Independent rankings built from public data — every figure traceable to the body that published it.

Photo: Laxman Thapa from Nepal derivative work: Inkey · CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Nepal places highest on Renewable Share of Electricity Generation (top 2% worldwide) and lowest on Labour Force Participation Rate (bottom 4%).
Population
29,694,614
people
since 1950
Land area
143,350
km²
since 1961
GDP per person
5,277
international $, PPP
since 1990
Life expectancy
70.35
years at birth
since 1950
Human development
0.622
HDI, 0–1
since 1990
Unemployment
10.46
% of the labour force
since 1991
The newest published figure for each, the year it describes and who published it, with a line showing how it has moved.
01The country
As Wikidata records them. Official languages are the least consistent — some countries list only a national language, others every regional one. Sources and licences.
02Country Index 2026
Strongest first. Each position is Nepal’s place among the countries with a standing on that topic, built from a few key statistics chosen to measure different things.
joint23rdof 161
From 3 of 3 key statistics
91stof 191
From 3 of 3 key statistics
joint85thof 177
From 3 of 3 key statistics
97thof 198
From 3 of 3 key statistics
103rdof 182
From 4 of 4 key statistics
112thof 178
From 3 of 3 key statistics
134thof 201
From 4 of 4 key statistics
joint131stof 194
From 3 of 3 key statistics
104thof 150
From 3 of 3 key statistics
139thof 193
From 5 of 5 key statistics
171stof 182
From 4 of 4 key statistics
No standing — Nepal holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
Each standing is built from a few key statistics chosen to measure different things. Select a subject for Nepal’s readings on it, or see every statistic held for Nepal in the table further down this page.
03Highs and lows
The two ends of its own record: every statistic on which Nepal sits within ten places of the best or worst in the world, plus its strongest and weakest readings overall. Each is turned into a percentile — its place among every country measured — which is what lets a hunger score and a press-freedom rank be compared at all.
In the top third of all countries measured. 3 are within ten places of the best in the world, in a field of at least 50 countries — marked with that place.
Position · derived 1st of 190 · 100 · 2024
world median 31.14 (better)
Position · derived 57th of 59 · 1 = worst · 1 · 2025
world median 0 (worse) · ▼ 35 pts since 2015
Position · derived 5th of 118 · 24.42 · 2021
world median 8.389 (better) · ▲ 4 pts since 2011
Position · derived 17th of 194 · 144.45 · 2022
world median 107.06 (better) · ▲ 60 pts since 2012
Position · derived 110th of 126 · 1 = worst · 0.887 · 2025
world median 2.296 (better) · ▼ 6 pts since 2015
In the bottom third of all countries measured. 4 are within ten places of the worst in the world, in a field of at least 50 countries — marked with that place.
Position · derived 175th of 182 · 39.24 · 2025
world median 61.66 (worse)
Position · derived 78th of 86 · 77.2 · 2019
world median 98.8 (worse) · ▲ 8 pts since 2011
Position · derived 173rd of 182 · 35.14 · 2025
world median 57.72 (worse)
Position · derived 171st of 184 · 0.858 · 2023
world median 0.971 (worse) · ▼ 16 pts since 2013
Position · derived 15th of 182 · 1 = worst · 76.98 · 2025
world median 28.67 (worse)
A band is a place among the countries each publisher scores, so Nepal can move because other countries moved. See the Country Index for the full method.
04Over time
The published rank in widely quoted reports, edition by edition — each end with the size of that year’s field — and the statistics, not already named above, on which it has gained or lost the most ground.
UNDP Human Development Report Office
117th
of 141 · 1990
145th
of 193 · 2023
Ranked in 34 of 34 editions
Transparency International
138th
of 173 · 2012
109th
of 181 · 2025
Ranked in 14 of 14 editions
UNDP Human Development Report Office
76th
of 79 · 1990
125th
of 172 · 2023
Ranked in 34 of 34 editions
World Intellectual Property Organization
111th
of 132 · 2022
107th
of 139 · 2025
Ranked in 4 of 4 editions
Growth Lab at Harvard University
101st
of 140 · 1995
88th
of 145 · 2024
Ranked in 30 of 30 editions
Oxford Insights
146th
of 172 · 2020
106th
of 195 · 2025
Ranked in 6 of 6 editions
Where Nepal has climbed against the rest of the world, in percentile points.
