Remittance inflows into Nepal surpassed the country’s total annual budget in fiscal year 2025/26, reaching Rs2.36 trillion, according to the latest data released by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).

The remittance inflow increased by 37.1% compared to the previous fiscal year. The amount received from Nepalis working abroad was higher than the Rs1.964 trillion annual budget implemented by the government during the same fiscal year.

In US dollar terms, Nepal received $16.19 billion in remittances during FY2025/26, marking a 28.1% increase from the previous year. Dollar-denominated remittance growth had stood at 16.3% in the preceding fiscal year.

Remittance inflows also remained strong toward the end of the fiscal year. In June alone, Nepal received Rs242.33 billion, up from Rs189.11 billion recorded in the same month a year earlier.

Meanwhile, net secondary income also increased significantly during the review period. It reached Rs2.581 trillion, compared with Rs1.874 trillion in the previous fiscal year.

The strong growth in remittances comes despite a decline in the number of Nepalis receiving new labour approvals for foreign employment. According to NRB, 406,519 Nepalis obtained institutional or individual labour approvals during FY2025/26.

The number was lower than the 505,957 new labour approvals recorded in the previous fiscal year.

However, the number of Nepalis receiving re-entry labour approvals increased to 385,783, up from 333,309 a year earlier. The rise in re-entry approvals indicates continued movement of Nepali migrant workers returning to foreign employment.

The latest figures highlight the growing importance of remittances to Nepal’s economy, with money sent by Nepalis working abroad exceeding the government’s annual budget during the fiscal year.