Employment rate in Nepal
Nepal: Employment rate was 35.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment rate in Nepal, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment rate in Nepal is 35.1%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate in Nepal peaked at 37.2% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 34.3%, in 2020.
Nepal ranks 175th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 37.1% | 37.0% | 37.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 36.8% | 36.6% | 37.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.0% | 35.5% | 36.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.0% | 34.3% | 35.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More work & labour data for Nepal
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 41.9% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 51.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 27.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 19.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 27.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 35.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 39.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment rate in Nepal?
- Employment rate in Nepal was 35.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment rate recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 37.2% in 1992.
- What is the lowest employment rate recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.3% in 2020.
- How does Nepal rank for employment rate?
- Nepal ranks 175th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nepal data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.