Kathmandu: The National Statistics Office (NSO) has released a survey indicating that 12 percent of households across Nepal have at least one widow. The findings were unveiled in a report titled ‘Widow in Nepal’, which draws on data from the National Census-2021.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the report also highlights that in addition to the presence of widows, two percent of households are home to single women who are not widows. In regional terms, the survey shows that 14 percent of households in Sudurpaschim Province and 11 percent in Karnali Province have at least one widow. The NSO’s report categorizes a single woman as someone who has never been married by the age of 35 or above, or who is a widow, divorced, or separated.
The analysis in the report extends to the distinct statuses of single women and widows, providing a comprehensive view of their demographic distribution. The report was a collaborative effort by the NSO, experts from the Central Department of Population Studies at Tribhuv
an University, and the organization Women for Human Rights (WHR). On this occasion, Lily Thapa, Member of the National Human Rights Commission and founding chair of WHR, emphasized the necessity for further research based on the current findings.