Where Nepal has slipped against the rest of the world, in percentile points.
05In context
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place in the world ranking of 174, not within the region.
Every country in the sub-region, by its position in the world (of 174 placed).
06The evidence
Grouped by topic. Each row gives the newest edition’s rank or position, the published value and the year the numbers describe — select a row for the world median, the best in the world and the trend.
Lower middle · bottom 40% of 132 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Agriculture orientation index (1.0 = spending matches sector size)
Nepal 0.25 · world median 0.305 (worse)
Best in the world 5.38 (Singapore)
▼ -16 percentile points since 2014
Upper middle · top 20% of 50 countries measured
World Bank Group · Operational efficiency score (0–100)
Nepal 72.21 · world median 65.82 (better)
Best in the world 87.33 (Singapore)
No earlier reading to compare
Middle · bottom 47% of 50 countries measured
World Bank Group · Public services score (0–100)
Nepal 49.29 · world median 50.13 (worse)
Best in the world 73.31 (Estonia)
No earlier reading to compare
Lower middle · bottom 27% of 50 countries measured
World Bank Group · Regulatory framework score (0–100)
Nepal 59.3 · world median 66.8 (worse)
Best in the world 78.34 (Hungary)
No earlier reading to compare
Middle · bottom 47% of 198 countries measured
CIVICUS · Civic space score (0–100)
Nepal 47.55 · world median 50.46 (worse)
Best in the world 100 (Kiribati)
No earlier reading to compare
Bottom fifth · bottom 17% of 185 countries measured
UNICEF · Children under 5 whose birth is registered (%)
Nepal 73.2 · world median 98.4 (worse)
Best in the world 100 (53 countries tied)
No earlier reading to compare
Lower middle · bottom 39% of 182 countries measured · 182 share 181 positions
Transparency International · CPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean)
Nepal 34 · world median 39 (worse)
Best in the world 89 (Denmark)
▲ +17 percentile points since 2015
Upper middle · top 32% of 78 countries measured
World Bank Group · IDA Resource Allocation Index (1 = low to 6 = high)
Nepal 3.367 · world median 3.246 (better)
Best in the world 4.225 (Rwanda)
▲ +6 percentile points since 2015
Middle · top 48% of 109 countries measured
World Bank Group · Total debt service (% of exports of goods, services and primary income)
Nepal 12.39 · world median 12.93 (better)
Best in the world 0.285 (Iran)
▼ -3 percentile points since 2014
Top fifth · top 16% of 110 countries measured
World Bank Group · External debt stocks (% of GNI)
Nepal 23.27 · world median 43.94 (better)
Best in the world 2.213 (Iran)
No real change since 2014
Bottom fifth · bottom 8% of 132 countries measured
World Bank Group · General government final consumption expenditure (% of GDP)
Nepal 8.385 · world median 16.21
Highest 38.94 (Ukraine)
No real change since 2015
Middle · bottom 46% of 195 countries measured
Oxford Insights · AI readiness score (0–100)
Nepal 38.5 · world median 40.19 (worse)
Best in the world 88.36 (United States)
▲ +31 percentile points since 2020
Bottom fifth · bottom 17% of 209 countries measured
World Bank Group · Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)
Nepal -0.885 · world median 0.01 (worse)
Best in the world 2.28 (Singapore)
▲ +2 percentile points since 2014
Middle · top 44% of 123 countries measured
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)
Nepal 3.956 · world median 3.709 (better)
Best in the world 16.39 (Kiribati)
▲ +33 percentile points since 2013
Lower middle · bottom 34% of 168 countries measured
Open Data Watch · ODIN overall score (0–100)
Nepal 50 · world median 59 (worse)
Best in the world 90 (2 countries tied)
▼ -19 percentile points since 2015
Bottom fifth · bottom 16% of 135 countries measured
World Bank Group · Public sector employment (% of total employment)
Nepal 4.371 · world median 15.01
Highest 47.1 (Maldives)
No earlier reading to compare
Bottom fifth · bottom 4% of 168 countries measured
World Bank Group · Public sector wage bill (% of GDP)
Nepal 2.848 · world median 7.975
Highest 42.65 (Nauru)
No real change since 2012
Lower middle · bottom 30% of 209 countries measured
World Bank Group · Regulatory Quality (−2.5 to 2.5)
