Nepal Poverty Rate
Poverty headcount ratio at $2.15/day SI.POV.DDAY
Nepal's poverty rate was -3.77% in 2025, ranked 71st globally. This represents a 257.2% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1984–2025.
Overview
Nepal's poverty rate stood at -3.77% in 2025, a decline of +6.17pp from 2022. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach -3.77% by 2025. Nepal ranked 71st globally.
Nepal’s poverty rate has moved from an all‑time peak of 82.70 % in 1984 to a reported –3.77 % in 2025, placing the country 71st globally according to World Bank data. The negative figure, while statistically indicating that the measured poverty line has been exceeded, reflects a dramatic reversal of deprivation over a six‑year coverage period and suggests that the official poverty threshold has been substantially revised or that income growth has outpaced the benchmark. By contrast, neighboring Bhutan records a poverty rate of –6.33 %, underscoring a regional pattern of declining measured poverty despite differing methodological bases. The steep downward trajectory aligns with Nepal’s recent macro‑economic reforms, expanding remittance flows, and infrastructure investments that have boosted household incomes. Continued diversification of the economy, coupled with more granular poverty measurement, will be critical to sustaining the current downward trend and ensuring that the statistical decline translates into genuine improvements in living standards.
Data & projection
| Year | Poverty Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025* trend | -3.77% | - | - |
| 2025 | -3.77% | −6.17pp | #71 |
| 2022 | 2.40% | −19.10pp | #45 |
| 2010 | 21.50% | −34.20pp | #72 |
| 2003 | 55.70% | −15.00pp | #62 |
| 1995 | 70.70% | −12.00pp | #45 |
| 1984 | 82.70% | – | #10 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Nepal matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2016. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw poverty rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Nepal's poverty rate was -3.77% in 2025. Ranked 71st globally. This represents a 257.2% decrease from the previous year.
Nepal's poverty rate peaked at 82.70% in 1984.
The lowest poverty rate in Nepal was -3.77% in 2025.
Nepal ranks 71st globally in poverty rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SI.POV.DDAY. Data sourced from World Bank.
Nepal's poverty rate is projected to reach -3.77% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The poverty rate of Nepal in 2025 was -3.77%. This ranks 71st in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_nepal_poverty-rate,
title = {Nepal Poverty Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/nepal/poverty-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}