Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Nepal
Nepal: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 77.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Nepal, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Nepal recorded 77.0% for share of workers in vulnerable employment in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 3.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Nepal peaked at 86.2% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 77.0%, in 2025.
That places Nepal 16th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Nepal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 86.2% | — |
| 1992 | 85.9% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 85.7% | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 85.4% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 85.2% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 84.9% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 84.7% | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 84.4% | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 84.2% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 83.9% | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 83.6% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 83.5% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 83.3% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 83.1% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 82.8% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 82.6% | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 82.4% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 82.1% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 81.8% | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 81.5% | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 81.2% | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 80.9% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 80.6% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 80.2% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 79.9% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 79.7% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 79.3% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 78.9% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 78.5% | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 78.5% | -0.0% |
| 2021 | 78.1% | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 77.8% | -0.4% |
| 2023 | 77.5% | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 77.3% | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 77.0% | -0.4% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 77.0% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 59.3%, 1.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 77.0% is above the median for South Asia, which is 63.2%, 1.2× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 85.2% | 84.2% | 86.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 82.9% | 81.8% | 83.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 80.1% | 78.5% | 81.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 77.7% | 77.0% | 78.5% | 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 share of workers in vulnerable employment in Nepal?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Nepal was 77.0% 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 share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 86.2% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 77.0% in 2025.
- How does Nepal rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Nepal ranks 16th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 Share of workers in vulnerable employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of employed population who are working as independent own-account workers (self-employed without staff), or contributing family workers (self-employed in a household business or farm).