Over the past decades, there has been some progress in the areas of population management in Nepal. The population issues have been emphasized ever since the first plan period of the country. Population-related policies are being spelled out through periodic plans of Nepal, which are becoming more and more comprehensive. Initially, the concerns with the population were seen more on population distribution. The concerns with the population were shifted to population growth and its control from the third plan period. Since then, reduction in fertility has become a common denominator of all population-related policies in Nepal's periodic plans.
The national population strategy, 1983 developed during the 6th plan period is considered a milestone in the development of population policies in Nepal. This strategy has considered population growth into long term perspective and set quantitative targets with respect to fertility reduction in population growth rates. It also took note of the importance of integrating population concern into the development activity. The strategies on population set during the 6th plan were adopted in the seventh plan to a greater extent. However, the strategies that are started couldn't be implemented in the absence of substantive programs.