Labor force participation rate in Nepal
Nepal: Labor force participation rate was 39.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
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 labor force participation rate in Nepal is 39.2%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of 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 41.6% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 39.2%, in 2025.
That places Nepal 178th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 41.5% | 41.4% | 41.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 41.2% | 41.0% | 41.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 40.3% | 39.7% | 40.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.4% | 39.2% | 39.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
- 175 Algeria 40.8% compare
- 176 Mauritania 40.8% compare
- 177 Jordan 40.1% compare
- 179 Tajikistan 38.3% compare
- 180 Sudan 37.5% compare
- 181 Afghanistan 37.5% compare
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 labor force participation rate in Nepal?
- Labor force participation rate in Nepal was 39.2% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 41.6% in 1992.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 39.2% 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 ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).