KATHMANDU: According to the Department of Immigration, 66,831 Nepalis left the country permanently in 2024, with 34,544 women and 32,287 men making up the total.
This near-equal distribution suggests that many families have made the decision to leave for good.
The department’s statistics also show that 100,817 Nepalis left the country temporarily during the same period, with 56,281 men and 44,536 women among them.
Additionally, 131,796 Nepalis traveled abroad to visit family members.
In terms of residency, 70,948 Nepalis acquired permanent residence permits in various countries in 2023, while 92,349 obtained temporary residence permits.
Notably, 20,101 Nepalis were granted visas to pursue business ventures abroad, pointing to the ongoing concerns over Nepal’s domestic investment environment.
Despite growing concerns about money and youth leaving the country, the government does not currently track the backgrounds or identities of those leaving the country.
Critics argue, this lack of oversight raises questions about the long-term impact of emigration on the nation’s economy.
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