Until a month and a half ago, the word that Nepalis rarely uttered was ‘Gen-Z’, or Generation Z, or Gen-G. The last letter of the English alphabet is Z generation. Since midday on Bhadra 23, Nepalis have been pronouncing the term ‘Gen-G’ widely.

After 19 people died in bullet injuries on the first day of their protest demanding good governance and an end to corruption, Gen-Z became a word of compassion and love for Nepalis.

After the Parliament building, Singha Durbar, Supreme Court and even the houses of leaders were burned down on 24 Bhadra, many people formed a negative opinion about Gen-Z. After a month and a half of that protest, the initial opinions about Gen-Z have also diversified.

However, the short form of the English word ‘Generation-Z’, Gen-Z, is sometimes used as a symbol of pride and sometimes as a satirical image, just as after the people’s movement of 062/063, we used the word ‘New Nepal’ sometimes as a symbol of pride and sometimes as a satirical image. ‘New Nepal’ continued to be used in the Nepali language for a long time.

If the graph of the country's economic and development indicators does not rise within 25 years, the dependency ratio will increase significantly, meaning the country will become old There are many strengths and weaknesses of the Gen-Z movement. However, this article attempts to discuss the demographic distribution of Gen-Z in Nepal. From a demographic perspective, the generation born from 1997 to 2012 is called Gen-Z. According to the 2021 (BS 2078) census, what is the status of the Gen-Z population in Nepal, its regional distribution, the population eligible to vote, and the population eligible to run for office? Let's discuss a little. According to the 2078 census, the total population of Nepal is 29,164,578. The census includes data from the population under 1 year to the population over 100 years. Based on that data, the population of the Gen-Z age group (12-28 years) in Nepal is about one-third of the total population.

If we divide the total population of Nepal into 16-year-old age groups, no other age group has such a large population. Therefore, this age group was becoming important from a demographic perspective. Now, politically, Gen-G has emerged as a powerful force in the demographic structure. Therefore, it is time to listen to Gen-G.

In terms of demographic majority, this age group is also in a decisive position. Being a majority in the population means being a majority in the voters. Just as it had the power to bring a crisis to power within 24 hours, since it is in such a large number, the possibility of this age group giving unexpected results in the upcoming elections cannot be ruled out.

Gen-G in statistics

Out of the total population of Nepal, 97,60,368 people are Gen-G. This is 33.5 percent of the total population. Out of this, 48,86,518 are men and 48,95,260 are women. This data bears the characteristics of the total population. Because there are more women than men in the population. Moreover, among this age group that is involved in economic activities, men in the age group of 20-29 years are absent from home the most, that is, they have gone abroad for employment or study.

What does the total population of Gen-G look like when divided into age groups every five years? Let's see. Of these 16 age groups, 12-26 years old is calculated by keeping the age group 12-26 years old with a gap of five years and 27-28 years old as a separate age group. The population of the lowest age group of Gen-G is 28,61,644, or 29.3 percent of the total Gen-G population. The second age group, 17-22 years old, has a higher population than the previous age group.

This age group has a population of 29,3268, or 29.7 percent. The upper age group, 22-26, has a higher population than the previous one. This age group has 30,698, or 30.7 percent of the total Gen-G population. The remaining two age groups, 27-28, have 994,758, or 10.2 percent of the total Gen-G population. This two-year age group is even larger in size compared to the previous group.

Age classification and population distribution of Gen-G

What difference does the population of Gen-G make to politics? This topic is currently in discussion. There is an opinion that since the voters of the Gen-G age group are in large numbers, they will transform the outcome of the election. Where they are politically inclined is a different matter. And, another truth is that in a multi-party system, the Gen-G vote is divided among many parties. Therefore, as discussed, it would be wrong to think that all the Gen-G voters will transform the outcome by casting their votes at the same place. On the other hand, the first-time voters among the Gen-G age group are only those in the age group of 18-20 years.

The population of this age group, i.e. potential new voters, is 18 lakh 8 thousand 477. Gen-G people above the age of 21 have already voted for the first time in the 2079 elections. The population of Gen-G (18-28) who will have the right to vote in the upcoming elections in Falgun is 63 lakh 41 thousand 834. As stipulated by the constitution, the population eligible to run for office in the Gen-G age group (25-28 years) is 20,078,430. This number is 20.3 percent of the total Gen-G. That is, one in every five people in the Gen-G age group is eligible to run for office.

Looking at the provincial population distribution of Gen-G, the largest number is in Lumbini Province, where 38.6 percent of the total Gen-G population resides. This is followed by Sudurpaschim and Karnali, where 37 percent of the population is Gen-G.

The demographic dividend and Gen-G

demographic structure have surrounded Nepal with opportunities. The population of the economically active age group (15-64 years) is the largest in history. Currently, the population of this age group is 65 percent. In simple terms, this is a situation where the number of dependents is lower than the number of earners. That is, the population of children under 14 years is 28 percent and the population of senior citizens above 65 years is only 7 percent.

According to the report on the demographic structure of Nepal published by the National Statistical Office, in 2048 BS, the child population was 42 percent. At that time, the population of the active age group was 54.1 percent and the population of senior citizens was only half, or 3.5 percent, of what it is now. According to the demographic structure, the generation born between 1997 and 2010 has already entered the labor market. The Gen-G age group also has a major contribution to 65 percent of the demographic dividend.

However, no attention was paid to utilizing Nepal's young population economically and increasing production. The population of 2048 BS showed that for the first time, the number of people growing up in Nepal was higher than those being born. That was the first sign that Nepal was entering a demographic dividend. In a society that was entering a society with rights and an open environment along with democracy, the life expectancy of Nepalis suffering from disease, hunger, and illiteracy was also short. However, the open environment that followed gave Nepalis the courage to fight against disease and hunger.

However, the rulers did not pay attention to creating employment for the growing generation, which led to millions of youth reaching Arabia and Malaysia in search of employment in a short time. Expanding the scope, Nepali youth had to sweat in agricultural farms in Korea. Unable to get the education they wanted, universities in countries like America, Europe, Australia, and Japan began to fill up with Nepali young students. Gradually, the youth began to see their future abroad rather than at home.

And, the rulers here also did not have to feel the additional pressure when a large number of youth went abroad as soon as they grew up, which resulted in the country not being motivated to open productive and export-oriented industries. It is worth remembering that the period of Nepal's demographic dividend is about 55 years. About 30 years of that have passed. Now, if the graph of the country's economic and development indicators does not rise in 25 years, the dependency ratio will increase significantly, meaning that the country will be old by then.

Japan had a period of 55 years of demographic dividend. Korea, Malaysia, and Hong Kong became prosperous during a similar period. But why has Nepal not yet embarked on that path? The latest Gen-G movement has opened everyone's eyes. The country could not gain momentum at the level it should have, due to corruption and misrule. On the basis of that dissatisfaction, the Gen-G rebellion took place on 23 and 24 Bhadra.