Female labor force participation rate in Nepal
Nepal: Female labor force participation rate was 27.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate in Nepal, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female labor force participation rate in Nepal is 27.5%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in Nepal peaked at 27.6% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 20.6%, in 1990.
Nepal ranks 167th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate in Nepal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 20.6% | — |
| 1991 | 20.7% | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 20.8% | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 20.8% | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 20.8% | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 20.8% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 20.8% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 20.8% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 21.0% | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 21.1% | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 21.3% | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 21.5% | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 21.7% | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 22.0% | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 22.2% | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 22.5% | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 22.8% | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 23.2% | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 23.6% | +1.8% |
| 2009 | 24.1% | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 24.7% | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 25.2% | +2.3% |
| 2012 | 25.7% | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 26.2% | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 26.6% | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 27.0% | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 27.3% | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 27.5% | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 27.6% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 27.5% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 27.2% | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 27.3% | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 27.2% | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 27.3% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 27.4% | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 27.5% | +0.3% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 27.5% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 49.7%, 55% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 27.5% is below the median for South Asia, which is 35.5%, 77% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 20.8% | 20.6% | 21.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.5% | 21.3% | 24.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.5% | 24.7% | 27.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.3% | 27.2% | 27.5% | 6 |
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 in Nepal?
- Female labor force participation rate in Nepal was 27.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, 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 27.6% in 2018.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.6% in 1990.
- How does Nepal rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Nepal ranks 167th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 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 (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).