Country profile

Nepal

South AsiaLower middle income29.65M inhabitants

Last updated April 1, 2026

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Composite GEFRI Score

Emerging readiness

Nepal demonstrates early-stage readiness (54th percentile worldwide). Investments are generating initial gains, yet substantial gaps persist in several dimensions. Higher scores indicate a system that is better prepared to anticipate and shape the future of learning.

52.51Composite score
Global percentile
54th
Global rank
#82
Regional rank
#1
Viewing data for
Infrastructure
59.72
33rd percentileGlobal avg. 59.93
Human Capital
37.46
27th percentileGlobal avg. 47.03
Innovation
34.18
37th percentileGlobal avg. 42.53
Governance
39.93
38th percentileGlobal avg. 47.71
Access & Parity
91.28
95th percentileGlobal avg. 43.89

Country profile

Nepal shows strong future-readiness momentum, with clear strengths in School Access and Gender Parity (91, 95th percentile).

Wide gaps between dimensions reveal structural weaknesses that slow coordinated progress. Low internet adoption slows digital participation and constrains system-wide modernization. Literacy or tertiary enrollment gaps thin the talent pipeline and limit the country’s capacity to develop future-ready skills.

Sparse R&D investment and a small research workforce slow experimentation and delay new ideas from reaching learners. Policy execution and regulatory capacity remain weak, leaving reforms fragmented and hard to sustain. Gender parity across secondary pathways reflects sustained commitment to equitable participation.

Infrastructure and Governance present a near-term leapfrog opportunity: performance is just below the global average, backed by enough observed data to support forward planning.

Challenges: Human Capital (37, 27th percentile). Closing these gaps will be key to sustaining progress.

Areas with room to grow: Infrastructure (60, 33rd percentile), Governance (40, 38th percentile), and Innovation (34, 37th percentile). These dimensions sit close to global norms and could accelerate quickly with targeted investment.

Note: Several indicators use imputed values. Policymakers and planners should validate results further before committing to major initiatives.

Key insights

  • Places 82nd worldwide.
  • Holds a regional position of 1st within South Asia.
  • Scores range from Access & Parity (91.3) to Innovation (34.2), reflecting variation across dimensions.
  • Leads regional peers most clearly in Access & Parity.

Regional peers: South Asia

Composite GEFRI score

Global rankRegional rankCountryScore
821Nepal52.51
872Sri Lanka51.39
913India50.51
964Maldives49.51
1155Bhutan38.71
1216Bangladesh36.81