Male labor force participation rate in Nepal
Nepal: Male labor force participation rate was 52.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Male 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
In 2025, male labor force participation rate in Nepal stood at 52.9%. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and down 4.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, male labor force participation rate in Nepal peaked at 62.0% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 52.9%, in 2025.
Nepal ranks 180th 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 61.8% | 61.6% | 62.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 60.6% | 59.1% | 61.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.8% | 53.8% | 58.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 53.2% | 52.9% | 53.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
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 15-6 41.9% (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 for ages 15-24, female (%) 19.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 27.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 35.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 39.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is male labor force participation rate in Nepal?
- Male labor force participation rate in Nepal was 52.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest male labor force participation rate recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 62.0% in 1990.
- What is the lowest male labor force participation rate recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 52.9% in 2025.
- How does Nepal rank for male labor force participation rate?
- Nepal ranks 180th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is male labor force participation rate rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.2%. 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 Male labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the male working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).