Nepal’s child marriage rate falls to 28%, poorest girls still vulnerable: UNICEF
Summary
Child marriage in Nepal has dropped from 37% in 2014 to 28% in 2024–25, but girls from the poorest households remain far more vulnerable. UNICEF says Nepal is off track to end the practice by 2030 and warns that poverty, weak school access and climate-related disasters are slowing progress.
Key Points
- Child marriage among women aged 20–24 in Nepal fell from 37 percent in 2014 to 28 percent in 2024–25, according to UNICEF.
- Girls from the poorest households are 4.4 times more likely to marry before 18 than girls from the richest households.
- UNICEF says poverty, education barriers and climate-related disasters such as floods continue to raise the risk of child marriage.
- UNICEF has urged the government and partners to strengthen education, child protection and girl-focused support to meet SDG Target 5.3 by 2030.
