Large-Scale Migration and Remittance in Nepal: Issues, Challenges, and Opportunities

Almost half of all households have at least one migrant abroad or a returnee. Estimates of the number of Nepali migrants abroad vary widely, but the most frequently cited estimate, including seasonal workers in India and those who use informal channels, is about 4 million – one-third of the working male population. Foreign remittances now constitute a quarter of the income of all households and almost two-thirds of the income for those receiving money from abroad. In FY 2009 “official remittance” measured by the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) totaled US$2.7 billion, or 22 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This figure excludes remittance from India and informal flows, and therefore total inflows could easily exceed 25 percent of GDP. International migration has thus become the most important economic activity in Nepal. Foreign exchange earned from migration is higher than that of export receipts and official aid combined.