Nepal IT Sector

Exports, company growth, workforce, and key services

7× Growth: IT exports grew from $30M (2015) to $220M (2024) — a 7x increase in a decade. Company registrations reached 3,700+ but many remain small or inactive. Company closures/inactivity rate estimated at ~8–10% annually — normal for startup ecosystems.

IT Exports (2024)

🏛NASO / DoC Nepal / NRB BOP

$220

▲17.6% YoY

Workforce Estimate (2024)

🏛NASO / DoC Nepal / NRB BOP

100,000

Companies Registered (2024)

🏛NASO / DoC Nepal / NRB BOP

3,700

Nepal IT Exports (USD millions)

USD millions

🏛NASO / DoC Nepal / NRB BOPUpdated: Oct 1, 2025

NRB BOP computer and information services line. 2024 growth: ~18% YoY. Source: NASO / NRB BOP.

IT Companies Registered (cumulative)

companies

🏛NASO / DoC Nepal / NRB BOPUpdated: Oct 1, 2025

Cumulative registered IT/software/BPO companies. DoC / OCR Nepal data. Digital Nepal policy (2019) accelerated registrations.

Companies Closed or Inactive (estimate)

companies

🏛NASO / DoC Nepal / NRB BOPUpdated: Oct 1, 2025

Annual estimate of companies closed or inactive. Spike in 2020 due to COVID-19. Normal churn rate 8–10% for early-stage tech ecosystems.

IT Workforce Estimate

persons

🏛NASO / DoC Nepal / NRB BOPUpdated: Oct 1, 2025

NASO survey-based workforce estimate — includes software developers, BPO agents, digital marketers, and IT support staff.

IT Services Breakdown (% share)

Software development / outsourcing

38%

IT-enabled services (BPO/KPO)

22%

Digital marketing & e-commerce

15%

Cybersecurity & cloud

10%

Fintech & payment solutions

Gaming & animation

Other

Source: NASO survey data — revenue share by service category (2023/24 estimate)

Notable Events

2018
Kathmandu IT Park established
2019
Digital Nepal Framework announced
2020
COVID-19 accelerated remote work adoption
2022
Nepal fintech regulation (Payment System Order)
2023
Nepal IT exports exceed $180M — NRB record
2024
NRB monetary policy: IT export facilitation provisions