Depopulating the Himalayan Highlands: Education and Outmigration From Ethnically Tibetan Communities of Nepal

Geoff Childs,Cynthia M Beall,Buddha Basnyat,Sienna Craig

doi:10.1659/mrd-journal-d-14-00021.1

Abstract

Abstract Communities that have thrived for centuries in Nepal's rugged mountain environments are facing rapid population declines caused by the outmigration of youths, both males and females in nearly equal numbers, who are sent by parents to distant boarding schools and monasteries for secular and religious education. This paper documents the magnitude of outmigration, migration destinations, migration's impact on the age–sex composition of sending communities, the effect of migration on fertility, and projected trends of population decline and aging. The authors conclude by discussing potential long-term threats to the viability of ethnically Tibetan communities in the Himalayan highlands, including outmigration's effect on agricultural production, the family-based care system for the elderly, socioeconomic inequalities, and human capital.

Highlights

Communities that have thrived for centuries in Nepal’s rugged mountain environment appear to be on the brink of precipitous population declines
Alongside the rebirth of monasteries, Tibetan exiles living in India and Nepal developed a successful school
Because rural to urban migration strongly correlates with older age at marriage (Hertrich and Lesclingand 2012) and female education strongly correlates with lower fertility in many countries (Martın 1995), including Nepal (MOHP 2011), the educational migrants are likely to delay marriage and childbearing and have lower fertility than nonmigrants (Kulu 2005)

Summary

MountainResearch Systems knowledge

Open access article: please credit the authors and the full source. Communities that have thrived for centuries in Nepal’s rugged mountain environments are facing rapid population declines caused by the outmigration of youths, both males and females in nearly equal numbers, who are sent by parents to distant boarding schools and monasteries for secular and religious education. This paper documents the magnitude of outmigration, migration destinations, migration’s impact on the age–sex composition of sending communities, the effect of migration on fertility, and projected trends of population decline and aging. The authors conclude by discussing potential long-term threats to the viability of ethnically Tibetan communities in the Himalayan highlands, including outmigration’s effect on agricultural production, the familybased care system for the elderly, socioeconomic inequalities, and human capital

Introduction

Tibetan societies in transition

Sex Males

Villages in Nubri Sama Samdo Lho Total

Discussion