October 17: Nepal's urban population has reached 66.08 percent. As per the preliminary data of the National Census, 2078, the size of urban population has increased in comparison to the earlier Census held ten years ago, shared Joint-Secretary at the Ministry of Urban Development Ram Chandra Dangal.    
The urban population was 63.19 percent and rural population 36.81 percent during the National Census of 2068 BS.    
According to the World Cities Report, 2022 published by UN Habitat this month, the urbanization process was found rapidly increasing in developed countries. Almost 79 percent population reside in urban areas in such countries.    
If the same growth continues, the urban population is projected to reach 87 percent in advanced countries. The report has also projected the population growth rate of 0.46 percent in developed countries from 2020 to 2025.    
The report was made public on the occasion of the World Habitat Day which is marked on the first Monday of October at the call of the UN Habitat.    
In 2022, World Habitat Day (WHD 2022) under the theme "Mind the Gap. Leave No One and Place Behind" looks at the problem of growing inequality and challenges in cities and human settlements.    
The World Habitat Day 2022 seeks to draw the attention towards the growing inequalities and vulnerabilities that have been exacerbated by the triple ‘C’ crises — COVID-19, climate and conflict.    
The United Nations (UN) had started observing the day on the first Monday of October since 1986. Nepal has also started marking the day since 2001.    
This year, Nepal is observing the World Habitat Day on October 17 by organizing several programmes with the theme 'Necessity of inclusive urban settlement: shared commitment of all".    
As the eighth day of Dashain festival coincided with the first Monday of October, the ministry decided to mark the day on third Monday of October, the ministry sources said. -- RSS