Nepal -0.552 · world median -0.09 (worse)
Best in the world 2.132 (Singapore)
▲ +2 percentile points since 2014
Middle · bottom 43% of 211 countries measured
World Bank Group · Rule of Law estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)
Nepal -0.304 · world median -0.1 (worse)
Best in the world 2.021 (Finland)
▲ +6 percentile points since 2014
Lower middle · bottom 29% of 188 countries measured
World Bank Group · SPI overall score (0–100)
Nepal 60.37 · world median 69.3 (worse)
Best in the world 94.14 (Norway)
No real change since 2016
Top fifth · top 15% of 139 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Employees who are trade union members (%)
Nepal 30.16 · world median 16.68 (better)
Best in the world 91.42 (Iceland)
No earlier reading to compare
Upper middle · top 34% of 176 countries measured
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · Electoral democracy index (0–1)
Nepal 0.656 · world median 0.497 (better)
Best in the world 0.913 (Denmark)
▲ +5 percentile points since 2015
Middle · bottom 49% of 208 countries measured
World Bank Group · Voice and Accountability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)
Nepal -0.06 · world median -0.02 (worse)
Best in the world 1.929 (Norway)
▲ +13 percentile points since 2014
Middle · bottom 48% of 190 countries measured
World Bank Group · WBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity)
Nepal 80.63 · world median 81.25 (worse)
Best in the world 100 (14 countries tied)
▲ +36 percentile points since 2014
Lower middle · bottom 36% of 139 countries measured
World Bank Group · Adults with an account (% of population aged 15+)
Nepal 59.99 · world median 72.83 (worse)
Best in the world 99.85 (Iceland)
▲ +4 percentile points since 2014
Top fifth · top 3% of 118 countries measured
World Bank Group · Adjusted net savings, including particulate emission damage (% of GNI)
Nepal 24.42 · world median 8.389 (better)
Best in the world 32.18 (Bangladesh)
▲ +4 percentile points since 2011
Lower middle · bottom 37% of 209 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Agricultural land (% of land area)
Nepal 26.12 · world median 37.96
Highest 86.48 (Côte d’Ivoire)
No real change since 2013
Top fifth · top 16% of 158 countries measured
World Bank Group · Agriculture, forestry and fishing value added (% of GDP)
Nepal 21.56 · world median 6.572
Highest 47.59 (Niger)
▼ -8 percentile points since 2015
Middle · top 48% of 179 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Cereal yield (kg per hectare)
Nepal 3,344 · world median 3,072 (better)
Best in the world 29,147 (Oman)
▲ +7 percentile points since 2013
Upper middle · top 29% of 195 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Crop production index (2014–2016 = 100)
Nepal 116.66 · world median 106.23 (better)
Best in the world 189.93 (Senegal)
▲ +19 percentile points since 2012
Lower middle · bottom 40% of 145 countries measured
Growth Lab at Harvard University · ECI score (standardised, roughly −3 to +3)
Nepal -0.102 · world median 0.131 (worse)
Best in the world 1.729 (Japan)
▼ -8 percentile points since 2014
Bottom fifth · bottom 1% of 138 countries measured
World Bank Group · Exports of goods and services (% of GDP)
Nepal 8.828 · world median 36.34
Highest 199.76 (Hong Kong)
▼ -2 percentile points since 2015
Middle · bottom 44% of 191 countries measured · 191 share 188 positions
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Fertilizer consumption (kg per hectare of arable land)
Nepal 67.84 · world median 87.36
Highest 2,926 (Malaysia)
▲ +4 percentile points since 2013
Top fifth · top 19% of 195 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Food production index (2014–2016 = 100)
Nepal 123.18 · world median 106.08 (better)
Best in the world 177.49 (Senegal)
▲ +30 percentile points since 2012
Upper middle · top 31% of 186 countries measured
World Bank Group · GDP growth (annual %)
Nepal 4.431 · world median 3.396 (better)
Best in the world 19.34 (Guyana)
No real change since 2015
Lower middle · bottom 21% of 185 countries measured
World Bank Group · GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)
Nepal 5,277 · world median 17,265 (worse)
Best in the world 139,593 (Singapore)
▲ +4 percentile points since 2015
