KATHMANDU: 66,831 Nepalis permanently left the nation in 2024, according to the Department of Immigration, with a virtually equal gender split (34,544 women and 32,287 males). This equilibrium suggests that whole families are choosing to leave the country in greater numbers.
There were 100,817 temporary departures during that time, with 56,281 men and 44,536 women traveling abroad. Meanwhile, 131,796 Nepalis left the country to visit family, illustrating the strong bonds that endure even after leaving.
A significant portion of Nepalis gained resident cards abroad in 2023, with 70,948 receiving permanent residency and 92,349 obtaining temporary visas, underscoring a recurring trend of migration in pursuit of better opportunities.
Furthermore, 20,101 Nepalis received permits to travel overseas for business purposes all year long. This illustrates the challenges facing Nepal's domestic investment climate, which is driving entrepreneurs to seek opportunities abroad.
Despite concerns about the economic impact of this flight of talent and resources, the government does not have a system in place to monitor the backgrounds and professional qualifications of those leaving, resulting in large data gaps.
Critics claim that the absence of such supervision makes it more challenging to assess the broader social and economic impacts of emigration. The long-term sustainability and economic growth of Nepal's workforce are called into question by this knowledge gap.
Because of the ongoing emigration trend and the government's inability to track and control its effects, there is growing concern about the nation's long-term growth as well as the retention of its youth and resources.
