Nepal's GDP grows 4 pc in FY 2025/26 Q4, NSO report shows

KATHMANDU: National Statistics Office (NSO) has released national accounts for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025/26, showing quarterly gross domestic product at basic prices expanded by 4% compared with the corresponding period of the previous year. Official figures show 17 of 18 industry classifications recorded positive growth during the review period.

Electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply posted the largest unadjusted sector gain at 24.36%, driven by higher production, transmission and distribution activity. Financial and insurance activities rose by 9.07% amid increased deposit collection and lending. Accommodation and food service activities grew by 7.84%, information and communication by 7.66%, and wholesale and retail trade by 5.97%, supported by stronger domestic trade and import volumes. Agriculture, forestry and fishing expanded by 1.35% on moderate improvements in crop and forest product yields.

Public administration and defence was the only sector to record a contraction, with a negative growth rate of 0.12%.

On a seasonally adjusted quarter-on-quarter basis, GDP increased by 1.54% in the fourth quarter compared with the third quarter. Within seasonally adjusted sectoral measures, accommodation and food service activities showed the largest rise at 6.05%, while manufacturing recorded a slight contraction of 0.48%.