Southern Asia
Nepal
Absolute number
Prevalence
Married by 15: Number of girls and women (left) and percentage of women 20-24 years (right) married before age 15
Married by 18: Number of girls and women (left) and percentage of women 20-24 years (right) married before age 18
Prevalence of child marriage
- Nepal
- Southern Asia
The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Nepal and Southern Asia from 1997 to 2025.
In Nepal, 55% of girls in 1997 married before age 18, compared with 35% in 2022, which is the latest available value.
In Southern Asia, the prevalence was 52% in 2000 and was 25% in 2025.
Show data table
| Year | Nepal | Southern Asia |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 54.7% | |
| 2000 | 52.0% | |
| 2002 | 54.7% | |
| 2005 | 48.8% | |
| 2007 | 49.8% | |
| 2010 | 45.2% | |
| 2012 | 41.6% | |
| 2015 | 38.1% | |
| 2017 | 37.7% | |
| 2020 | 31.2% | |
| 2022 | 34.9% | |
| 2025 | 25.2% |
Nepal
Child Marriage
Prevalence
Residence
- Rural
- Urban
Wealth
- Poorest
- Second
- Middle
- Fourth
- Richest
Education
- No schooling
- Primary education
- Secondary or higher
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
Region with no data
2022
Prevalence of child marriage in each region of Nepal in 2022
Region with no data
2022
Prevalence of child marriage in each region of Nepal in 2022
This map does not reflect a position by UNICEF on the legal status of any country or territory or the delimitation of any frontiers.
The map shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) across Nepal. Data refer to 2022, the latest year with available data.
The practice is most common in Madhesh Province (56%), Karnali Province (44%), Sudurpashchim Province (32%), and Koshi Province (30%).
Show data table
| Year | Province No. 1 | Province No. 2 | Province No. 3 | Province No. 4 | Province No. 5 | Province No. 6 | Province No. 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30.2% | 56.3% | 19.2% | 28.7% | 28.7% | 44.3% | 32.4% |
Compare countries
How does Nepal compare to other countries?
Prevalence of child marriage
- Nepal
The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Nepal from 1997 to 2022.
In Nepal, 55% of girls in 1997 married before age 18, compared with 35% in 2022, which is the latest available value.
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
The bubble chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) disaggregated by residence in Nepal. Data refer to the latest available year.
In Nepal, 35% of girls married before age 18. The prevalence is 40% of girls in rural areas, compared with 33% in urban areas.
For more data related to child marriage, please see the child marriage country profiles available on the UNICEF Data website
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Where does child marriage occur?
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