Remittance Inflows Surge Nearly 40% in First Seven Months of 2025/26

Kathmandu, March 11 – Remittance inflows to Nepal have surged by 39.8 percent, reaching Rs. 1,261.01 billion in the first seven months of the 2025/26 fiscal year, according to data from Nepal Rastra Bank. This marks a sharp rise compared to a 7.5 percent increase during the same period last year.

In the month of Magh (mid-January to mid-February), remittances alone totaled Rs. 198.08 billion, up from Rs. 137.50 billion in the same period last year. Net secondary income (net transfers) also climbed to Rs. 1,384.27 billion, compared to Rs. 986.34 billion previously.

The number of Nepali workers receiving first-time foreign employment approval stood at 245,153, while approvals for renewals reached 227,424. In the previous year, these figures were 274,662 and 190,886, respectively.

The country’s current account recorded a surplus of Rs. 493.78 billion, up from Rs. 184.14 billion last year. Net capital transfers totaled Rs. 11.43 billion, and foreign direct investment (equity only) reached Rs. 10.22 billion, compared to Rs. 7.43 billion in the previous year. Overall, Nepal’s Balance of Payments (BOP) posted a surplus of Rs. 572.73 billion, up from Rs. 284.41 billion.

Gross foreign exchange reserves rose 23.3 percent to Rs. 3,302.66 billion by mid-February 2026, equivalent to USD 22.76 billion, marking a 16.7 percent increase from mid-July 2025. Of the total reserves, Nepal Rastra Bank held Rs. 2,926.99 billion, up 21.2 percent, while reserves held by other banks and financial institutions rose 42.8 percent to Rs. 375.67 billion. Indian currency accounted for 21.5 percent of the total reserves, the central bank added.