Upper middle · top 22% of 73 countries measured
World Bank Group · Gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality)
Nepal 30.02 · world median 33.91 (better)
Best in the world 24.08 (Slovakia)
▲ +53 percentile points since 2003
Lower middle · bottom 23% of 139 countries measured
World Intellectual Property Organization · GII score (0–100)
Nepal 20.21 · world median 28.52 (worse)
Best in the world 65.96 (Switzerland)
▲ +7 percentile points since 2022
Lower middle · bottom 27% of 102 countries measured
World Bank Group · GNI per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)
Nepal 5,351 · world median 14,273 (worse)
Best in the world 116,633 (Singapore)
▲ +11 percentile points since 2015
Top fifth · top 18% of 131 countries measured
World Bank Group · Gross capital formation (% of GDP)
Nepal 29.4 · world median 22.93
Highest 45.27 (Algeria)
No real change since 2015
Top fifth · top 9% of 146 countries measured
World Bank Group · Gross savings (% of GDP)
Nepal 36.05 · world median 22.06
Highest 47.82 (Macau)
No real change since 2014
Top fifth · top 9% of 131 countries measured
World Bank Group · Household and NPISH final consumption expenditure (% of GDP)
Nepal 84.73 · world median 62.04
Highest 133.34 (Somalia)
No real change since 2015
Lower middle · bottom 39% of 138 countries measured
World Bank Group · Imports of goods and services (% of GDP)
Nepal 33.72 · world median 41.72
Highest 196.89 (Hong Kong)
▼ -2 percentile points since 2015
Bottom fifth · bottom 7% of 158 countries measured
World Bank Group · Industry, including construction, value added (% of GDP)
Nepal 12.05 · world median 24.65
Highest 75.09 (Guyana)
▼ -6 percentile points since 2015
Lower middle · bottom 26% of 169 countries measured
UNDP Human Development Report Office · IHDI (0–1)
Nepal 0.437 · world median 0.609 (worse)
Best in the world 0.923 (Iceland)
No real change since 2013
Top fifth · top 14% of 188 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Livestock units per hectare of agricultural land
Nepal 1.69 · world median 0.535
Highest 43.97 (Singapore)
▼ -5 percentile points since 2013
Top fifth · top 8% of 194 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Livestock production index (2014–2016 = 100)
Nepal 144.45 · world median 107.06 (better)
Best in the world 190.08 (Malawi)
▲ +60 percentile points since 2012
Bottom fifth · bottom 13% of 132 countries measured
World Bank Group · Manufacturing value added (% of GDP)
Nepal 4.982 · world median 11.26
Highest 43.97 (Puerto Rico)
▼ -6 percentile points since 2015
Middle · top 47% of 130 countries measured
OECD Development Assistance Committee · Net ODA received (% of GNI)
Nepal 2.824 · world median 2.579
Highest 101.78 (Tuvalu)
▼ -8 percentile points since 2013
Upper middle · top 40% of 73 countries measured · 73 share 69 positions
World Bank Group · Poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%)
Nepal 0.31 · world median 0.42 (better)
Best in the world 0 (5 countries tied)
▲ +50 percentile points since 2003
Lower middle · bottom 35% of 73 countries measured · 73 share 71 positions
World Bank Group · Population below $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%)
Nepal 2.44 · world median 1.05 (worse)
Best in the world 0 (3 countries tied)
▲ +24 percentile points since 2003
Lower middle · bottom 21% of 73 countries measured
World Bank Group · Population below $8.30 a day, 2021 PPP (%)
Nepal 52.68 · world median 10.79 (worse)
Best in the world 0.04 (Cyprus)
▲ +8 percentile points since 2003
Lower middle · bottom 25% of 73 countries measured
World Bank Group · Average factor incomes must rise by to reach $28 a day
Nepal 3.909 · world median 2.118 (worse)
Best in the world 0.43 (Luxembourg)
▲ +13 percentile points since 2003
Lower middle · bottom 36% of 197 countries measured · 197 share 180 positions
World Bank Group · Natural resources rents (% of GDP)
Nepal 0.499 · world median 1.708
Highest 61.03 (Libya)
No real change since 2011
Bottom fifth · bottom 17% of 138 countries measured
World Bank Group · Exports plus imports (% of GDP)
Nepal 42.55 · world median 79.68
Highest 396.65 (Hong Kong)
No real change since 2015
Bottom fifth · bottom 7% of 126 countries measured · 126 share 99 positions
World Energy Council · Trilemma score (0–100)
