Nepal Female Labor Participation
Female labor force participation rate SL.TLF.CACT.FE.ZS
Nepal's female labor participation was 27.47% in 2025, ranked 165th globally. This represents a 0.3% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Nepal's female labor participation stood at 27.47% in 2025, a rise of +0.09pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 27.50% by 2026. Nepal ranked 165th globally.
Female labor participation in Nepal has risen steadily since the earliest World Bank record in 1990, when only 20.63 % of women were active in the labor force, to a latest 2025 level of 27.47 % that places the country 165th globally. The all‑time peak of 27.63 % was reached in 2018, indicating that the recent figure is only marginally below the highest level observed over the 36‑year series. Compared with peers of similar rank, Nepal trails Oman’s 29.96 % and is slightly above Tunisia’s 26.50 %, suggesting that modest gains remain possible through targeted policies such as skill development and childcare support. The upward trajectory since the 1990 trough reflects gradual improvements in education and rural employment opportunities, yet the narrow gap between the 2018 peak and the 2025 value underscores a plateau risk. Continued investment in gender‑responsive labor market reforms could sustain growth and push participation beyond the 2025 level.
Data & projection
| Year | Female Labor Participation | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 27.62% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 27.56% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 27.50% | - | - |
| 2025 | 27.47% | +0.09pp | #165 |
| 2024 | 27.38% | +0.08pp | #165 |
| 2023 | 27.30% | +0.06pp | #166 |
| 2022 | 27.24% | −0.02pp | #167 |
| 2021 | 27.26% | +0.05pp | #167 |
| 2020 | 27.21% | −0.33pp | #166 |
| 2019 | 27.54% | −0.09pp | #167 |
| 2018 | 27.63% | +0.10pp | #166 |
| 2017 | 27.53% | +0.18pp | #166 |
| 2016 | 27.35% | +0.34pp | #165 |
| 2015 | 27.01% | +0.43pp | #165 |
| 2014 | 26.58% | +0.41pp | #167 |
| 2013 | 26.16% | +0.43pp | #167 |
| 2012 | 25.73% | +0.51pp | #169 |
| 2011 | 25.22% | +0.57pp | #169 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Nepal matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2016. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw female labor participation improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Nepal's female labor participation was 27.47% in 2025. Ranked 165th globally. This represents a 0.3% increase from the previous year.
Nepal's female labor participation peaked at 27.63% in 2018.
The lowest female labor participation in Nepal was 20.63% in 1990.
Nepal ranks 165th globally in female labor participation as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.FE.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Nepal's female labor participation is projected to reach 27.50% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The female labor participation of Nepal in 2025 was 27.47%. This ranks 165th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_nepal_female-labor-participation,
title = {Nepal Female Labor Participation},
url = {https://historysaid.com/nepal/female-labor-participation/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}