Urban migration and urbanization in Nepal.

The objective of this paper is to assess analyse and explain the structures and processes of migration and urbanization in Nepal from a development perspective based on secondary sources of data. For the purpose of diagnosis analysis and description of migration and urbanization in the country data were drawn from published sources including censuses and surveys. Historical trends of migration to urban areas were based on data and information gathered from other secondary sources. To assess the level of migration and urbanization relevant quantitative analyses such as correlation and regression were performed. The article concludes that migration in Nepal like elsewhere is a strong phenomenon but that the pattern is predominantly rural-to-rural rather than rural-to-urban. The study also concludes that while urbanization in Nepal remains low it is becoming recognized as one of the engines of growth and development. The notion of urbanization along with planned migration to a certain extent is one of the most viable processes of development for which immediate intervention is warranted. Long-term policies and short-term strategies on national urbanization and migration are required as part of overall national development.