Kathmandu, June 6: An increasing number of Nepalis are leaving the country permanently due to rising corruption, political instability, lawlessness, poor governance, and widespread unemployment. These factors have led to frustration among citizens, pushing them to seek permanent residence abroad.
According to government data, 137,000 Nepalis have permanently migrated to foreign countries. Data from the Department of Immigration shows that more men than women are leaving the country permanently. In the past two years, 71,207 Nepali men and 66,538 women received official approval to settle abroad permanently.
In 2023 alone, 70,915 Nepalis permanently migrated, while 66,835 did so in 2024, indicating a steady increase in permanent emigration.
This trend has raised concerns about the potential outflow of domestic capital through thousands of migrants, especially amid claims that Nepal currently lacks a favorable investment environment. However, the government does not actively track the background or profiles of those leaving the country.
In addition to permanent migration, a large number of Nepalis are also leaving temporarily. In 2023, 92,349 Nepalis left for temporary residence abroad, and in 2024, 66,835 more followed the same path, according to immigration data.
A significant number have also gone abroad in search of employment. In just two years (2023 and 2024), 1,664,837 Nepalis left the country for job opportunities. The number increased from 808,415 in 2023 to 856,422 in 2024.
Furthermore, the data shows that a large number of students are pursuing education abroad. In the past two years, 227,951 students left Nepal on student visas. In 2023, 108,542 students went abroad for education, while in 2024, the number rose to 119,509.
Similarly, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of Nepalis traveling abroad on visit visas. A total of 478,846 people left the country for travel purposes in the past two years. The number rose from 204,518 in 2023 to 274,518 in 2024, suggesting that more Nepalis are traveling abroad for tourism or short-term stays. #nepal #migration #immigration
