Trend of Absent Population in Nepal

Abstract

An absentee is one who is not present in the nation during the date of enumeration for more than six months with the intention of returning. In demographic analysis, this human condition is meaningful for the nation, especially in Nepal. The main cause of absenteeism is the international migration of labor in Nepal. This study expresses the trend, magnitude, and characteristics of the absentee population, where data from national population and housing censuses of 2001, 2011, and 2021 provide the base for analysis. The comparative analyses of the absentee population were applied to evaluate changes in volume and composition. The findings show that the absentee population appears to have increased from 762,181 in the 2001 census to 2,190,592 in the 2021 census. The movement is dominated by males, whereas female participation is increasing over time. More than 90% of the absentee population appears fitted to the working-age group (15–59 years). This finding represents the selective migration in the form of strong international labor migration. A regularly raised absentee population shows the rising economic dependence on remittance. This situation has some significant implications for the structure of the population, with labor supply reflecting socio-economic development.