Nepal makes significant progress in reducing child marriage
Summary
Nepal has reduced child marriage over the past decade, with the share of women aged 20-24 married before 18 falling from 37% in 2014 to 28% in 2024-25. UNICEF says progress is uneven and urges targeted action to protect girls from poor and marginalized households.
Key Points
- The share of women aged 20-24 in Nepal who were married before age 18 fell from 37% in 2014 to 28% in 2024-25, according to a UNICEF advocacy brief.
- Child marriage before age 15 dropped from 10% to 5%, and the median age at first marriage rose to 19.6 years.
- UNICEF says poverty remains the strongest predictor of child marriage, with girls from the poorest households far more likely to marry early.
- The brief urges stronger support for girls’ education, child protection, and targeted interventions to end child marriage by 2030.
