub-Metropolitan City | Area in km2 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ghorahi sub-metropolitan city | 522.21 |
| 2 | Jeetpur Simara Sub-Metropolitan City | 309.67 |
| 3 | Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City | 261.75 |
| 4 | Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City | 261.59 |
| 5 | Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City | 192.32 |
| 6 | Kalaiya Sub-Metropolitan City | 108.94 |
Which sub-metropolitan city has the highest number of population?
Ghorahi sub-metropolitan city has the highest population which is 200,530. Being the largest by area, it has advantages of being the most populated sub-metropolitan city in Nepal as well.
The top 6 most populated sub-metropolitan cities in Nepal are:
| Ranks | Sub-Metropolitan Cities | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ghorahi sub-metropolitan city | 200,530 |
| 2 | Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City | 198,792 |
| 3 | Itahari Sub-Metropolitan City | 197,241 |
| 4 | Janakpur Sub-Metropolitan City | 194,556 |
| 5 | Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City | 194,335 |
| 6 | Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City | 193,576 |
Which is the smallest sub-metropolitan city in Nepal?
Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan City is the smallest sub-metropolitan city in Nepal with a total area of just 85.94 square kilometers. Jeetpur-Simara is the smallest in terms of the total population which is 127,307.
Which district has the most number of sub-metropolitan cities in Nepal?
There are 3 districts with 2 sub-metropolitan cities each. They are Sunsari district with Itahari and Dharan sub-metropolitan cities. Similarly, the Bara district also has 2 sub-metropolitan cities which are Kalaiya and Jeetpur-Simara sub-metropolitan cities. The largest district of inner Terai, Dang also has 2 sub-metropolitan cities which are Ghorahi and Tulsipur sub-metropolitan cities.
Which province has the most number of sub-metropolitan cities?
Lumbini province has the most numbers of sub-metropolitan cities in Nepal. There are a total of 4 metropolitan cities which are Ghorahi, Tulsipur, Butwal, and Nepalgunj.
How many provinces are there without any sub-metropolitan cities in Nepal?
There are two provinces without any sub-metropolitan cities in Nepal. They are Gandaki Province and Karnali Province. Karnali province does not have a metropolitan city within it while Gandaki has one metropolitan city which is the largest metropolitan city in Nepal.
What is the east to west order of sub-metropolitan cities in Nepal?
The directional order of the sub-metropolitan cities in Nepal is Dharan, Itahari, Janakpurdham, Jeetpur-Simara, Kalaiya, Hetauda, Butwal, Ghorahi, Tulsipur, Nepalgunj and Dhangahdi sub-metropolitan cities.
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