Education in Karnali Province, Nepal: official figures
69.7% of people aged 15 and over in Karnali could read and write in 2022/23 (82.0% of men, 61.3% of women), 3rd lowest of the 7 provinces (Nepal: 72.5%).
Do children in Karnali go to primary school?
83.3% of children of grade 1-5 age in Karnali were attending grades 1 to 5 in 2024-25 and 3.7% were out of school, 3rd highest of the 7 provinces for attendance (Nepal: 76.6% and 4.2%).
Source: National Statistics Office, Government of Nepal (with UNICEF) · saved copyHow many teenagers in Karnali attend secondary school?
58.4% of young people of secondary-school age (13 to 16) in Karnali were attending grades 9 to 12 or higher in 2024-25 and 10.5% were out of school; 4th highest of the 7 provinces for attendance (Nepal: 54.4% and 13.6%).
Source: National Statistics Office, Government of Nepal (with UNICEF) · saved copyCan children in Karnali read?
46.8% of children aged 7 to 14 in Karnali showed foundational reading skills in Nepali (reading a short story and answering questions about it) in 2024-25, 2nd highest of the 7 provinces (Nepal: 37.1%).
Source: National Statistics Office, Government of Nepal (with UNICEF) · saved copyHow many schools are there in Karnali?
Karnali had 3,210 schools in the 2081 BS (2024/25) school year, 9.1% of Nepal's 35,447, about one for every 526 residents counted in the 2021 census (Nepal: one per 823).
Source: National Statistics Office, Government of Nepal · saved copyHow Karnali Province compares with other provinces
Literacy rate, age 15+ (2022/23)
Karnali Province ranks 5 of 7, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Literacy rate, age 15+ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bagmati Province | 80.2% |
| 2 | Gandaki Province | 79.6% |
| 3 | Lumbini Province | 75.3% |
| 4 | Koshi Province | 73.9% |
| 5 | Karnali Province | 69.7% |
| 6 | Sudurpashchim Province | 66.7% |
| 7 | Madhesh Province | 60.6% |
Secondary school net attendance (grades 9-12) (2024-25)
Karnali Province ranks 4 of 7, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Secondary school net attendance (grades 9-12) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gandaki Province | 66.7% |
| 2 | Bagmati Province | 63.8% |
| 3 | Koshi Province | 60.6% |
| 4 | Karnali Province | 58.4% |
| 5 | Lumbini Province | 54.9% |
| 6 | Sudurpashchim Province | 53.7% |
| 7 | Madhesh Province | 35.7% |
Children 7-14 with foundational reading skills (2024-25)
Karnali Province ranks 2 of 7, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Children 7-14 with foundational reading skills |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gandaki Province | 61.9% |
| 2 | Karnali Province | 46.8% |
| 3 | Bagmati Province | 46.1% |
| 4 | Lumbini Province | 41.4% |
| 5 | Koshi Province | 39.9% |
| 6 | Sudurpashchim Province | 39.1% |
| 7 | Madhesh Province | 12.2% |
More on Karnali Province: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · Nepal
Sources
- National Statistics Office, Government of Nepal (with UNICEF): Nepal Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2024-25, Survey Findings Report (February 2026), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f01d5f5fe2ad…)
- National Statistics Office, Government of Nepal: Nepal Living Standards Survey IV 2022/23, Statistical Report (Tables 6.1, 11.3, 12.1 and 13.9), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cbebb744184e…)
- National Statistics Office, Government of Nepal: Nepal Statistical Year Book 2025: Table 1.5 (population by province, 2021 census), Table 8.6 (households and amenities, 2021 census), Table 6.3 (schools by province), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fe008244ecf5…)
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