Nepal 40.5 · world median 63.8 (worse)
Best in the world 83.2 (Denmark)
No earlier reading to compare
Upper middle · top 36% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person
Nepal 41.14 · world median 38.89
Highest 54.7 (Bhutan)
▲ +7 percentile points since 2015
Middle · top 41% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)
Nepal 22.91 · world median 14.38
Highest 85.34 (Burundi)
No real change since 2015
Top fifth · top 7% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Employment in industry (% of total employment)
Nepal 31.28 · world median 18.88
Highest 39.44 (Oman)
▲ +3 percentile points since 2015
Lower middle · bottom 23% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Employment in services (% of total employment)
Nepal 45.81 · world median 59.51
Highest 92.17 (Djibouti)
▼ -5 percentile points since 2015
Bottom fifth · bottom 5% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Nepal 35.14 · world median 57.72 (worse)
Best in the world 86.9 (Qatar)
No real change since 2015
Bottom fifth · bottom 9% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%)
Nepal 27.47 · world median 53.36 (worse)
Best in the world 82.91 (Madagascar)
▼ -2 percentile points since 2015
Lower middle · bottom 21% of 179 countries measured
World Bank Group · Firms with a female top manager (%)
Nepal 10.31 · world median 19.16 (worse)
Best in the world 62.9 (Kiribati)
No earlier reading to compare
Lower middle · bottom 28% of 168 countries measured
World Bank Group · GDP per person employed (constant 2021 international $)
Nepal 20,874 · world median 47,384 (worse)
Best in the world 262,554 (Luxembourg)
▲ +3 percentile points since 2015
Bottom fifth · bottom 19% of 97 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Informal employment (% of total employment)
Nepal 80.77 · world median 36.83 (worse)
Best in the world 0.857 (Hungary)
No earlier reading to compare
Bottom fifth · bottom 4% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%)
Nepal 39.24 · world median 61.66 (worse)
Best in the world 87.01 (Qatar)
No real change since 2015
Lower middle · bottom 28% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP)
Nepal 9.74 · world median 22.16 (worse)
Best in the world 164.65 (Ireland)
▲ +3 percentile points since 2015
Top fifth · top 9% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Self-employed (% of total employment)
Nepal 78.58 · world median 31.84
Highest 91.56 (Chad)
No real change since 2015
Bottom fifth · bottom 18% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Unemployment (% of labour force)
Nepal 10.46 · world median 5.084 (worse)
Best in the world 0.13 (Qatar)
▼ -8 percentile points since 2015
Bottom fifth · bottom 8% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Nepal 76.98 · world median 28.67 (worse)
Best in the world 0.456 (Qatar)
No real change since 2015
Upper middle · top 39% of 113 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Employed people living in extreme poverty (%)
Nepal 1.876 · world median 4.885 (better)
Best in the world 0.007 (Bhutan)
▲ +10 percentile points since 2015
Lower middle · bottom 24% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force)
Nepal 20.56 · world median 12.83 (worse)
Best in the world 0.457 (Niger)
▼ -12 percentile points since 2015
Bottom fifth · bottom 17% of 172 countries measured
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · Adults 15+ who can read and write (%)
Nepal 68.71 · world median 93.99 (worse)
Best in the world 100 (3 countries tied)
No earlier reading to compare
Middle · top 47% of 195 countries measured
UNDP Human Development Report Office · Expected years of schooling
Nepal 13.75 · world median 13.34 (better)
Best in the world 21.69 (Monaco)
▲ +9 percentile points since 2013
Bottom fifth · bottom 9% of 193 countries measured
UNDP Human Development Report Office · Mean years of schooling (adults 25+)
Nepal 4.504 · world median 9.933 (worse)
Best in the world 14.3 (Germany)
No real change since 2013
Upper middle · top 34% of 121 countries measured
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
Nepal 2.034 · world median 3.691 (better)
Best in the world 0.004 (United Arab Emirates)
▼ -18 percentile points since 2014
Middle · bottom 46% of 120 countries measured
