Women in Data: Nepal

by Shishir Vaidya | Jul 10, 2023 | Data Stories

We recently celebrated International Women’s Day with the official theme “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality” on 8th of March 2023. For 113 year’s March 8 is being celebrated as International Women’s Day. Quality participation, assured representation, empowerment, leadership development, equality are terminologies used generally in favor of women. In the current age of information and technology,

equal participation of women in all social sector is important. Gender equality will be a nightmare without this.

What is the real situation of women in Nepal?

Women in Nepal are still under privileged. Information and data below will elaborate the real situation of women in Nepal. According to department of National Personnel Records (Civil), out of total number of civil servants i.e., 88,657, only 26.58 percent are women (up to Ashad 31 2077/78). Ten years back it was only 13.84 percent. Data shows that number of women in civil service is growing continuously.

Nepal Police website reveals that women’s participation in Nepal Police is very low. Out of total Police personnel recruited only 10.97 percent are women. According to Nepal Medical Council data, (till 31 December 2022) out of total Doctors registered in MBBS and BDS, only 37.48 percent are Women. Similarly, only 29.46 percent specialized doctors are women. According to National Economic Census 2018, Analytical Report on Women in Business; women’s participation in decision making level in the private sector is just 29.61 percent. While women’s participation in the cooperative sector is high (51%). As per Nepal Rastra Bank data, women’s participation in Banking and financial sector is higher than other sectors. Out of total personnel’s working in banking and financial sector 39.78 percent are recorded as women. ‘Female Journalist in Nepal’, A study conducted by Sancharika Samuha reveals that only 25 percent journalist around the country are women. Out of this 47.8 percent work in FM Radio and only 11 percent are in editorial leadership.

Nepal is known as agriculture-based country; however, the contribution of the agricultural sector to economy is declining. The contribution of agriculture, industry and service sector to the total value addition of FY 2020/21 was 23.9 percent, 14.3 percent and 61.8 percent respectively. In the current FY 2021/22, the total value addition in agriculture, industry and services sector are estimated to increase by 2.3 percent, 8.1 percent and 6.6 percent respectively. Until 2001 AD economically active women involved in agriculture sector were 76 percent (Census 2001).But 2011 census revealed growth in this number to 77 percent. In 2017 percentage of economically active women engaged in agriculture reached 84 percent. Yearly increase in percentage of women in agriculture is due to increasing number in foreign employment of male members. Which is a big threat to Nepal’s economy. However, census results show that number of women in foreign employment is growing rapidly.

Looking in to the Government budget of Nepal, the government have been adopting gender responsive budgeting system. (Economic Survey 2021/22) The share of direct gender responsive budget in the total budget has surged from 11.34 percent in FY 2007/08 to 39.49 percent in FY 2021/22.

According to Census 2021 51.04 percent of Nepal’s population are Female and gender ratio 95.59. Gender ratio resembles number of males out of hundred females. Central Bureau of Statistics initiated Gender ratio calculation only from 5th census. Similarly, questionnaire regarding gender participation in various social and economic activities was developed only from census 2058. Such questionnaire included women’s right to property, gender participation in agriculture and other economic activities, social inclusion etc. As per census 2021 overall, 23.8 percent of the total households have ownership of land or a housing unit or both (land & housing unit) in the name of female household member. The percentage of the households with female ownership of both land and housing unit is only 11.8 percent, which is an increase of 1.1 percent point compared to that in 2011. Similarly, overall, 31.55 percent of the total households (6,666,937) are headed by female, which is an increase of 5.82 percent points since 2011.

The census 2021 shows that median age at first marriage is 21 years for male and 18 years for female. 34.4percent (Male:32.6%andFemale:35.9%) of the ever- married population aged 10 years and above had their first marriage between the ages of 18 and 20. Similarly, 22.3 percent (Male: 12.3 %; Female: 30.4 %) of them got married for the first 􏰀me in the ages between 15 to 17 years. Further, 7 percent (Male: 3.0 % and Female: 10.2 %) of them got married for the first time at the ages of 10-14 years.

The literacy rate of the country’s total population aged 5years and above is 76.2 percent in 2021 census. Male literacy rate is 83.6 percent while female literacy rate is 69.4 percent. In the 2011 census, overall literacy rate was 65.9 percent; while male literacy rate was 75.1 percent compared to female literacy rate of 57.4 percent.

The National Population Census 2021 shows that out of the total 12,976 female deaths from fertility age group (15-49 years) in the last 12 months preceding the day of enumeration, 653 (5 percent) deaths were related to pregnancy. Out of the pregnancy related deaths, 622 (95 percent) deaths were found to be maternal mortality by Verbal Autopsy conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Population.

Constitution of Nepal provides a clear and comprehensive framework to end all forms of discrimination and inequality. Article 84 has provisioned at least one third of members of federal parliament to be women. Similarly, Article 176 has provisioned at least one third of members of the State Assembly to be women. Article 70 provisions President and Vice President to be from different sex or community. Article 91 provisions at least one woman among the Speaker and the Deputy speaker to House of Representatives should be women. Article 91 provisions at least one woman out of Chair and Vice chair of National Assembly. Article 182 provisions One woman out of State Speaker and Deputy State Speaker. Article 215 provisions at least four members of Village Executive Committee to be women. Article 216 provisions at least five members of the Municipal Executive to be Women. To Ensure Gender Equality and Women and Girls Empowerment Constitution of Nepal has formed a constitutional body; National Women Commission, through Article 252. National Women Commission works for establishing rights and interests of women. It monitors the implementation of laws and international treaties related to empowerment of girls and women.

We just participated in the local level elections on 2079/1/30 BS. There were 55698 women nominees in the elections held. Out of the total nominees 14465 women were elected as people’s representatives. Out of the total elected women three local governments had women as chairperson and vice chairperson. 25 including, 13 municipalities and 12 sub municipalities had women as Mayor. Similarly, 232 Deputy Mayors, 334 vice chair of different local bodies elected women as their representative. 69 women were elected as ward chair. Provincial classification of women’s representation shows that 2478 in Koshi Province, 2770 in Madhesh province, 2356 in Bagmati province, 1623 in Gandaki Province, 2131 in Lumbini Province, 1527 in Karnali Province and 1560 women were elected as people’s representative in Far western Province. Women’s representation has increased to 41.23 percent in the recent election of 2079. It was 40.96 percent in 2074 election. Similarly, results of election held on 2079/8/4 shows that federal parliament has 33.83 percent women and Provincial parliament has 36.36 percent women as people’s representative.

If we look in to history of Nepal’s election, i.e., 12 elections held since 2004 to 2079 BS, we can find significant growth in women’s representation. Before declaration of democracy Nepalese women were restricted to vote. After the establishment of democracy on 7^th of Falgun 2007 BS, the first local election was held in Kathmandu on 17^th of Bhadra 2010 BS. This election was first of its kind to give voting rights to women. Sadhana Devi Pradhan was the first elected people’s representative from ward no. 4 Kathmandu. Local level elections are political means to empower and enhance women’s participation. This helps to promote women’s participation in decision making process, quantitatively and qualitatively. However, Nepal’s constitution and related acts and regulations outline various rights in favor of women, it is still not fully in the position of implementation. Resulting very less representation of women in various sector. Thus, a continuous pressure and awareness campaign is must from women’s right activists.