Air passengers in Nepal
Nepal: Air passengers was 4.29 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Air passengers in Nepal, 1970–2023
Source: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for air passengers in Nepal is 4.29 million, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 3.4% on the previous year and up 566.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, air passengers in Nepal peaked at 4.53 million in 2018 and was at its lowest, 203,400, in 1970.
That places Nepal 66th out of 183 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Air passengers in Nepal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 203,400 | — |
| 1971 | 217,900 | +7.1% |
| 1972 | 232,000 | +6.5% |
| 1973 | 250,000 | +7.8% |
| 1974 | 263,000 | +5.2% |
| 1975 | 219,700 | -16.5% |
| 1976 | 248,300 | +13.0% |
| 1977 | 255,000 | +2.7% |
| 1978 | 270,000 | +5.9% |
| 1979 | 416,500 | +54.3% |
| 1980 | 379,900 | -8.8% |
| 1981 | 364,500 | -4.1% |
| 1982 | 400,200 | +9.8% |
| 1983 | 363,700 | -9.1% |
| 1984 | 395,500 | +8.7% |
| 1985 | 422,000 | +6.7% |
| 1986 | 436,200 | +3.4% |
| 1987 | 408,800 | -6.3% |
| 1988 | 987,800 | +141.6% |
| 1989 | 679,100 | -31.3% |
| 1990 | 679,000 | -0.0% |
| 1991 | 633,900 | -6.6% |
| 1992 | 648,800 | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 633,100 | -2.4% |
| 1994 | 682,600 | +7.8% |
| 1995 | 716,700 | +5.0% |
| 1996 | 755,000 | +5.3% |
| 1997 | 755,000 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 753,600 | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 582,600 | -22.7% |
| 2000 | 643,332 | +10.4% |
| 2001 | 641,142 | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 352,544 | -45.0% |
| 2003 | 356,369 | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 444,691 | +24.8% |
| 2005 | 480,266 | +8.0% |
| 2006 | 509,792 | +6.1% |
| 2007 | 528,226 | +3.6% |
| 2008 | 520,303 | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 484,394 | -6.9% |
| 2010 | 917,939 | +89.5% |
| 2011 | 901,116 | -1.8% |
| 2012 | 776,864 | -13.8% |
| 2013 | 643,140 | -17.2% |
| 2014 | 517,548 | -19.5% |
| 2015 | 510,342 | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 634,292 | +24.3% |
| 2017 | 2.44 million | +285.3% |
| 2018 | 4.53 million | +85.2% |
| 2019 | 1.66 million | -63.3% |
| 2020 | 1.99 million | +19.9% |
| 2021 | 2.55 million | +28.2% |
| 2022 | 4.44 million | +74.0% |
| 2023 | 4.29 million | -3.4% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 4.29 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 690,677, 6.2× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 4.29 million is above the median for South Asia, which is 4.08 million, 1.1× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Air passengers in Nepal changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +285.3% | 634,292 | 2.44 million |
| 1988 | +141.6% | 408,800 | 987,800 |
| 2010 | +89.5% | 484,394 | 917,939 |
| 2018 | +85.2% | 2.44 million | 4.53 million |
| 2022 | +74.0% | 2.55 million | 4.44 million |
| 2019 | -63.3% | 4.53 million | 1.66 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 257,580 | 203,400 | 416,500 | 10 |
| 1980s | 483,770 | 363,700 | 987,800 | 10 |
| 1990s | 684,030 | 582,600 | 755,000 | 10 |
| 2000s | 496,106 | 352,544 | 643,332 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.35 million | 510,342 | 4.53 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.32 million | 1.99 million | 4.44 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More reference data data for Nepal
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.7753 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7853 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.6 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.7974 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 11.28 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 19.44 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.28 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is air passengers in Nepal?
- Air passengers in Nepal was 4.29 million in 2023, according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest air passengers recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 4.53 million in 2018.
- What is the lowest air passengers recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 203,400 in 1970.
- How does Nepal rank for air passengers?
- Nepal ranks 66th out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
- Is air passengers rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 566.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nepal data come from?
- The figures come from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Air passengers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Domestic and international passengers of airlines registered in the country. Passengers counted each time they travel.