Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Nepal

Nepal: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 55.0% in 2017. ▼ Falling

Latest (2017)
55.0%
Change on year
down 36.3%
World rank
187th
of 196 countries
All-time high
94.3%
in 1961
All-time low
55.0%
in 2017
Years of data
12
1961–2017

Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Nepal, 1961–2017

0204060801001961198920171961: 94.31971: 87.81981: 87.71991: 79.81996: 75.21999: 90.22003: 91.82008: 82.32013: 85.62014: 86.82015: 86.32017: 55

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

Nepal recorded 55.0% for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in 2017. That is the lowest value across all 12 years on record.

The figure is down 36.3% on the previous year and down 33.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Nepal peaked at 94.3% in 1961 and was at its lowest, 55.0%, in 2017.

That places Nepal 187th out of 196 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.

Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Nepal, year by year

Annual values for Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (national estimate) in Nepal, 1961 to 2017.
Year Value Change
1961 94.3%
1971 87.8% -7.0%
1981 87.7% -0.1%
1991 79.8% -9.0%
1996 75.2% -5.7%
1999 90.2% +19.9%
2003 91.8% +1.8%
2008 82.3% -10.4%
2013 85.6% +4.0%
2014 86.8% +1.4%
2015 86.3% -0.6%
2017 55.0% -36.3%

Nepal compared with similar countries

  • Nepal's 55.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 71.7%, 77% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
  • Nepal's 55.0% is below the median for South Asia, which is 75.2%, 73% of the median. (6 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 94.3% 94.3% 94.3% 1
1970s 87.8% 87.8% 87.8% 1
1980s 87.7% 87.7% 87.7% 1
1990s 81.7% 75.2% 90.2% 3
2000s 87.0% 82.3% 91.8% 2
2010s 78.4% 55.0% 86.8% 4

Countries ranked near Nepal

  1. 184 Tajikistan 56.4% compare
  2. 185 Gambia 55.5% compare
  3. 186 Malawi 55.2% compare
  4. 188 Eswatini 54.2% compare
  5. 189 Kosovo 53.6% compare
  6. 189 Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) 53.6% compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More work & labour data for Nepal

All data for Nepal →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Nepal?
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Nepal was 55.0% in 2017, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Nepal?
The highest recorded value was 94.3% in 1961.
What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Nepal?
The lowest recorded value was 55.0% in 2017.
How does Nepal rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
Nepal ranks 187th out of 196 countries with data for 2017.
Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in Nepal?
Over the last ten years it is down 33.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Nepal data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Nepal. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-participation-rate-male-percent-of-male-population-ages-15-national-estimate/nepal/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
220 places, 5,453 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.