डिम्याट खाता ६७ लाख नाघ्यो, तर सक्रिय लगानीकर्ता कमDemat Accounts Cross 6.7 Million, But Active Investors Still Low

Kathmandu – The number of Demat (Beneficiary) accounts in Nepal has surpassed 6.75 million, driven by the mandatory requirement to hold a Demat account to participate in the stock market. However, the number of active investors remains significantly lower compared to the total accounts opened.

According to the Nepal Securities Board (SEBON), as of the end of Baisakh 2081/82 (April–May 2025), the number of investors who have opened Demat accounts reached 6,752,700. Analyzing the trend shows that individual investors dominate the Nepali stock market, with 52.57% male and 42.43% female participation, based on CDS records.

5-Year Growth in Demat Accounts:

• FY 2077 (July 2020): ~1.7 million accounts

• FY 2077/78 end: 3,736,926 accounts

• FY 2078/79 end: 5,260,251 accounts

• FY 2079/80 end: 5,823,000 accounts

• FY 2080/81 end: 6,272,351 accounts

Provincial Distribution of Demat Accounts:

• Bagmati Province: 36.11% (highest)

• Koshi Province: 18.85%

• Gandaki Province: 12.81%

• Lumbini Province: 11.80%

• Madhesh Province: 11.64%

• Sudurpaschim Province: 6.18%

• Karnali Province: 2.61% (lowest)

This shows that the stock market’s outreach is still highly centralized in the Bagmati region, especially around Kathmandu Valley.

What is a Demat Account?

A Demat account (Dematerialized Account) is a digital account used to store shares and securities in electronic form, replacing the physical share certificates. It is also known as a Beneficiary Account. Opening a Demat account is mandatory to invest in the secondary market in Nepal.

Types of Demat Accounts:

• Individual Demat Account

• Joint Demat Account

• Minor Demat Account

• Institutional Demat Account

• NRN (Non-Resident Nepali) Demat Account

Mero Share Users Also Rising Rapidly

Alongside Demat accounts, Mero Share platform usage is also surging. As of the end of Baisakh 2081, there are 5.81 million Mero Share users.

Here’s the annual trend:

• FY 2077: ~700,000 users

• FY 2078: 2,851,803 users

• FY 2078/79: 4,368,639 users

• FY 2079/80: 4,741,055 users

• FY 2080/81: 5,322,969 users

• Current FY Baisakh: 5,816,000 users

Online Trading User IDs Increasing

The number of investors receiving online trading credentials (usernames) has grown significantly:

• 2077 Asar: ~35,000

• 2078 Asar: 795,934

• 2078/79 end: 1,485,460

• 2079/80 end: 1,763,301

• 2080/81 end: 2,216,247

• 2081 Baisakh: 2,633,510

Despite this growth, financial analysts point out a concerning gap: “While Demat accounts and platform usage have skyrocketed, the number of actively trading investors has not grown proportionally.”

They emphasize that increasing investor education and engagement is crucial for sustainable stock market growth in Nepal.