Nepalese in Australia: Community, Cities & Culture

3 min readJune 3, 2026By KidSchooler editorial

A short guide to the Nepalese in Australia - how the community grew, where they live like Sydney and Hobart, students, festivals and how to connect.

In barely two decades, Nepalis went from a rare sight to one of Australia's fastest-growing communities.

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Diliff via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

The Nepalese in Australia are one of the country's fastest-growing communities, having expanded from a rare presence into a vibrant diaspora in barely two decades. Driven largely by international students who later put down roots, Nepali Australians now run restaurants, temples and cultural associations from Sydney to Hobart. This is a short overview; for the wider global picture, see our main guide to the Nepali diaspora.

Key takeaways

The 2021 census recorded about 138,000 people of Nepali ancestry and roughly 123,000 born in Nepal - more than double the 2016 figure.
By June 2025, the Nepal-born population was estimated at over 213,000, among Australia's fastest-growing migrant groups.
Sydney is home to almost half the community, with hubs in suburbs like Auburn and Granville, plus Melbourne and a high share in Hobart.
Most arrived after 2006, with international study the main driver.
Festivals like Dashain and Tihar, temples and Nepali food anchor community life.

How big is the community?

The growth has been remarkable. In the 2016 census, about 62,800 people reported Nepali ancestry. By 2021 that had more than doubled to roughly 138,500, while around 123,000 people were recorded as born in Nepal - making Nepalis one of Australia's larger migrant communities. More recent estimates put the Nepal-born population at over 213,000 by mid-2025, underlining just how fast the community continues to expand.

People from Nepal began settling in Australia from the 1960s, but the vast majority arrived after 2006. The catalyst was education: Australia became a leading destination for Nepali students, many of whom moved on to skilled work and permanent residency.

Where do they live?

The community is heavily concentrated in and around Sydney, which is home to almost half of Nepali Australians. Within Sydney, particular suburbs stand out:

Auburn - the suburb with the largest Nepalese population, popular with students for its direct train links to the city.
Granville - another significant cluster in western Sydney.
Melbourne suburbs such as Glenroy also host sizeable populations.

Beyond the big cities, Hobart in Tasmania has a notably high share of Nepali residents relative to its size, reflecting study and regional migration pathways. This clustering means Nepali grocers, eateries and community centres are easy to find in these areas.

A student-led community

What sets the Australian story apart from older diasporas is its student-led character. Instability around the Maoist insurgency and the 2015 earthquake pushed many young Nepalis to look abroad, and Australia's universities and vocational colleges became a favoured choice. Many international students live close to campus and work part-time while they study, before transitioning to skilled-worker and permanent-residency routes.

The result is a community that skews young, urban and aspirational - and one with strong, ongoing ties back to Nepal through remittances and the Non-Resident Nepali network.

Culture, festivals and food

Australian-Nepali life keeps the festival calendar of home alive. The anchors of the year are Dashain and Tihar, both celebrated each autumn. In Sydney, community organisations and the Non-Resident Nepali Association host large gatherings where families share meals, exchange tika and enjoy cultural performances. Hindu temples modelled on Nepal's Pashupatinath serve the community in New South Wales and Victoria, alongside Buddhist sites - a mix explained in our overview of Nepali culture.

Food is one of the easiest bridges into the community. Nepali restaurants across Sydney, Melbourne and beyond serve the staples covered in our guide to Nepalese food, from dal bhat to the beloved dumpling, momo.

How to connect respectfully

If you would like to engage - at a festival, a restaurant or a community event - a little courtesy goes a long way:

Greet with "Namaste", palms together; learn the meaning of namaste and how to say hello in Nepali.
Ask before photographing people or ceremonies.
Come hungry and curious - sharing food is central to Nepali hospitality.
Recognise the wider story, including Nepal's Gurkha heritage, which many families regard with pride.

Approach the community as you would hope to be welcomed yourself, and you will find Nepali Australians warm and generous hosts.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

How many Nepalese people live in Australia?: The 2021 census recorded about 138,000 people of Nepali ancestry and roughly 123,000 born in Nepal. By June 2025 the Nepal-born population was estimated at over 213,000, one of the fastest-growing migrant groups.
Where do most Nepalese live in Australia?: Almost half the community lives in Sydney, with large clusters in suburbs like Auburn and Granville, plus significant populations in Melbourne and a notably high share in Hobart, Tasmania.
Why did so many Nepalese move to Australia?: Most arrived after 2006, driven largely by international study. Australia became a top destination for Nepali students, many of whom later transitioned to skilled work and permanent residency.
Do Nepalese in Australia celebrate Dashain and Tihar?: Yes, community groups and the Non-Resident Nepali Association host large Dashain and Tihar gatherings each autumn with tika, food and cultural programmes across major cities.
Are there Nepali temples in Australia?: Yes, Hindu temples modelled on Nepal's Pashupatinath serve the community in New South Wales and Victoria, alongside Buddhist sites that reflect Nepal's religious diversity.
How can I connect with the Nepalese community in Australia?: Visit Nepali restaurants and grocers in suburbs like Auburn, attend an autumn Dashain event, and greet people warmly with Namaste and a few polite Nepali phrases.