Nepali Life Expectancy Hits 71.3 Years as Literacy Climbs to 76.2%

The National Statistics Office (NSO) has released a comprehensive infographics report detailing Nepal’s latest economic and social indicators. Drawing from the National Census 2021 (2078 BS), the Nepal Living Standards Survey 2023/24 (2079/80 BS), and the National Agricultural Census 2021, the report shows strong progress in social sectors alongside persistent economic challenges.

Population and Social Changes

Nepal's total population stands at 29,164,578, with a slowing annual growth rate of 0.92%. Life expectancy has risen remarkably to 71.3 years (68.2 years for men and 73.8 years for women). The working age population (15 to 59 years) accounts for 61.96% of the total, though job shortages continue to drive migration; over 2.19 million individuals from more than 1.55 million families currently live abroad. Additionally, 60% of Nepali households now live as nuclear families, and the average age for first marriage has reached 20 years.

Poverty and Economy

According to the latest Living Standards Survey, 20.27% of Nepal’s population lives below the poverty line. Poverty is higher in rural areas (24.66%) compared to urban areas (18.34%). Sudurpashchim Province records the highest poverty rate at 34.16%, while Bagmati Province records the lowest at 12.59%. Under the new threshold, individuals spending less than Rs 72,908 per year are classified as poor. Under the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), 17.4% of Nepalis are poor.

For the fiscal year 2080/81, the economy is estimated to reach Rs 5.704 trillion, with a preliminary growth rate of 3.87%. Per Capita Gross National Income (GNI) rose to $1,456 from $1,405 the previous year. The service sector dominates the economy at 62.9%, followed by agriculture at 24.6% and industry at 12.5%.

Labor and Agriculture Challenges

The unemployment rate stands at 11.4%, and a worrying 84.6% of employed individuals work in informal sectors, which lack job security. Agriculture is facing fragmentation; land used for farming shrank from 2.525 million hectares in 2011 to 2.218 million hectares in 2021, even though the number of farming families grew to 4.13 million. On the commercial side, Nepal operates 60,185 industrial establishments employing over 491,000 people, and 498,058 trade establishments engaging around 4 million individuals.