Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Nepal
Nepal: Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates was 51.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Nepal, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Nepal is 51.9%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.7% on the previous year and up 6.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Nepal peaked at 51.9% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 33.3%, in 1990.
That places Nepal 159th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Nepal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 33.3% | — |
| 1991 | 33.4% | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 33.6% | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 33.7% | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 33.7% | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 33.7% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 33.6% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 33.7% | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 33.9% | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 34.3% | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 34.6% | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 35.0% | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 35.5% | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 35.9% | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 36.4% | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 37.1% | +1.7% |
| 2006 | 37.8% | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 38.6% | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 39.6% | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 40.8% | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 42.1% | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 43.5% | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 44.9% | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 46.2% | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 47.6% | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 48.9% | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 50.0% | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 50.8% | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 51.3% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 51.1% | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 51.1% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 51.1% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 51.2% | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 51.3% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 51.6% | +0.5% |
| 2025 | 51.9% | +0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 33.7% | 33.3% | 34.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 37.1% | 34.6% | 40.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 47.6% | 42.1% | 51.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.4% | 51.1% | 51.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
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 ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Nepal?
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Nepal was 51.9% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest ratio of female to male labor force participation rates recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 51.9% in 2025.
- What is the lowest ratio of female to male labor force participation rates recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.3% in 1990.
- How does Nepal rank for ratio of female to male labor force participation rates?
- Nepal ranks 159th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is ratio of female to male labor force participation rates rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nepal data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This ratio is calculated by dividing the labor force participation rate among women by the corresponding rate for men. The labor force participation rate is the share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).