Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Nepal

Nepal: Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) was 50.8% in 2017. ▲ Rising

Latest (2017)
50.8%
Change on year
down 45.1%
World rank
171st
of 196 countries
All-time high
102.4%
in 2003
All-time low
39.0%
in 1971
Years of data
12
1961–2017

Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Nepal, 1961–2017

02550751001961198920171961: 63.21971: 391981: 51.51991: 61.11996: 88.41999: 90.82003: 102.42008: 95.52013: 90.52014: 91.82015: 92.52017: 50.8

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

Analysis

Nepal recorded 50.8% for ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in 2017.

That represents a change of down 45.1% on the previous year and down 46.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Nepal peaked at 102.4% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 39.0%, in 1971.

Nepal ranks 171st of 196 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

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

Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Nepal, year by year

Annual values for Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) (national estimate) in Nepal, 1961 to 2017.
Year Value Change
1961 63.2%
1971 39.0% -38.2%
1981 51.5% +32.0%
1991 61.1% +18.5%
1996 88.4% +44.8%
1999 90.8% +2.7%
2003 102.4% +12.7%
2008 95.5% -6.8%
2013 90.5% -5.2%
2014 91.8% +1.4%
2015 92.5% +0.7%
2017 50.8% -45.1%

Nepal compared with similar countries

  • Nepal's 50.8% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 74.2%, 68% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
  • Nepal's 50.8% is above the median for South Asia, which is 49.4%, 1.0× the median. (6 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 63.2% 63.2% 63.2% 1
1970s 39.0% 39.0% 39.0% 1
1980s 51.5% 51.5% 51.5% 1
1990s 80.1% 61.1% 90.8% 3
2000s 98.9% 95.5% 102.4% 2
2010s 81.4% 50.8% 92.5% 4

Countries ranked near Nepal

  1. 168 Uzbekistan 54.6% compare
  2. 169 Fiji 53.1% compare
  3. 170 Senegal 52.9% compare
  4. 172 Türkiye 50.8% compare
  5. 173 Bahrain 50.1% compare
  6. 174 Bangladesh 48.0% compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More work & labour data for Nepal

All data for Nepal →

Frequently asked questions

What is ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Nepal?
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Nepal was 50.8% in 2017, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) recorded in Nepal?
The highest recorded value was 102.4% in 2003.
What is the lowest ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) recorded in Nepal?
The lowest recorded value was 39.0% in 1971.
How does Nepal rank for ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%)?
Nepal ranks 171st out of 196 countries with data for 2017.
Is ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) rising or falling in Nepal?
Over the last ten years it is down 46.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Nepal data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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

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About this data

Indicator
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
220 places, 5,351 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate is the proportion of female labor force participation relative to male labor force participation. The labor force participation rate is the labor force as a percent of the population ages 15 and older. The labor force is the sum of all persons of working age who are employed and those who are unemployed.