Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Nepal climbed one spot to rank 145th out of 193 countries in the 2025 Human Development Report (HDR) released by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). With this, Nepal has continued its placement within the medium human development category.
Nepal is ahead of Pakistan (168), which remains in the low HDI category, in the ranking. It, however, trails South Asian peers such as Bhutan (125), India and Bangladesh (both at 130). Sri Lanka (89) and the Maldives (93) lead the region with high human development scores.
Between 2022 and 2023, Nepal’s HDI value rose from 0.605 to 0.622, moving the country up from 146th to 145th position. This improvement reflects positive developments in key human development indicators.
According to the report, Nepal’s HDI has increased by 54 percent since 1990, rising from 0.404 to 0.622. Over the same period, life expectancy at birth has increased by 15.58 years, expected years of schooling by 6.48 years, and mean years of schooling by 2.04 years. Gross National Income (GNI) per capita has surged by approximately 168.2 percent.
However, gender disparities remain a concern. The 2023 HDI value for females in Nepal is 0.567, compared to 0.661 for males, resulting in a Gender Development Index (GDI) of 0.858. The GDI measures gender gaps in health, education, and income.
Nepal’s Gender Inequality Index (GII) stands at 0.487, placing the country 125th out of 172 countries. The GII reflects inequality in reproductive health, empowerment, and labor market participation.
