Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Nepal
Nepal: Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 was 27.9% in 2017. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Nepal, 1961–2017
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Nepal is 27.9%, measured in 2017. That is the lowest value across all 12 years on record.
That represents a change of down 65.0% on the previous year and down 64.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Nepal peaked at 94.0% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 27.9%, in 2017.
That places Nepal 181st out of 194 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Nepal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 59.6% | — |
| 1971 | 34.3% | -42.5% |
| 1981 | 45.2% | +31.8% |
| 1991 | 48.7% | +7.9% |
| 1996 | 66.5% | +36.5% |
| 1999 | 81.9% | +23.1% |
| 2003 | 94.0% | +14.8% |
| 2008 | 78.6% | -16.4% |
| 2013 | 77.5% | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 79.7% | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 79.8% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 27.9% | -65.0% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 27.9% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 47.6%, 59% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 27.9% is below the median for South Asia, which is 36.2%, 77% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 59.6% | 59.6% | 59.6% | 1 |
| 1970s | 34.3% | 34.3% | 34.3% | 1 |
| 1980s | 45.2% | 45.2% | 45.2% | 1 |
| 1990s | 65.7% | 48.7% | 81.9% | 3 |
| 2000s | 86.3% | 78.6% | 94.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 66.2% | 27.9% | 79.8% | 4 |
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 labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Nepal?
- Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Nepal was 27.9% in 2017, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 94.0% in 2003.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.9% in 2017.
- How does Nepal rank for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025?
- Nepal ranks 181st out of 194 countries with data for 2017.
- Is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 64.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 12 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 economically active (employed or unemployed). Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.