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Dipesh Ghimire
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By Dipesh Ghimire

Demat Accounts Reach 6.55 Million, Mero Share Users Climb to 5.59 Million

Demat Accounts Reach 6.55 Million, Mero Share Users Climb to 5.59 Million

Kathmandu — As of the month of Falgun in the current fiscal year 2081/82 (mid-February 2025), the number of Demat (beneficiary) accounts in Nepal has reached 6.55 million, accounting for 22.44% of the country's total population. This is a notable increase from 5.82 million accounts recorded at the end of the previous fiscal year.

According to the Ministry of Finance, Demat account growth has been accelerating in recent years:

  • FY 2076/77: 1.75 million

  • FY 2077/78: 3.79 million

  • FY 2078/79: 5.34 million

  • FY 2079/80: 5.82 million

Surge in Mero Share Users

The number of Mero Share users — the online platform for share management — has also climbed to 5.59 million, about 19.15% of the population.

  • FY 2076/77: 742,000

  • FY 2077/78: 2.85 million

  • FY 2078/79: 4.39 million

  • FY 2079/80: 5.37 million

Dematerialized Securities and Online Access

  • The value of dematerialized securities with CDSC has reached NPR 128.65 billion.

  • The number of registered companies for dematerialization: 254

  • Depository participants (DPs): 119

  • Investors with online trading login credentials: 2.55 million

Capital Mobilization Drops by 26.28%

As of Falgun, the primary market has mobilized NPR 24.92 billion, which is 26.28% lower than NPR 33.80 billion raised during the same period last fiscal year.

Past Capital Mobilization by Fiscal Year:

  • FY 2080/81: NPR 62.93 billion

  • FY 2079/80: NPR 97.70 billion

  • FY 2078/79: NPR 50.64 billion

  • FY 2077/78: NPR 18.74 billion

  • FY 2076/77: NPR 33.65 billion

  • FY 2075/76: NPR 49.76 billion

Breakdown by Instrument in 2081/82:

  • Ordinary Shares: NPR 1.02 billion

  • Rights Shares: NPR 9.30 billion

  • Additional Shares: NPR 110 million

  • Debentures: NPR 3.30 billion

  • Mutual Funds: NPR 11.20 billion

Secondary Market Booms

By Falgun, secondary market turnover has hit NPR 1.455 trillion, a massive increase from NPR 415.78 billion during the same period last year.

  • Average daily turnover (147 trading days): NPR 9.90 billion

  • Turnover volume increased by 159.2%

  • Number of trades increased by 58.7%

Market Capitalization Jumps 37.1%

  • As of Falgun 2080: NPR 33.14 trillion

  • As of Falgun 2081: NPR 45.43 trillion

Sectoral Market Share:

  • Financial Sector: 53.21%

  • Hydropower: 15.68%

  • Investment Companies: 7.60%

  • Manufacturing & Processing: 5.44%

  • Trading Companies: 5.07%

  • Hotels & Tourism: 2.63%

  • Others: 10.36%

Listed Companies and Securities

  • Listed companies on NEPSE: 268 (including Guardian Micro Life Insurance as the latest addition)

  • Paid-up capital of listed shares: NPR 857.50 billion (up from NPR 810.41 billion last year)

Securities Listed So Far in FY 2081/82:

  • Primary shares: 7.5 million units

  • Mutual fund units: 250 million

  • Rights shares: 56.2 million

  • Bonus shares: 143.9 million

  • Additional shares: 50.6 million

  • Institutional bonds: 300,000 units

Nepal's capital market is experiencing rapid digitalization and user growth. While online access, demat account usage, and trading volumes are soaring, the primary market's capital mobilization has declined — signaling a need for regulatory reforms and enhanced investor confidence. Still, the sharp rise in secondary market activity and market capitalization indicates strong momentum in retail and institutional trading behavior.

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