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
Show table of data
YearSouthern AsiaNepal
199754.7%
199853.6%
200254.7%
200349.5%
200749.8%
200846.1%
201241.6%
201338.8%
201737.7%
201831.6%
202234.9%
202325.6%
Child marriage age
Compare with other countries

Nepal

Child Marriage
Prevalence

Residence

  • Urban
  • Rural
Show Residence table of data
YearUrbanRural
202232.5%40.2%

Wealth

  • Poorest
  • Second
  • Middle
  • Fourth
  • Richest
Show Wealth table of data
YearPoorestSecondMiddleFourthRichest
202251.7%46.6%36.9%28.2%13.5%

Education

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

Compare regions of Nepal

Understand differences inside the country

Touch the timeline to see how the child marriage affect differently each sub-region of Nepal in the last decades.

Levels of child marriage vary across different parts of Nepal. See the range of values within the country, and explore the map for details.

Prevalence of child marriage

Compare regions of Nepal

Understand differences
inside the country

28% 46% 20% 36% 34% 44% 36%
Child marriage age

Region with no data

2019

Prevalence of child marriage in each region of Nepal in 2019

0%100%
Show table of data
YearNepalProvince No. 1Province No. 2Province No. 3Province No. 4Province No. 5Province No. 6Province No. 7
28.5%46.0%19.7%35.7%33.7%44.3%35.6%
Child marriage age

Compare countries

How does Nepal compare to other countries?

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Nepal
Child marriage age
Show table of data
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

Show table of data
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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