Why Nepal's economic future is now tethered to the stock market

Driven by an unprecedented surge to 7.9 million accounts, Nepal’s stock market has transformed from a peripheral playground into a massive economic force now equivalent to 72 percent of the country’s GDP.

Nepal’s capital market has crossed a threshold that redefines its role in the national economy. Once viewed as a supplementary financial segment, the market has expanded in both size and reach to become a significant economic force. As of the end of May 2026, the total market capitalisation of companies listed on the Nepal Stock Exchange stands at approximately NPR 4,746 billion—equivalent to nearly 72 percent of the country’s GDP.