Labor force participation rate in Nepal
Nepal: Labor force participation rate was 39.24 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
39.24
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
178th
of 186 countries
All-time high
41.56
in 1992
All-time low
39.24
in 2025
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate in Nepal, 1990–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate in Nepal is 39.24, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Nepal peaked at 41.56 in 1992 and was at its lowest, 39.24, in 2025.
Nepal ranks 178th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate in Nepal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 41.55 | — |
| 1991 | 41.54 | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 41.56 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 41.56 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 41.53 | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 41.5 | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 41.46 | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 41.43 | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 41.41 | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 41.38 | -0.0% |
| 2000 | 41.36 | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 41.35 | -0.0% |
| 2002 | 41.33 | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 41.31 | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 41.29 | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 41.24 | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 41.17 | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 41.09 | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 41.01 | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 40.95 | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 40.91 | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 40.84 | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 40.7 | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 40.51 | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 40.34 | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 40.22 | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 40.1 | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 39.91 | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 39.74 | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 39.77 | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 39.39 | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 39.51 | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 39.43 | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 39.38 | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 39.31 | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 39.24 | -0.2% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 39.24 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 57.67, 68% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 39.24 is below the median for South Asia, which is 57.23, 69% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 41.49 | 41.38 | 41.56 | 10 |
| 2000s | 41.21 | 40.95 | 41.36 | 10 |
| 2010s | 40.3 | 39.74 | 40.91 | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.38 | 39.24 | 39.51 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
- 175 Algeria 40.78 compare
- 176 Mauritania 40.77 compare
- 177 Jordan 40.05 compare
- 179 Tajikistan 38.28 compare
- 180 Sudan 37.52 compare
- 181 Afghanistan 37.46 compare
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 in Nepal?
- Labor force participation rate in Nepal was 39.24 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 41.56 in 1992.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 39.24 in 2025.
- How does Nepal rank for labor force participation rate?
- Nepal ranks 178th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nepal data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).