Female labor force participation rate in Nepal
Nepal: Female labor force participation rate was 27.9% in 2017. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate in Nepal, 1961–2017
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2017, female labor force participation rate in Nepal stood at 27.9%. 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 in Nepal peaked at 94.0% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 27.9%, in 2017.
Nepal ranks 181st of 194 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.
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
- 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 labor force participation rate in Nepal?
- Female labor force participation rate 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 recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 94.0% in 2003.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.9% in 2017.
- How does Nepal rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Nepal ranks 181st out of 194 countries with data for 2017.
- Is female labor force participation rate 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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.