Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Nepal
Nepal: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 29.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Nepal, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Nepal is 29.6%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.4% on the previous year and up 2.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Nepal peaked at 29.6% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 21.8%, in 1990.
Nepal ranks 169th of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Nepal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 21.8% | — |
| 1991 | 21.8% | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 21.9% | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 22.0% | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 22.0% | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 22.0% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 21.9% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 22.0% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 22.1% | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 22.3% | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 22.5% | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 22.7% | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 23.0% | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 23.2% | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 23.5% | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 23.8% | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 24.2% | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 24.6% | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 25.0% | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 25.6% | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 26.2% | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 26.8% | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 27.4% | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 27.8% | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 28.3% | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 28.8% | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 29.2% | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 29.4% | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 29.5% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 29.4% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 29.1% | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 29.1% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 29.2% | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 29.3% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 29.4% | +0.5% |
| 2025 | 29.6% | +0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 22.0% | 21.8% | 22.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 23.8% | 22.5% | 25.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.3% | 26.2% | 29.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.3% | 29.1% | 29.6% | 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 labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Nepal?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Nepal was 29.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 29.6% in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.8% in 1990.
- How does Nepal rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- Nepal ranks 169th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nepal data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15-64 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.