Nepal Sees Sharp Rise in Remittance Inflows in First Month of Current Fiscal Year

Nepali workers abroad sent home Rs 177.41 billion in the first month of the current fiscal year (FY 2025/26), according to data released Monday by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).

The Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report of Nepal published by the central bank states that remittance inflow between mid-July and mid-August represents a 29.9 percent year-on-year increase, compared with a 17.7 percent rise in the same period last year, when remittances totaled Rs 136.60 billion. Measured in US dollars, remittances climbed 25 percent to USD 1.27 billion, up from a 15.8 percent increase a year earlier.

Labor migration also expanded. In the review period, 44,466 Nepalis obtained new labor permits, both institutional and individual, while 23,644 received renewals to work overseas. Those figures stood at 36,928 and 22,647 respectively in the corresponding month of the previous fiscal year.

The strong growth underscores the continued importance of overseas employment and remittance income to Nepal’s economy, which relies heavily on foreign earnings to support household consumption and national foreign exchange reserves.