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How did youth unemployment contribute to public anger in Nepal in 2025?

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Francisco Goya, Saturn — Generation Z protests In Greek and Roman myth the old god consumes his children to preserve his power. In many countries today the young face a version of the same fate: priced out of housing, burdened by debt, and taxed to sustain the pensions and property wealth of older generations.

In 2025, high youth unemployment served as a primary driver of the deep disillusionment and frustration among young Nepalis, creating a volatile environment that ultimately fueled the 2025 Nepalese Gen Z protests.12

With youth unemployment officially exceeding 20 percent in 2022–23, young people faced severely limited domestic opportunities. This economic instability was exacerbated by the fact that the country's productive sectors—such as banking and large-scale import businesses—were controlled by a small, wealthy elite that dominated both the economy and the government. Consequently, many young citizens felt excluded from the nation's future, leading to a profound sense of hopelessness.12

When the government imposed a sweeping social media ban in September 2025, this existing economic despair acted as a breaking point. The ban, which many perceived as an attempt to silence dissent, ignited mass demonstrations led by Generation Z, as the youth channeled their long-standing grievances regarding economic inequality and lack of prospects into a direct challenge against the political establishment.314