Significant Growth in Digital Transactions in Nepal

Kathmandu – Digital transactions in Nepal have surged sharply in the fiscal year 2081/82, with notable growth across QR payments, mobile banking, prepaid cards, wallets, and other electronic channels, according to Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).

QR Transactions Up by 91%

Payments made through QR codes rose by 91%, reaching Rs. 958.38 billion compared to Rs. 499.79 billion in the previous fiscal year. The number of QR transactions also jumped 86% to 315.7 million. In Ashadh (June/July) alone, QR-based transactions exceeded Rs. 113 billion.

RTGS Reaches Rs. 7.49 Trillion

Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS), used for large-value payments, processed Rs. 7.49 trillion last year—up 94% from Rs. 3.85 trillion the previous year. However, the number of transactions remained relatively low at about 842,000, showing only a 4% increase.

Prepaid Card Payments Grew by 66%

Transactions via prepaid cards climbed to Rs. 12.55 billion, up 66% compared to Rs. 7.54 billion a year earlier. The number of transactions also grew by more than 40%.

Mobile Banking Exceeds Rs. 5 Trillion

Mobile banking transactions reached Rs. 5.01 trillion, a 45% increase from Rs. 3.45 trillion the year before. The number of mobile banking transactions rose to 614 million, up 46%.

Total Digital Transactions Hit Rs. 98.4 Trillion

Overall digital transactions increased by 71%, totaling Rs. 98.4 trillion. The number of transactions grew 36%. Wallet-based transactions alone crossed Rs. 500 billion, while e-commerce transactions rose 53% to Rs. 13.53 billion.

Growing Preference for Digital Payments

According to NRB spokesperson Kiran Pandit, more people are embracing electronic payments because they are faster, more convenient, and eliminate the hassle of carrying cash—even for small transactions.