Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Nepal
Nepal: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 20.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Nepal, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Nepal stood at 20.6%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and up 6.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Nepal peaked at 24.1% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 18.8%, in 1994.
That places Nepal 46th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Nepal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 18.8% | — |
| 1992 | 18.8% | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 18.8% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 18.8% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 18.8% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 18.8% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 18.9% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 18.9% | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 18.9% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 18.9% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 18.8% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 19.0% | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 19.1% | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 19.1% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 19.1% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 19.1% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 19.2% | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 19.2% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 19.2% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 19.2% | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 19.3% | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 19.3% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 19.4% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 19.3% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 19.4% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 19.5% | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 19.6% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 19.6% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 19.7% | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 24.1% | +22.3% |
| 2021 | 22.6% | -6.0% |
| 2022 | 20.6% | -9.0% |
| 2023 | 20.4% | -0.9% |
| 2024 | 20.6% | +1.0% |
| 2025 | 20.6% | -0.4% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 20.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 10.1%, 2.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 20.6% is above the median for South Asia, which is 16.5%, 1.2× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 18.8% | 18.8% | 18.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 19.1% | 18.8% | 19.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.4% | 19.2% | 19.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.5% | 20.4% | 24.1% | 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 total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Nepal?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Nepal was 20.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 24.1% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.8% in 1994.
- How does Nepal rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Nepal ranks 46th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.0%. 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 total (% of total 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.