Rural-Urban Differences in Level of Safety, Security and Violence across Provinces in Nepal

This paper examines public perceptions of safety alongside reported experiences of crime and violence across Nepal's provinces. It is based on the national level survey data of NepalLiving Standard Survey (NLSS) IV (2022/23).Survey data indicate that 92.3 percent of respondents feel "completely safe" or "safe" when walking alone in their village or city, reflecting strong community ties, relatively low crime rates, and cultural norms that foster collective responsibility.However, 6.3 percent report feeling only "partially safe," with notable provincial differences-Gandaki and Bagmati record the highest "completely safe" scores, while Sudurpaschim reports the highest proportion of partial safety.Victimization data reveal low overall incident rates, with asset theft (1.8%) most common, followed by psychological violence (0.7%), attacks or robbery (0.4%), physical violence (0.3%), and sexual violence (0.2%).Provincial variations show Koshi and Karnali with higher theft rates, and Sudurpaschim leading in psychological and physical violence.The findings highlight that safety is multidimensional, encompassing both the absence of violent crime and protection from non-physical harm.Addressing these issues requires a combination of formal security measures and informal, community-based strategies to sustain and enhance both the reality and perception of safety.Findings show that over 90% of respondents feel completely safe or safe, with Gandaki and Bagmati reporting the highest complete safety levels.Crime incidents are generally low nationwide, with theft and psychological violence being the most common, while serious violent crimes are rare.The results indicate a generally secure environment, though targeted measures addressing specific concerns in provinces such as Sudurpaschim and Karnali could further enhance community safety.