Youth in Politics: Nepal’s Greatest Untapped Power

At The Doers Global, over the past seven years of podcasting with entrepreneurs, policymakers, and executives, one conversation keeps repeating:

Policy shapes everything.

It determines whether businesses survive or growth halts. It dictates whether jobs are created, whether young people stay or leave, and ultimately, whether Nepal rises or whether the youth remain structurally underrepresented in shaping it.

This disconnect is especially visible right now. While Nepal is buzzing with political discourse and conversations about where the country is headed, a significant barrier stands in the way of the youth.

In Nepal, a citizen can vote at 18, exercising their democratic right to influence the composition of parliament and the selection of the Prime Minister. However, the right to actually lead—to contest elections and sit at the decision-making table—comes much later.

Minimum Age Requirements to Contest Elections

• House of Representatives (Lower House): 25 years

• National Assembly (Upper House): 35 years

• Local Level Elections: 21 years

This creates a structural imbalance: young people are empowered as voters early, but their pathway to leadership remains delayed. The question is not whether youth are politically active—they are. The real question is whether Nepal’s institutions are structured to meaningfully include them.

Defining “Youth” in Nepal

The definition of youth in Nepal has evolved in recent years:

• Previous Standard: The Constitution of Nepal and the Youth Vision 2025 (part of Nepal’s 10-year strategic plan, 2020/21–2030/31) categorized youth as individuals aged 16 to 40.

• Current Standard: Under the newly endorsed National Youth Policy 2082 BS, youth are defined as those between 18 and 35 years, aligning more closely with child protection laws.

• Global Standard: The United Nations defines youth as individuals aged 15 to 24 years.

The variation in age brackets, both domestically and globally, highlights a broader policy question: How do we ensure policies reach those who need them most?

The Demographic Window

Nepal’s 2021 census highlights the magnitude of its young population:

• Individuals aged 16 to 40 comprise 42.5% of the total population (~12.4 million people).

• Nearly 56% of Nepalis are under 30 years old.

This is Nepal’s greatest demographic window—a phase economists describe as a potential demographic dividend. Countries that seized this window (such as South Korea, Singapore, and Japan) built the foundations for sustained development within a single generation. Countries that missed it exported their young workforce, built economies dependent on remittances rather than domestic production, and watched talent leave for opportunities abroad.

Nepal stands at this inflection point right now. But a demographic dividend does not convert itself into development automatically; it requires institutional decisions, and institutional decisions are made by those in power.

The Representation Gap & The Local Pipeline

Despite their numerical strength, youth representation in Nepal’s federal parliament remains strikingly low at around 5%, compared to the global average of approximately 13.5% in national legislatures.

Structural barriers, entrenched party hierarchies, and financial constraints make it difficult for younger candidates to rise within political systems traditionally dominated by senior leadership.

Federalism as a Training Ground

Federal restructuring offers Nepal a rare institutional opportunity to cultivate youth leadership. With roughly 36,000 elected representatives across local governments, federalism has vastly expanded entry points into politics:

• In the May 13, 2022 local elections, around 41% of candidates were under 40.

• However, youth under 30 accounted for only 15.32% of candidacies, showing that younger cohorts still face steep hurdles.

Local governance must function as a training ground where young leaders gain administrative experience, understand public finance, navigate bureaucracy, and build credibility before advancing to

Case Studies in Political Maturation

• Giorgia Meloni: Entered politics at 15 through the Italian Social Movement youth wing, became an MP at 29, the Italian Republic’s youngest minister at 31, and Prime Minister at 45.

• Gagan Thapa: Began his journey at 15 during the 1990 People’s Movement. Over three decades, he navigated transitions from the fall of the monarchy to democratic restructuring, demonstrating how early grassroots engagement shapes long-term legislative leadership.

Economic Survival vs. Political Participation

Youth political participation cannot be separated from underlying economic conditions. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO):

• Youth Unemployment in Nepal: 19.2%

• National Unemployment Rate: 2.7%

High unemployment, coupled with limited domestic opportunity, drives large-scale youth migration. When the most dynamic segment of society departs, political systems lose potential reformers, innovators, and long-term stakeholders.

Furthermore, politics requires capital, networks, and party backing. When economic survival is the primary priority, political leadership becomes an unaffordable luxury.

Civic Literacy and Power Dynamics

Beyond economic and structural barriers lies an educational void: Are we preparing young citizens not just to vote, but to think critically about power?

Do our educational institutions foster civic literacy and democratic values such as skepticism of unchecked power, individual freedom, rule of law, property rights, and competitive markets?

In roughly 75 years of democratic practice, Nepal has witnessed more than 30 changes in government. Over the past 15 years in particular, the same core leadership has rotated through the prime ministership via shifting alliances of convenience. If alliances can be built to retain power, they can also be constructed to renew institutions.

The March 2026 Election: A Surge in Youth Candidacy

A visible shift is underway:

• Approximately 1,222 youth candidates under 40 have registered to contest directly in the March 5, 2026 House of Representatives election.

• Out of 4,406 total candidates across 165 direct seats, roughly 30% are young leaders.

• Youth now represent over half of Nepal’s 18.9 million eligible voters, including more than 800,000 first-time voters.

Candidates such as Kishori Karki, Sandeep Pun, Toshima Karki, Sobita Gautam, Sashmit Pokharel, and Sachin Timalsina reflect a growing demand for transparency, anti-corruption reforms, and economic opportunities at home.

Alternative Pathways: Becoming a Chief of Staff

Direct party politics is not the only route to impact. For those interested in policy research and governance, serving as a Chief of Staff to a Member of Parliament (MP) or Minister offers a vital alternative.

In this role, professionals:

• Conduct legislative research and analyze bills.

• Draft evidence-based policy proposals.

• Coordinate with ministries, civil society, and stakeholders.

• Ensure discussions translate into measurable implementation.

Curious about how a Chief of Staff operates and how the position directly influences policy? Watch our breakdown on YouTube: The Doers Global Channel.

The Road Ahead

With the national election just two days away, a new parliament, cabinet, and government will soon take shape.

The next parliament will be shaped by who shows up. But the generation after that will be shaped by what this parliament decides. At The Doers Global, we will continue analyzing the policy priorities, structural reforms, and practical steps needed to move Nepal forward.