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · Net enrolment rate, pre-primary (%)
Nepal 62.31 · world median 65.93 (worse)
Best in the world 99.85 (Moldova)
▲ +11 percentile points since 2014
Lower middle · bottom 37% of 165 countries measured
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · Primary completion rate (%)
Nepal 90.83 · world median 97.43 (worse)
Best in the world 100 (5 countries tied)
▲ +7 percentile points since 2015
Lower middle · bottom 36% of 77 countries measured
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · School life expectancy, primary to tertiary (years)
Nepal 13.57 · world median 14.59 (worse)
Best in the world 21.01 (Monaco)
▲ +8 percentile points since 2014
Lower middle · bottom 38% of 109 countries measured
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · Gross secondary enrolment ratio (%)
Nepal 90.39 · world median 93.19 (worse)
Best in the world 158.55 (Monaco)
▲ +16 percentile points since 2014
Lower middle · bottom 20% of 95 countries measured
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · Gross enrolment ratio, tertiary (%)
Nepal 21.29 · world median 52.77 (worse)
Best in the world 141.86 (Macau)
▲ +3 percentile points since 2014
Lower middle · bottom 36% of 164 countries measured
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · Upper secondary completion rate (%)
Nepal 42.48 · world median 64.87 (worse)
Best in the world 99.27 (South Korea)
▲ +19 percentile points since 2015
Lower middle · bottom 36% of 174 countries measured
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · 15–24 year-olds who can read and write (%)
Nepal 94.24 · world median 98.22 (worse)
Best in the world 100 (6 countries tied)
No earlier reading to compare
Bottom fifth · bottom 9% of 86 countries measured
UNICEF · Births attended by skilled health staff (%)
Nepal 77.2 · world median 98.8 (worse)
Best in the world 100 (11 countries tied)
▲ +8 percentile points since 2011
Middle · top 49% of 62 countries measured
UNICEF · Children aged 5-17 with a functional difficulty (%)
Nepal 13.2 · world median 13
Highest 35.2 (Afghanistan)
No earlier reading to compare
Middle · bottom 46% of 155 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Dietary energy supply (kcal per person per day)
Nepal 2,935 · world median 2,982 (worse)
Best in the world 3,962 (United States)
▲ +12 percentile points since 2014
Top fifth · top 20% of 136 countries measured
UNICEF · Infants under 6 months exclusively breastfed (%)
Nepal 56.4 · world median 40.74 (better)
Best in the world 83.3 (Burundi)
No earlier reading to compare
Lower middle · bottom 27% of 172 countries measured
UNDP Human Development Report Office · GII (0 = full equality, 1 = maximum inequality)
Nepal 0.487 · world median 0.351 (worse)
Best in the world 0.003 (Denmark)
▼ -2 percentile points since 2013
Middle · bottom 41% of 109 countries measured
Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) · MPI (0–1)
Nepal 0.085 · world median 0.039 (worse)
Best in the world 0 (Serbia)
▼ -4 percentile points since 2018
Upper middle · top 38% of 209 countries measured · 209 share 206 positions
Small Arms Survey · Violent deaths per 100,000 people
Nepal 2.41 · world median 4.02 (better)
Best in the world 0 (4 countries tied)
No real change since 2011
Lower middle · bottom 38% of 172 countries measured
World Bank Group · HCI score (0–1)
Nepal 0.505 · world median 0.564 (worse)
Best in the world 0.879 (Singapore)
▲ +3 percentile points since 2017
Lower middle · bottom 25% of 193 countries measured
UNDP Human Development Report Office · HDI score (0–1)
Nepal 0.622 · world median 0.762 (worse)
Best in the world 0.972 (Iceland)
▲ +2 percentile points since 2013
Lower middle · bottom 31% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Years a newborn would live at current death rates
Nepal 70.35 · world median 74.63 (worse)
Best in the world 86.37 (Monaco)
▲ +3 percentile points since 2013
Lower middle · bottom 26% of 195 countries measured
UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG) · Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births
Nepal 142.01 · world median 46.65 (worse)
Best in the world 0.11 (Cook Islands)
▲ +5 percentile points since 2013
Lower middle · bottom 24% of 181 countries measured · 181 share 178 positions
