In recent years, an average of 1 million Nepalis have participated annually in the U.S. Diversity Visa (DV) lottery program. The number of participants decreased somewhat during the years when passports were mandatory. However, the court later removed the passport requirement for the DV lottery. Passports were required for the DV Lottery 2021, 2022, and 2023, but this requirement was removed for the DV Lottery 2024 and 2025.
Despite the passport requirement, 688,502 Nepalis participated in the DV 2021 program. According to the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, 421,765 Nepalis registered as primary applicants, and including their 266,737 derivatives, the total participation was 688,502. In the DV 2020 program, 1,026,423 Nepalis participated, with 637,696 as primary applicants and 388,727 as derivatives.
For the DV 2019 program, 1,092,035 Nepalis participated, including 684,180 primary applicants and 407,855 derivatives. From 2013 to 2018, Nepali participation in the DV program remained significant. In DV 2018, 1,187,350 Nepalis participated, with 728,718 as primary applicants and 458,632 as derivatives. Similarly, in DV 2017, 1,136,622 Nepalis participated, including 692,137 primary applicants and 444,485 derivatives.
In the DV 2016 program, 1,090,880 Nepalis participated, with 664,854 as primary applicants and 426,026 as derivatives. For DV 2015, 545,825 Nepalis participated, and with the addition of 347,136 derivatives, the total number reached 892,961. The DV 2014 program saw the participation of 613,385 Nepalis, including both applicants and their derivatives. In DV 2013, 496,410 Nepalis, including primary applicants and derivatives, participated in the lottery.
From 2007 to 2012, Nepali participation in the DV lottery was also substantial. In DV 2012, 397,036 Nepalis participated, of which 238,678 were primary applicants and 158,358 were derivatives. Similarly, in DV 2011, 322,758 Nepalis participated, with 194,373 primary applicants and 128,385 derivatives. In DV 2010, 356,216 Nepalis participated, with 211,421 as primary applicants and 144,795 as derivatives.
In DV 2009, 298,141 Nepalis participated, of which 170,716 were primary applicants and 127,425 were derivatives. For DV 2008, 389,989 Nepalis participated, with 222,477 primary applicants and 167,512 derivatives. Lastly, in DV 2007, 327,330 Nepalis participated, including 189,484 primary applicants and 137,846 derivatives.
Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
