Nepal’s electricity consumption in 2022 was about 377 kWh per person—only one-tenth of the global average of 3,794 kWh per person. Its low-carbon electricity generation totaled about 10.7 TWh, almost entirely hydropower, which supplied roughly 10.6 TWh. The supplied figures do not identify fossil-fuel electricity generation or the composition of imported electricity, so they do not establish a complete clean-versus-fossil consumption mix. Such low electricity consumption can constrain industrial development, access to reliable services, and the electrification of cooking and transport. Expanding clean electricity supply would help Nepal meet these needs while avoiding the air pollution and climate impacts associated with fossil fuels.

Is Electricity Growing in Nepal?

Electricity consumption and low-carbon generation both reached new per-person records in 2022. Consumption rose from about 362 kWh per person in 2021 to 377 kWh—an increase of roughly 14–15 kWh, or about 4%. Low-carbon generation grew faster, rising from 327 to 360 kWh per person, an increase of 33 kWh, or about 10%. This is encouraging progress, particularly for clean electricity, but Nepal’s substantial gap with the global average highlights the need for sustained growth to support development and future demand from electrification and digital services.

Suggestions

Nepal can build on its hydropower foundation by expanding solar electricity, strengthening transmission networks, and considering nuclear electricity as a longer-term source of dependable low-carbon supply. Nearby regions provide useful examples: India generates about 192 TWh from solar and 53 TWh from nuclear, while Pakistan produces about 41 TWh from solar and 22 TWh from nuclear. Nepal could learn from their experience in solar deployment, workforce development, and electricity-system planning. China’s roughly 1,266 TWh of solar generation illustrates the potential of sustained investment, while France’s roughly 379 TWh of nuclear generation demonstrates nuclear power’s contribution to abundant clean electricity. These totals are examples to learn from, not targets to copy directly; Nepal should tailor expansion to its own electricity needs and grid.

History

Nepal’s recorded low-carbon electricity growth has been driven by hydropower. During the 1990s, gains were generally modest, including 0.4 TWh in 1990 and 0.3 TWh in 1999, alongside a small decline in 1997. The 2000s brought repeated increases of around 0.1–0.3 TWh in the listed years. Growth continued in the early 2010s, but a disappointing 0.3 TWh decline in 2015 interrupted progress. A stronger expansion followed: generation increased by 0.8 TWh in 2016, continued rising in 2017–2018, and gained another 1.2 TWh in 2019. The largest listed increase was 3.4 TWh in 2021, followed by a further 1.1 TWh in 2022—an encouraging acceleration in Nepal’s clean electricity supply.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade