Nepal's Remittances Hit a Record Rs 1.9 Trillion

Money sent home by Nepali workers abroad rose to a fresh high, cushioning the rupee and rebuilding reserves.

Written by Sita Gurung · Nepal DeskUpdated Jun 20, 2026 Fact-checked · 4 min read

Workers' remittances climbed to a record Rs 1,916.9 billion over the first ten months of the fiscal year, according to Nepal Rastra Bank — a lifeline that has lifted foreign-exchange reserves to cover more than 17 months of merchandise imports.

Remittances remain the backbone of Nepal's external accounts, dwarfing exports and turning the current account firmly into surplus. The inflows have steadied the rupee and given the central bank room to keep policy accommodative.

Reserves at comfortable highs

Gross foreign-exchange reserves reached USD 24.2 billion, an import cover well above the central bank's threshold. That buffer insulates the economy from external shocks and supports the peg to the Indian rupee.

The dependence question

Economists caution that an economy leaning so heavily on remittances is exposed to labour-market conditions in the Gulf and Malaysia. Diversifying toward domestic production and exports remains the long-run policy priority.

Written by Sita Gurung, Nepal Desk. Figures are aggregated from official sources on ECONOMY and may be revised. Information only — not financial advice.