Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Nepal
Nepal: Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 was 24.6% in 2017. ▼ Falling
Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Nepal, 1991–2017
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Nepal is 24.6%, measured in 2017. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.
That represents a change of down 67.9% on the previous year and down 68.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Nepal peaked at 93.0% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 24.6%, in 2017.
That places Nepal 161st out of 172 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Nepal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 54.5% | — |
| 1996 | 63.7% | +16.9% |
| 1999 | 80.5% | +26.4% |
| 2003 | 93.0% | +15.5% |
| 2008 | 77.7% | -16.4% |
| 2013 | 74.9% | -3.6% |
| 2014 | 76.4% | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 24.6% | -67.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 66.2% | 54.5% | 80.5% | 3 |
| 2000s | 85.4% | 77.7% | 93.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 58.6% | 24.6% | 76.4% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More work & labour data for Nepal
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.593 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.568 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.6174 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.8524 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.99 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 13,496 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 22,611 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 16,146 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 15,685 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 31,831 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Nepal?
- Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Nepal was 24.6% in 2017, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 93.0% in 2003.
- What is the lowest female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.6% in 2017.
- How does Nepal rank for female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024?
- Nepal ranks 161st out of 172 countries with data for 2017.
- Is female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 68.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nepal data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 8 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the female working-age population who are employed. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.