Net migration in Nepal
Nepal: Net migration was -364,699 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Nepal, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net migration in Nepal is -364,699, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 9.1% on the previous year and down 65.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Nepal peaked at 182,203 in 2019 and was at its lowest, -409,782, in 2023.
That places Nepal 215th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Nepal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -13,223 | — |
| 1961 | -10,601 | -19.8% |
| 1962 | -9,249 | -12.8% |
| 1963 | -8,303 | -10.2% |
| 1964 | -6,087 | -26.7% |
| 1965 | -1,551 | -74.5% |
| 1966 | -3,306 | +113.2% |
| 1967 | 347 | -110.5% |
| 1968 | -746 | -315.0% |
| 1969 | -527 | -29.4% |
| 1970 | 1,847 | -450.5% |
| 1971 | -7,284 | -494.4% |
| 1972 | -2,107 | -71.1% |
| 1973 | -1,076 | -48.9% |
| 1974 | -4,361 | +305.3% |
| 1975 | -6,686 | +53.3% |
| 1976 | -15,119 | +126.1% |
| 1977 | 2,108 | -113.9% |
| 1978 | 346 | -83.6% |
| 1979 | 88 | -74.6% |
| 1980 | 5,084 | +5677.3% |
| 1981 | -4,855 | -195.5% |
| 1982 | -3,898 | -19.7% |
| 1983 | 1,304 | -133.5% |
| 1984 | -19,300 | -1580.1% |
| 1985 | -30,154 | +56.2% |
| 1986 | -47,017 | +55.9% |
| 1987 | -72,437 | +54.1% |
| 1988 | -64,246 | -11.3% |
| 1989 | -39,808 | -38.0% |
| 1990 | -640 | -98.4% |
| 1991 | 17,056 | -2765.0% |
| 1992 | 84,113 | +393.2% |
| 1993 | -37,782 | -144.9% |
| 1994 | -27,415 | -27.4% |
| 1995 | -86,232 | +214.5% |
| 1996 | -92,307 | +7.0% |
| 1997 | -98,454 | +6.7% |
| 1998 | -108,400 | +10.1% |
| 1999 | -122,551 | +13.1% |
| 2000 | -147,193 | +20.1% |
| 2001 | -148,973 | +1.2% |
| 2002 | -153,730 | +3.2% |
| 2003 | -168,314 | +9.5% |
| 2004 | -197,336 | +17.2% |
| 2005 | -211,024 | +6.9% |
| 2006 | -241,455 | +14.4% |
| 2007 | -252,526 | +4.6% |
| 2008 | -261,540 | +3.6% |
| 2009 | -266,144 | +1.8% |
| 2010 | -269,963 | +1.4% |
| 2011 | -347,552 | +28.7% |
| 2012 | -371,707 | +7.0% |
| 2013 | -373,064 | +0.4% |
| 2014 | -310,156 | -16.9% |
| 2015 | -221,062 | -28.7% |
| 2016 | -341,748 | +54.6% |
| 2017 | -368,787 | +7.9% |
| 2018 | -295,151 | -20.0% |
| 2019 | 182,203 | -161.7% |
| 2020 | 162,139 | -11.0% |
| 2021 | 130,001 | -19.8% |
| 2022 | -379,321 | -391.8% |
| 2023 | -409,782 | +8.0% |
| 2024 | -401,282 | -2.1% |
| 2025 | -364,699 | -9.1% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's -364,699 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is -10,230, 35.6× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nepal's -364,699 is below the median for South Asia, which is -197,712, 1.8× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Nepal changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | +5677.3% | 88 | 5,084 |
| 1991 | +2765.0% | -640 | 17,056 |
| 1984 | -1580.1% | 1,304 | -19,300 |
| 1971 | -494.4% | 1,847 | -7,284 |
| 1970 | +450.5% | -527 | 1,847 |
| 1992 | +393.2% | 17,056 | 84,113 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -5,325 | -13,223 | 347 | 10 |
| 1970s | -3,224 | -15,119 | 2,108 | 10 |
| 1980s | -27,533 | -72,437 | 5,084 | 10 |
| 1990s | -47,261 | -122,551 | 84,113 | 10 |
| 2000s | -204,824 | -266,144 | -147,193 | 10 |
| 2010s | -271,699 | -373,064 | 182,203 | 10 |
| 2020s | -210,491 | -409,782 | 162,139 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More financial sector data for Nepal
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0005 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 0.7398 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 0.5402 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0005 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 0.7398 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Nepal?
- Net migration in Nepal was -364,699 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 182,203 in 2019.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was -409,782 in 2023.
- How does Nepal rank for net migration?
- Nepal ranks 215th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 65.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nepal data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.