20 Major Health Indicators of Nepal You Need To Know

Nepal has made significant strides in improving health outcomes over the past few decades. Understanding the country’s key health indicators is essential for healthcare professionals, policymakers, researchers, and the general public. This comprehensive analysis examines the 20 most crucial health indicators in Nepal, showcasing progress and highlighting areas that still need attention.

Introduction to Nepal’s Health Landscape

Nepal’s health system has undergone remarkable transformation since the 1990s, with substantial improvements in key health indicators despite geographical challenges, limited resources, and political transitions. The country has successfully reduced maternal and child mortality rates, increased life expectancy, and improved access to healthcare services.

Maternal and Child Health Indicators

1. Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR)

The maternal mortality ratio has decreased significantly from 539 per 100,000 live births in 1996 to 151 in 202119. This achievement represents one of Nepal’s most remarkable health successes, though regional variations persist. The Bagmati province reports the lowest MMR (98 per 100,000 live births), while Lumbini and Karnali provinces report higher rates (207 and 172 per 100,000 live births respectively)19.

Nepal has set ambitious targets to further reduce MMR to 99 by 2025 and 70 by 2030, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals19.

2. Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR)

The neonatal mortality rate has decreased from 50 per 1,000 live births in 1996 to 21 per 1,000 live births in 2022149. However, progress has stagnated since 2016, with the rate remaining at 21 per 1,000 live births9. Nepal’s neonatal mortality rate was as high as 57.92 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990, making the current figure a substantial improvement11.

3. Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)

The infant mortality rate has declined from 113 per 1,000 live births in 1987 to 32 per 1,000 live births in 2016812. This represents a remarkable reduction of more than 70% over three decades.

4. Under-5 Mortality Rate (U5MR)

The under-5 mortality rate has decreased from 118 per 1,000 live births in 1996 to 33 per 1,000 live births in 202214. This indicator shows consistent improvement over time:

Year	Under-5 Mortality Rate (per 1,000 live births)
1960	323.110
1990	138.811
1996	11814
2005	61.52
2016	34.510
2020	28.211
2022	3314

5. Total Fertility Rate (TFR)

Nepal has reached replacement level fertility with a TFR of 2.1 in 2022, down from 4.6 in 199614. This demographic transition indicates successful family planning programs and changing social norms.

Life Expectancy and Quality of Life

6. Life Expectancy

Life expectancy in Nepal has increased from 66 years in 2005 to 71.5 years in 20182. Healthy life expectancy has also improved from 56.1 years in 2000 to 60.2 years in 202115.

7. Human Development Index (HDI)

Nepal’s HDI value increased from 0.291 in 1975 to 0.602 in 20192, reflecting overall improvements in health, education, and living standards.

Nutritional Status Indicators

8. Child Malnutrition

Despite progress, child malnutrition remains a significant concern:

• Stunting: Reduced from 57% in 1996 to 25% in 202214
• Wasting: 11% among children under five2
• Underweight: 30% among children under five2

Malnutrition varies significantly by geographic region, with higher prevalence in mountain and remote hill districts.

9. Nutrition Interventions Coverage

The percentage of children aged 0-11 months registered for growth monitoring is 84% nationally, with provincial variations ranging from 74% in Province 2 to 126% in Karnali Province5.

Healthcare Access and Utilization

10. Skilled Birth Attendance Rate

The proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel increased from 7.4% in 1991 to 58% in 20164. Institutional childbirth rates have risen dramatically from 8% in 1996 to 79% in 202214.

11. Antenatal Care Coverage

Antenatal care from skilled providers increased from 58% in 2011 to 84% in 20168. Additionally, 70% of pregnant women received four or more antenatal care visits in 20168.

12. Immunization Coverage

Vaccine	National Coverage (%)
BCG	92
DPT-HepB-Hib3	82
MR2 (12-23 months)	66
Fully immunized children	70

The proportion of fully vaccinated children increased from 43% in 1996 to 80% in 202214. Provincial variations exist, with rates ranging from 66% in Province 2 and Gandaki Province to 88% in Karnali Province5.

