KATHMANDU, Oct 9: Child marriage in Nepal has declined significantly over the past decade, but girls from the poorest households remain far more vulnerable, with the country off track to meet its 2030 target of ending the practice, according to UNICEF.
A new UNICEF advocacy brief, Ending Child Marriage in Nepal: A Decade of Data and a Call to Action, found that the proportion of women aged 20–24 who married before turning 18 fell from 37 percent in 2014 to 28 percent in 2024–25. The share married before age 15 also halved, from 10 percent to 5 percent.
However, girls from the poorest households are now 4.4 times more likely to marry before 18 than those from the richest households, according to the press release. It noted that child marriage rates among the poorest have changed little in recent years, while wealthier groups have made faster progress.
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UNICEF said increased school retention and a rise in the median age at first marriage—from 17 in 2001 to 19.6 in 2024–25—reflect progress. However, poverty and barriers to education continue to put vulnerable girls at risk.
The press release also warned that climate-related disasters, including recent floods in Nepal, can increase the risk of child marriage by disrupting education, reducing household income and exposing children to greater protection risks.
“Progress is not happening quickly enough, and it is not reaching all girls equally,” said Alice Akunga, UNICEF representative to Nepal, according to the release.
UNICEF has called for targeted support for girls from the poorest households, improved access to education, stronger child protection systems, efforts to change harmful social norms and greater investment in programmes that empower girls and support families.
With four years remaining to meet Sustainable Development Goal Target 5.3, UNICEF urged the government, development partners, civil society and communities to accelerate efforts to end child marriage by 2030.