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Pesticide use (kg per hectare of cropland)
Nepal 0.6 · world median 1.73
Highest 37.72 (Antigua and Barbuda)
▲ +8 percentile points since 2014
Lower middle · bottom 26% of 133 countries measured · 133 share 127 positions
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Population in severe food insecurity (%)
Nepal 12.8 · world median 4.7 (worse)
Best in the world 0 (7 countries tied)
No real change since 2015
Middle · bottom 49% of 165 countries measured · 165 share 104 positions
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Population undernourished (%)
Nepal 5.3 · world median 5.2 (worse)
Best in the world 2.5 (62 countries tied)
▲ +14 percentile points since 2013
Lower middle · bottom 28% of 162 countries measured
UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
Nepal 24.81 · world median 13.8 (worse)
Best in the world 0.518 (Latvia)
No earlier reading to compare
Lower middle · bottom 33% of 200 countries measured
UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME) · Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
Nepal 25.12 · world median 14.54 (worse)
Best in the world 1.26 (San Marino)
▲ +4 percentile points since 2014
Lower middle · bottom 35% of 90 countries measured
UNICEF · Children aged 1-14 experiencing violent discipline (%)
Nepal 82 · world median 75.8 (worse)
Best in the world 37.6 (Qatar)
No earlier reading to compare
Lower middle · bottom 34% of 215 countries measured
World Bank Group · Population with electricity access (%)
Nepal 97.9 · world median 100 (worse)
Best in the world 100 (122 countries tied)
▲ +7 percentile points since 2014
Top fifth · top 7% of 121 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Irrigated share of agricultural land (%)
Nepal 32.29 · world median 3.66
Highest 89.04 (Bangladesh)
No earlier reading to compare
Lower middle · bottom 31% of 206 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Arable land (hectares per person)
Nepal 0.061 · world median 0.109
Highest 1.459 (Kazakhstan)
No real change since 2013
Lower middle · bottom 30% of 161 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Share of the cereal supply that is imported (%)
Nepal 17.3 · world median 42.8
Highest 100 (16 countries tied)
▲ +5 percentile points since 2012
Bottom fifth · bottom 12% of 145 countries measured · 145 share 143 positions
UNICEF · Women 20–24 married before 18 (%)
Nepal 34.9 · world median 17.1 (worse)
Best in the world 0 (3 countries tied)
No earlier reading to compare
Lower middle · bottom 29% of 169 countries measured
UNDP Human Development Report Office · Coefficient of Human Inequality (%)
Nepal 28.9 · world median 17.05 (worse)
Best in the world 4.865 (Slovenia)
No real change since 2013
Middle · top 40% of 93 countries measured
World Bank Group · Average cost of sending $200 home (% of the amount)
Nepal 2.53 · world median 3.225 (better)
Best in the world -49.69 (Malawi)
▼ -26 percentile points since 2016
Bottom fifth · bottom 7% of 184 countries measured
UNDP Human Development Report Office · Gender Development Index (1.000 = parity)
Nepal 0.858 · world median 0.971 (worse)
Best in the world 1 (2 countries tied)
▼ -16 percentile points since 2013
Upper middle · top 21% of 180 countries measured · 180 share 179 positions
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Land under cereal production (hectares)
Nepal 3,334,346 · world median 689,278
Highest 103,715,108 (India)
No real change since 2013
Bottom fifth · bottom 17% of 156 countries measured · 156 share 150 positions
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Organic share of agricultural land (%)
Nepal 0.04 · world median 0.725 (worse)
Best in the world 86.38 (Samoa)
▼ -21 percentile points since 2014
Lower middle · bottom 30% of 156 countries measured
UNDP Human Development Report Office · PHDI (0–1)
Nepal 0.592 · world median 0.678 (worse)
Best in the world 0.827 (United Kingdom)
No real change since 2013
Top fifth · top 1% of 173 countries measured · 173 share 171 positions
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Freshwater withdrawn for agriculture (% of total)
Nepal 98.14 · world median 62.14
Highest 99.48 (Somalia)
No real change since 2012
