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Nepal graduation status
Nepal is scheduled to graduate on 24 November 2026 (see the General Assembly resolution here).
On 15 May 2026, the Government of Nepal requested an extension of the preparatory period for its graduation from the LDC category. In response, the CDP prepared a crisis assessment under its enhanced monitoring mechanism. The CDP concluded that an extension of the preparatory period by the General Assembly would be appropriate, provided that the extension is linked to the development and implementation of a clear and time-bound plan to adjust and reprioritize its smooth transition strategy. The crisis assessment is available here. In a decision adopted on 21 July, ECOSOC took note of the CDP's conclusions and suggested courses of action and recommended that the General Assembly take action on this matter before 24 November 2026.
- Nepal's smooth transition strategy
- CDP monitoring report for Nepal, 2025
- Nepal's LDC fact sheet (CDP website) (includes CDP reports, ECOSOC and General Assembly resolutions, Nepal's performance against the graduation criteria, ex ante assessment of the impacts of graduation, vulnerability profile, country statements to the CDP)
Other resources:
Documents on Nepal
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"This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the challenges posed by non-tariff measures (NTMs) on Nepal's trade, particularly in light of its upcoming graduation from the least developed country (LDC) status in 2026. |
LDC graduation and smooth transition | 31 July 2024 |
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Synthesis report |
Productive capacity, structural transformation, technology, innovation | 01 May 2024 |
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Fostering Structural Transformation in Nepal (Paras Kharel, ESCAP) "Sustained and high economic growth has eluded Nepal. While the economy has undergone structural transformation in the last three decades the growth-enhancing effect of this structural change has had limited impacts contributing to a per-capita value added growth of 2% in the last two decades. |
Productive capacity, structural transformation, technology, innovation | 01 March 2024 |
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"This paper analyzes opportunities for growth in Nepal by applying the policy tool of New Structural Economics – Growth Identification and Facilitation Framework (GIFF). |
Productive capacity, structural transformation, technology, innovation | 01 March 2024 |
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Nepal LDC Graduation Smooth Transition Strategy The document contains Nepal's strategy for a smooth transition from the LDC category after graduation. |
LDC graduation and smooth transition | 02 February 2024 |
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Inclusive Digital Economy Scorecard (UNCDF) The Inclusive Digital Economy Scorecard (IDES) is a strategic performance and policy tool that has been developed to support countries in better understanding and monitoring the status of their digital transformation, with a view to helping them make it more inclusive. |
Productive capacity, structural transformation, technology, innovation | 02 August 2023 |
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The Government of Nepal (GoN) is in the process of formulating a transition strategy to ensure graduation is smooth, sustainable and irreversible. |
LDC graduation and smooth transition | 30 September 2022 |
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Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in the Asia-Pacific region have generally demonstrated socioeconomic progress over the past decades, despite being among the most vulnerable and structurally disadvantaged countries. |
LDC graduation and smooth transition | 30 September 2022 |
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Opinion in Lead: Navigating post-graduation pharma landscape - Posh Raj Pandey for Sawtee With the right policy support, pharmaceutical industry in Nepal could be instrumental in meeting the country’s ‘access to medicine’-related targets while developing domestic manufacturing base. |
Trade | 07 July 2022 |
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Nepal after LDC Graduation: New avenues for exports - ITC in collaboration with UN-OHRLLS Nepal could lose 4.3% of exports because of tariff changes when it graduates from least developed country status in 2026. The removal of preferential tariffs will especially affect the apparel, synthetic textile fabric and carpet sectors. |
LDC graduation and smooth transition | 21 April 2022 |
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CDP Monitoring Reports - Nepal The CDP found that, despite fast growth in recent years, Nepal’s GNI per capita is still below the graduation threshold. The income growth was also hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially due to the large impacts on the tourism sector. |
LDC graduation and smooth transition | 28 February 2022 |
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The textile and clothing sector in five Asian least developed countries (LDCs) — Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Nepal — makes heavy use of trade preferences for LDCs and is one of the main sectors likely to be impacted by graduation from the category. |
LDC graduation and smooth transition | 01 February 2022 |
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During the triennial review held by the United Nations Committee for Development Policy (CDP) in February 2021, Nepal was recommended for graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category. |
LDC graduation and smooth transition | 30 January 2022 |
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Nepal's elusive quest for export success meets LDC graduation - Paras Kharel for SAWTEE Nepal is hurtling towards graduation from the least developed country (LDC) category with a low per capita income and meagre exports. This paper analyses the implications of graduation for Nepal's exports, and suggests measures that Nepal government should take to mitigate the adverse effects. |
LDC graduation and smooth transition | 31 December 2021 |
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The WTO, in cooperation with ITC, UNCTAD and UNDESA, organized a webinar on 7 May 2021. It kicked off an inter-agency collaboration to undertake an in-depth sectoral study on the implications of LDC graduation for the textiles and clothing (T&C) sector. |
LDC graduation and smooth transition | 07 May 2021 |
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Prepared as part of the UNESCAP Framework on Socio-Economic Response to COVID-19, and also under UNESCAP’s mandate for supporting countries with special needs in the Asia-Pacific region, this paper points out that South Asian LDCs have important avenues and options to enhance preparedness for gradua |
LDC graduation and smooth transition | 15 October 2020 |
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Many least developed countries (LDCs) have not yet seen large numbers of COVID-19 cases – though there are notable exceptions such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sudan. Yet, all LDCs are confronting severe economic disruptions – and a major fiscal squeeze – from the global demand shock, su |
COVID-19 | 06 July 2020 |
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UN/DESA Policy Brief #71: COVID-19 pandemic deals a huge blow to the manufacturing exports from LDCs The COVID-19 pandemic is yet to directly hit the least developed countries (LDCs), although most are already experiencing severe economic pain amid shutdowns, falling commodity prices and declining exports. LDCs are, on average, highly dependent on commodities. |
Trade | 14 May 2020 |
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Nepal has achieved significant socio-economic progress despite being confronted by unfavourable conditions such as its being landlocked and susceptible to natural disasters. |
LDC graduation and smooth transition | 11 March 2020 |
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LDC graduation has become an increasingly important issue in the international development agenda. Meeting graduation eligibility is a major goal of the Istanbul Plan of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the decade 201-2020 (IPoA). |
LDC graduation and smooth transition | 30 September 2019 |
Photo EIF