Southern Asia

Nepal

Summary

Explore how common child marriage is throughout the country, how levels have changed over time, and how the situation in this country compares to others.

Absolute number

Prevalence

1.5 million

Married by 15: Number of girls and women (left) and percentage of women 20-24 years (right) married before age 15

6%
5.4 million

Married by 18: Number of girls and women (left) and percentage of women 20-24 years (right) married before age 18

35%

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Southern Asia
  • Nepal
Child marriage age
Data table
YearSouthern AsiaNepal
199754.7%
199953.1%
200254.7%
200449.5%
200749.8%
200945.9%
201241.6%
201438.6%
201737.7%
201931.8%
202234.9%
202425.6%
Child marriage age
Compare with other countries

Nepal

Child Marriage
Prevalence

Residence

  • Urban
  • Rural
Residence Data table
YearUrbanRural
202232.5%40.2%

Wealth

  • Poorest
  • Second
  • Middle
  • Fourth
  • Richest
Wealth Data table
YearPoorestSecondMiddleFourthRichest
202251.7%46.6%36.9%28.2%13.5%

Education

  • No schooling
  • Primary education
  • Secondary or higher
Education Data table
YearNo schoolingPrimary educationSecondary or higher
202271.6%61.9%17.8%
Child marriage age

Compare countries

How does Nepal compare to other countries?

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Nepal
Child marriage age
Data table
YearNepal
199754.7%
200254.7%
200749.8%
201241.6%
201737.7%
202234.9%

Residence

Child marriage prevalence

Review the data to find if girls living in rural areas are more likely to marry in childhood than girls in urban areas

Data table
CountryUrbanRuralTotal prevalence
Nepal32.5%40.2%34.9%
Perspective
Child marriage age

For more data related to child marriage, please see the child marriage country profiles available on the UNICEF Data website

UNICEF Data

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Where does child marriage occur?

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