Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on July 5, 2026 that the government has formally requested a deferral of its scheduled graduation from the UN's Least Developed Country category. Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal submitted the request to the Chair of the UN Committee for Development Policy on May 13, 2026, citing economic impacts, global instability, and other challenges as grounds for postponement. The original graduation date of November 2026 would, if deferred, be moved to November 2029.
The ministry described the LDC deferral effort as a core achievement of its economic diplomacy in the government's first 100 days. Graduation from LDC status typically means a country loses access to preferential trade arrangements and concessional financing, making the timing of any transition significant for Nepal's development outlook.