Nepal vs South Asia: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force)
Nepal
10.5%
in 2025
South Asia
4.2%
in 2025
Nepal rank
36th
South Asia rank
39th
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) over time
- Nepal
- South Asia
How they compare
Nepal currently reports 10.5% against 4.2% in South Asia, a difference of 6.3%.
That makes Nepal's figure about 2.5 times South Asia's.
Across all 35 years both countries report, Nepal has been ahead every year.
Nepal ranks 36th and South Asia ranks 39th of 187 countries.
Nepal has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Nepal | South Asia | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10.5% | 7.2% | 3.3% | Nepal |
| 2000s | 10.6% | 7.3% | 3.3% | Nepal |
| 2010s | 10.6% | 7.2% | 3.5% | Nepal |
| 2020s | 11.2% | 5.2% | 6.0% | Nepal |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher unemployment, total (% of total labor force), Nepal or South Asia?
- Nepal, at 10.5% against 4.2% in South Asia as of 2025.
- What is the difference in unemployment, total (% of total labor force) between Nepal and South Asia?
- 6.3%, with Nepal ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Nepal and South Asia?
- 35 years are reported by both, from 1991 to 2025.
- How do Nepal and South Asia rank globally for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Nepal ranks 36th and South Asia ranks 39th of 187 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.