Nepali Youth Fleeing Home Due to High Unemployment and Corruption

The streets of Kathmandu were a testament to the frustrations of the Nepali youth, many of whom felt hopeless and desperate to leave their homes due to high unemployment and corruption. The recent Gen Z protests, triggered by a social media ban and corruption, highlighted the long-standing issues plaguing the country. The protests led to the downfall of Nepal's government and shed light on the country's dire economic situation. According to the Nepal Living Standards Survey, nearly a quarter of Nepalis between the ages of 15 and 24 were unemployed in 2023, almost double the rate of the overall population. The number of Nepalis working abroad almost tripled to 2.2 million in the two decades leading up to 2021, with roughly three-quarters of emigrants between the ages of 15 and 34.

Key Takeaways:

• The Gen Z protests were sparked by social media ban and corruption, but highlighted the broader issues of high unemployment and poor living conditions in Nepal.
• Nearly a quarter of Nepalis between the ages of 15 and 24 were unemployed in 2023, with a nearly double the rate of the overall population.
• The number of Nepalis working abroad tripled to 2.2 million in the two decades leading up to 2021, with a significant proportion of emigrants between the ages of 15 and 34.
• The protests resulted in the downfall of Nepal's government and shed light on the country's dire economic situation.
• Many Nepali youth are desperate to leave their homes due to the lack of economic opportunities and high levels of corruption.
• The widespread perception of corruption in Nepal is reflected in its ranking as one of Asia's most corrupt countries, according to Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index.
• Many Nepalis have given up on finding jobs within the country and are turning to social entrepreneurship and digital marketing to supplement their income.
• Passports are being urgently applied for, with hundreds of people waiting in line, as many Nepalis are seeking to emigrate due to the lack of opportunities at home.

Statistics:

• Nearly a quarter of Nepalis between the ages of 15 and 24 (23.6%) were unemployed in 2023 (Source: Nepal Living Standards Survey, 2023).
• The number of Nepalis working abroad almost tripled to 2.2 million between 2001 and 2021, with a significant proportion of emigrants between the ages of 15 and 34 (Source: Government of Nepal, Department of Migration).
• Over three-quarters of Nepali emigrants between the ages of 15 and 34 (77%) are educated, highlighting the lack of job opportunities for skilled workers in Nepal (Source: Government of Nepal, Department of Migration).
• Roughly one in four households in Nepal (27%) has a family member abroad, with remittances sustaining households, paying school fees and medical bills, and helping to rebuild homes in a country prone to natural disasters (Source: Government of Nepal, Department of Migration).

Sources:

• "Nepal Living Standards Survey, 2023" by Government of Nepal
• "Government of Nepal, Department of Migration"
• "Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index"
• Interview with Sunita Bishwakarma, 29, unemployed, mother of three boys
• Interview with Lal Bahadur Ghising, 32, cabdriver, who worked in Malaysia for two years