Female employment rate in Nepal
Nepal: Female employment rate was 24.6% in 2017. ▼ Falling
Female employment rate 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 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 in Nepal peaked at 93.0% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 24.6%, in 2017.
Nepal ranks 161st of 172 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
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
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 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+) 39.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 52.9% (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, total (% of total population ages 15-6 41.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 56.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 29.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female employment rate in Nepal?
- Female employment rate 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 recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 93.0% in 2003.
- What is the lowest female employment rate recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.6% in 2017.
- How does Nepal rank for female employment rate?
- Nepal ranks 161st out of 172 countries with data for 2017.
- Is female employment rate 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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.