Upper middle · top 31% of 198 countries measured · 198 share 193 positions
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Farm-gate emissions (kt CO₂eq)
Nepal 23,824 · world median 8,635
Highest 1,044,508 (India)
▼ -6 percentile points since 2013
Top fifth · top 13% of 126 countries measured
Global Footprint Network · Ecological Footprint (global hectares per person)
Nepal 0.887 · world median 2.296 (better)
Best in the world 0.514 (Yemen)
▼ -6 percentile points since 2015
Upper middle · top 34% of 213 countries measured · 213 share 210 positions
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Forest area (% of land area)
Nepal 41.59 · world median 31.08
Highest 94.45 (Suriname)
No real change since 2013
Lower middle · bottom 26% of 160 countries measured
Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) · New displacements by disaster (people)
Nepal 56,000 · world median 4,750 (worse)
Best in the world 1 (Serbia)
▲ +8 percentile points since 2014
Upper middle · top 32% of 181 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Renewable internal freshwater (cubic metres per person)
Nepal 6,670 · world median 2,528 (better)
Best in the world 445,023 (Iceland)
No real change since 2012
Top fifth · top 2% of 193 countries measured · 193 share 190 positions
Ember · Renewables (% of electricity generated)
Nepal 100 · world median 31.14 (better)
Best in the world 100 (7 countries tied)
No real change since 2014
Middle · top 46% of 177 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Freshwater withdrawal as a share of available resources (%)
Nepal 8.31 · world median 10 (better)
Best in the world 0.03 (Republic of the Congo)
No real change since 2013
Upper middle · top 29% of 193 countries measured
Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV), Ruhr University Bochum · WorldRiskIndex score (0–100, where 100 is the most at risk)
Nepal 2.6 · world median 4.17 (better)
Best in the world 0.18 (Monaco)
▲ +4 percentile points since 2015
Lower middle · bottom 38% of 140 countries measured
OECD · SIGI score (0 = no discrimination, 100 = absolute)
Nepal 30.6 · world median 25.2 (worse)
Best in the world 6.7 (Norway)
No earlier reading to compare
Lower middle · bottom 29% of 196 countries measured · 196 share 59 positions
Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP) · Deaths in organized violence (people)
Nepal 1 · world median 0 (worse)
Best in the world 0 (138 countries tied)
▼ -35 percentile points since 2015
Upper middle · top 24% of 149 countries measured
Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies (BICC) · GMI score (higher means a heavier military weight)
Nepal 71.05 · world median 100.66 (better)
Best in the world 3.512 (Haiti)
▲ +15 percentile points since 2013
Lower middle · bottom 32% of 191 countries measured
European Commission Joint Research Centre, with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee · INFORM Risk score (0–10, where 10 is the highest risk)
Nepal 4.9 · world median 3.7 (worse)
Best in the world 0.7 (Singapore)
▲ +12 percentile points since 2016
Middle · bottom 43% of 176 countries measured
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · Freedom from political killings and torture (0–1)
Nepal 0.706 · world median 0.79 (worse)
Best in the world 0.989 (2 countries tied)
▼ -2 percentile points since 2015
Lower middle · bottom 31% of 211 countries measured
World Bank Group · Political Stability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)
Nepal -0.415 · world median 0.04 (worse)
Best in the world 1.582 (Liechtenstein)
▲ +13 percentile points since 2014
The newest edition of these reports does not include Nepal. Usually the publisher does not cover it; sometimes it has dropped out of a ranking it used to appear in.
07Keep reading
08Method
How a standing is built from percentiles, why Nepal can move because other countries moved, and why publishers measure between 120 and 215 countries each are set out in full in how a standing is made and what a standing cannot tell you.
The photograph of Nepal on this page comes from Wikimedia Commons and is shown in greyscale. The photographer and the licence are named beside each one.
Nations Inquiry (2026). Nepal: country statistics, rankings and trends. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/nepal