Keywords
Demographic Transition
Food Security
Sustainable Development
Categories
How to Cite
Abstract
Global population dynamics are changing rapidly. While some countries continue to experience rapid population growth, others are facing stagnation or even population decline. Nepal is also undergoing a significant demographic transformation, shaped by declining fertility, increasing lifeexpectancy, and large-scale youth migration. Although Nepal currently hosts a sizeable youth population, persistent out- migration is accelerating the transition toward an aging society. These shifts are reshaping the country’s socio-economic and food systems in profound ways. This article examines the relationships among youth migration, the demographic transition, and food security in Nepal. Drawing on secondary data, academic literature, policy documents, and empirical studies, it argues that youth migration produces mixed outcomes. On one hand, remittances enhance household income and food access for many families. On the other hand, the departure of young workers creates labor shortages in agriculture, alters rural food systems, and deepens inequalities among households and regions. The article concludes by highlighting policy options that better align migration dynamics with Nepal's long-term food security goals.
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This research was funded by Renewable World Nepal. The authors express their sincere gratitude to Thakur Thapa, Manoj Prasad Ojha, Aarju Karki, Bhawana Dhungana, and the staff of the Kathmandu Office for their valuable support and cooperation throughout the study. We would also like to sincerely thank Mr. Manoj Ayer, Mr. Hari Bhadra Acharya, Mr. Manoj Ojha, and Mr. Binaya Jha for their supervision and support during the fieldwork. We are also deeply grateful to Warden Chandra Shekher Chaudhary and all the staff of SPNP, including the army personnel, for consistently ensuring our safety and well-being. Finally, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the entire KAFCOL family for their continued support.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2026 Sunil Sigdel, Medani P. Bhandari