Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Nepal
Nepal: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 19.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Nepal, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Nepal stood at 19.1%.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and up 5.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Nepal peaked at 22.4% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 17.9%, in 1996.
Nepal ranks 51st of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Nepal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 18.0% | — |
| 1992 | 18.0% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 18.0% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 18.0% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 18.0% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 17.9% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 18.0% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 18.0% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 18.1% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 18.0% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 17.9% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 18.1% | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 18.2% | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 18.2% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 18.1% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 18.2% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 18.3% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 18.2% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 18.2% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 18.2% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 18.3% | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 18.2% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 18.2% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 18.1% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 18.2% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 18.3% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 18.2% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 18.2% | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 18.3% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 22.4% | +22.4% |
| 2021 | 21.2% | -5.6% |
| 2022 | 19.2% | -9.3% |
| 2023 | 19.0% | -1.0% |
| 2024 | 19.2% | +0.9% |
| 2025 | 19.1% | -0.3% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 19.1% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9.6%, 2.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 19.1% is above the median for South Asia, which is 15.7%, 1.2× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 18.0% | 17.9% | 18.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 18.2% | 17.9% | 18.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.2% | 18.1% | 18.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.0% | 19.0% | 22.4% | 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 unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Nepal?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Nepal was 19.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 22.4% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.9% in 1996.
- How does Nepal rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- Nepal ranks 51st out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nepal data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.