Kathmandu: Nepal has made significant progress in reducing child marriage over the past decade, but the country remains off track to meet its commitment to eliminate the harmful practice by 2030, according to a new UNICEF advocacy brief, Ending Child Marriage in Nepal: A Decade of Data and a Call to Action.
The release of the advocacy brief coincides with the International Day of the Girl Child, observed annually on 11 October. This year’s global theme, “End child marriage and invest in girls’ right,” highlights the urgent need to accelerate efforts to end child marriage and ensure girls have the opportunity to learn, thrive and shape their own futures.
Based on the findings of the latest Nepal Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (NMICS) 2024-25 as well as an analysis of data from the 2014 and 2019 surveys, the brief tracks a decade of progress in addressing child marriage in Nepal and finds that the proportion of women aged 20-24 who were married before the age of 18 fell from 37 per cent in 2014 to 28 per cent in 2024-25. Child marriage before age 15 was cut in half, falling from 10 per cent to 5 per cent over the same period.
The brief highlights that Nepal's progress is real and measurable. More girls are staying in school, the median age at first marriage has increased from 17 years in 2001 to 19.6 years in 2024-25, and marriage before age 15 is becoming less common.
However, gains have not been shared equally. Poverty remains the strongest predictor of child marriage, with girls from the poorest households now 4.4 times more likely to marry before age 18 than girls from the richest households. Rates of child marriages among the poorest households have changed little in recent years, while wealthier groups have seen much faster progress. Climate-related disasters, including the recent floods in Nepal, can further increase the risk of child marriage and other forms of violence against children by disrupting education, straining household incomes, increasing protection risks and pushing vulnerable families towards harmful coping mechanisms.
“These findings show that change is possible and that Nepal has made important progress in reducing child marriage,” said Alice Akunga, UNICEF Representative to Nepal. “But progress is not happening quickly enough, and it is not reaching all girls equally. Far too many girls, particularly those from the poorest and most marginalized communities, continue to face the risk of child marriage. Ending child marriage is one of the smartest investments Nepal can make for its future, helping girls stay in school, improve their health and contribute fully to their communities and the nation’s development.”
The brief also underscores the powerful role of education in preventing child marriage. Girls who complete secondary education face a substantially lower risk of marrying before 18, yet those most at risk are often the same girls most likely to leave school early due to poverty and other barriers.
“Every girl should have the chance to finish school, follow her dreams and decide for herself what her future looks like,” said Swarnima Kadel, UNICEF Nepal Youth Advocate for Adolescent Girls’ Empowerment. “As a teenager, I know how important these years are for learning, making friends, building confidence and thinking about what we want to do in life. When girls are married too young, many of those opportunities can be taken away. We need families, communities and leaders to support girls to stay in school and believe in what they can achieve.”
The advocacy brief also calls for urgent and targeted action to accelerate progress, including prioritizing support for girls from the poorest households, keeping girls in school through adolescence, strengthening child protection systems, addressing harmful social norms and increasing investment in proven interventions that empower girls and support families.
With just four years remaining to achieve Sustainable Development Goal Target 5.3, UNICEF is urging government, development partners, civil society, communities, children, adolescents and youth to work together to ensure every girl can grow up free from child marriage and reach her full potential.
