Nepal's transport system sits at a critical turning point. Shaped by its mountainous geography, landlocked position, and growing development ambitions, the sector has expanded rapidly over the past two decades—improving access and connectivity, while exposing persistent structural challenges.

This Transport in Review: Nepal report provides a data-driven baseline of Nepal's transport performance across connectivity, access, safety, environmental sustainability, and governance. It brings together national and international datasets to track progress, benchmark against regional peers, and highlight where gaps remain. From a road-dominated system with limited modal diversification to rising emissions and increasing climate vulnerability, the analysis presents a nuanced picture of both progress and pressure points.

What emerges is clear: while there have been signs of improvements in access has improved challenges persist in public transport provision, safety outcomes, and system resilience. At the same time, rapid growth in energy demand and emissions underscores the urgency of shifting toward low-carbon, multimodal, and climate-resilient transport systems. In this context, the accelerating uptake of electric mobility—evidenced by the rapid rise in electric vehicle imports and increasing penetration in the vehicle fleet—signals an important opportunity, though scaling it will require stronger infrastructure, policy alignment, and system-level integration.

Structured according to the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport themes, this report serves as both a diagnostic and a baseline for action—supporting policymakers, practitioners, and researchers in translating ambition into implementation and tracking Nepal’s transition toward a safer, cleaner, and more inclusive transport future.

View the Report