Kathmandu [Nepal], October 9 – Nepal has made significant progress in reducing child marriage over the past decade, but remains off track to eliminate the practice by 2030, with girls from the poorest households facing a substantially higher risk of marrying before 18, according to a new UNICEF advocacy brief.
The proportion of women aged 20 to 24 who were married before the age of 18 fell from 37 percent in 2014 to 28 percent in 2024-25, according to the brief, based on data from the Nepal Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys.
Child marriage before the age of 15 also fell by half over the same period, from 10 percent to 5 percent.
The findings, published in the UNICEF brief “Ending Child Marriage in Nepal: A Decade of Data and a Call to Action”, show that progress has been made, but it has not been shared equally across the country.
Poverty remains the strongest predictor of child marriage with girls from the poorest households now 4.4 times more likely to marry before 18 than girls from the richest households.
UNICEF said rates of child marriage among the poorest households have changed little in recent years, while wealthier groups have made much faster progress.
“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.”
The brief also points to education as a key factor in preventing child marriage. Girls who complete secondary education face a substantially lower risk of marrying before 18, but those most at risk are also more likely to leave school early because of poverty and other barriers.
Nepal’s median age at first marriage has increased from 17 years in 2001 to 19.6 years in 2024-25, while marriage before 15 has become less common.
UNICEF has also warned that climate-related disasters, including recent floods in Nepal, can increase the risk of child marriage and other forms of violence against children by disrupting education, straining household incomes and increasing protection risks.
With four years remaining to meet Sustainable Development Goal Target 5.3, UNICEF is calling for targeted action to accelerate progress.
Its recommendations include prioritising 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 interventions that empower girls and support families.
The advocacy brief was released ahead of the International Day of the Girl Child on October 11, whose global theme this year is “End child marriage and invest in girls’ rights.”
UNICEF is urging the government, development partners, civil society, communities, children, adolescents and youth to work together to ensure girls can grow up free from child marriage and reach their full potential.
