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What long-term economic problems contributed to the 2025 Generation Z protests in Nepal?
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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.
The 2025 Generation Z protests in Nepal were driven by deep-seated structural economic failures that left young citizens with few domestic opportunities. Key long-term economic issues included:12
- High Youth Unemployment: The country faced chronic joblessness, with youth unemployment rates exceeding 20 percent in 2022–23, ranking among the highest in South Asia.23
- Reliance on Remittances: Approximately one-third of Nepal’s gross domestic product was derived from remittances sent by citizens working abroad, highlighting a lack of viable employment within the domestic economy.123
- Elite Control: The nation’s limited productive sectors—specifically banking, real estate, and large-scale import businesses—were dominated by a small, wealthy elite. This concentration of power, coupled with persistent allegations of corruption and nepotism among political leaders, fueled widespread disillusionment and frustration among the younger generation.21
These economic conditions created a sense of hopelessness for young Nepalis, serving as a primary catalyst for the mass demonstrations that eventually led to the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli.23