Kathmandu, June 23: Nepal’s population reached 23.4 million coinciding with the 10th National Census day Friday, the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) said.

The kingdom’s population was 18.4 million 10 years ago in 1991. Preliminary report of the current census will be available mid August. Current nation-wide data collection by 27,000 enumerators and officials  will end Tuesday.

Maoists have been disrupting the national effort in some districts in the far western region where the rebels have a stronghold. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala furnished individual and family details to CBS Deputy Director Radha Krishna GC at his official residence in Baluwatar Thursday.

The first national census was held in 1911. The country’s population is growing at an estimated 2.4 percent annually.