13. Disease Treatment Coverage

ARI Treatment

• 84.9% of children under 5 with acute respiratory infections were taken to a health provider in 2016, up from 18.0% in 19964

Diarrhea Treatment

• 37.0% of children under 5 with diarrhea received ORS packets in 20164

Health Infrastructure

14. Health Facilities Distribution

Nepal has significantly expanded its health infrastructure, with 14,313 total health facilities as of 2079/80 (2022/23)6:

Health Facility Type	Number (2079/80)
Public Hospitals	215
Primary Healthcare Centers	187
Health Posts	3,778
Non-public Facilities	2,551
Basic Health Service Centers	7,582
Total	14,313

The distribution of health facilities varies by province, with Bagmati Province having the highest concentration of healthcare facilities (3,576), followed by Madhesh Province (2,257) and Koshi Province (2,230)6.

Disease Burden and Causes of Death

15. Communicable Disease Burden

Deaths due to communicable diseases, maternal, prenatal, and nutrition conditions have decreased from 47.6% in 2000 to 25% in 20164. However, climate-sensitive diseases like dengue, malaria, and acute gastroenteritis show seasonal variations and geographic differences20.

16. Non-communicable Disease Burden

Non-communicable diseases now account for more than two-thirds of total mortality in Nepal2. This epidemiological transition requires a shift in healthcare priorities.

17. Perinatal Mortality Rate

The perinatal mortality rate has decreased from 45 per 1,000 births in 2006 to 27 per 1,000 births in 20229. Stillbirths account for more than one-third of perinatal mortality9.

Emerging Health Concerns

18. Mental Health Statistics

Mental illness cases have increased dramatically, from less than 6,585 instances in 2006 to over 110,000 cases in 201520. This highlights the growing need for mental health services in Nepal.

19. Climate-Sensitive Diseases

Vector-borne diseases show clear seasonality and geographic distribution patterns20:

• Dengue and scrub typhus cases peak in August, September, and October
• Malaria cases peak in July, August, and September
• The Tarai region has the largest concentration of malaria (64%) and kala-azar (94%) cases
• The Hill region has the highest concentration of dengue (52%) and scrub typhus (44%) cases

20. Healthcare Reporting Status

The reporting status of health facilities is remarkably high for public facilities (95%) but lower for non-public facilities (49%)5. This suggests potential gaps in health information systems.

Progress and Challenges

Nepal has made impressive progress in several health indicators over the past decades:

• Under-five mortality reduced by more than 72% since 1996
• Maternal mortality reduced by 72% since 1996
• Institutional childbirth increased nearly ten-fold from 8% to 79%
• Fully immunized children increased from 43% to 80%

However, challenges remain:

• Stagnation in neonatal mortality rate since 2016
• Persistent regional inequalities in health indicators
• Rising burden of non-communicable diseases
• Increasing mental health concerns
• Climate-sensitive disease outbreaks

At The End

Nepal’s health indicators have shown remarkable improvement over the past few decades, reflecting successful health policies and interventions. The country has made significant progress in reducing maternal and child mortality, increasing life expectancy, and expanding healthcare access.

However, persistent challenges remain, including regional disparities, the rising burden of non-communicable diseases, and emerging health threats like mental health issues and climate-sensitive diseases. Addressing these challenges requires continued investment in healthcare infrastructure, human resources, and targeted interventions for vulnerable populations.

As Nepal moves forward, a comprehensive approach that addresses both traditional and emerging health concerns while strengthening health systems will be crucial to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and improving the overall health status of its population.

Note: This blog post uses data from multiple official sources including the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey, Ministry of Health and Population reports, and World Health Organization statistics. The most recent available data as of May 2025 has been included.

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