Number of people employed in agriculture in Nepal
Nepal: Number of people employed in agriculture was 1.72 million people in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
1.72 million people
Change on year
down 2.2%
World rank
58th
of 186 countries
All-time high
1.96 million people
in 2005
All-time low
1.66 million people
in 2019
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Number of people employed in agriculture in Nepal, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people employed in agriculture in Nepal is 1.72 million people, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 2.2% on the previous year and down 2.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people employed in agriculture in Nepal peaked at 1.96 million people in 2005 and was at its lowest, 1.66 million people, in 2019.
Nepal ranks 58th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Number of people employed in agriculture in Nepal, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1.73 million people | — |
| 1992 | 1.75 million people | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 1.76 million people | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 1.75 million people | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 1.75 million people | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 1.74 million people | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 1.79 million people | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 1.84 million people | +3.0% |
| 1999 | 1.88 million people | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 1.90 million people | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 1.91 million people | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 1.95 million people | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 1.96 million people | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 1.96 million people | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 1.96 million people | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 1.95 million people | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 1.95 million people | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 1.94 million people | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 1.92 million people | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 1.91 million people | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 1.90 million people | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 1.87 million people | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 1.84 million people | -1.6% |
| 2014 | 1.79 million people | -2.6% |
| 2015 | 1.76 million people | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 1.76 million people | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 1.73 million people | -2.1% |
| 2018 | 1.67 million people | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 1.66 million people | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 1.73 million people | +4.2% |
| 2021 | 1.80 million people | +4.2% |
| 2022 | 1.81 million people | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 1.79 million people | -1.2% |
| 2024 | 1.75 million people | -1.9% |
| 2025 | 1.72 million people | -2.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.78 million people | 1.73 million people | 1.88 million people | 9 |
| 2000s | 1.94 million people | 1.90 million people | 1.96 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.79 million people | 1.66 million people | 1.91 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.77 million people | 1.72 million people | 1.81 million people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More agriculture & rural data for Nepal
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 4.5 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2156 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 331.1 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.7937 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.33 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 21.6% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 21.6% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.6% (2022)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.3% (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people employed in agriculture in Nepal?
- Number of people employed in agriculture in Nepal was 1.72 million people in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people employed in agriculture recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 1.96 million people in 2005.
- What is the lowest number of people employed in agriculture recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.66 million people in 2019.
- How does Nepal rank for number of people employed in agriculture?
- Nepal ranks 58th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people employed in agriculture rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Nepal data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people employed in agriculture. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people working in agriculture, including hunting, forestry and fishing.