Statistics
Nepal’s legal minimum marriage age is 20 years for both men and women, without exception. The Civil Code, 2074 BS, enforces this uniform standard across all cultural and religious backgrounds.
Percentage of the married population aged below 10 to 20 years:
- Younger than 10 years old: 0.3% . 0.1% males and 0.5% females.
- Between 10 and 14 years old: 7.0%. 3% males and 10.2% females.
- Between 15 and 17 years old: 22.3%. 12.3% males and 30.4% females.
- Between 18 and 20 years old: 32,6 males and 35,9% females.
The decline in child marriage in Nepal (1997-2022)
Nepal has seen an encouraging decline in the number of child marriages in recent decades. While more than half of girls married before the age of 18 in the 1990s, this number has decreased significantly due to increased awareness, stricter legislation, and improved access to education.
The figures for Nepal are shown below (percentage of women aged 20 to 24 married before the age of 18):
- 1997: 54,7%
- 2002: 54,7%
- 2007: 49,8%
- 2012: 41,6%
- 2017: 37,7%
- 2022: 34,9%
Figures based on the latest UNICEF and UN News reports from 2024 and 2025
In Nepal, more than 5 million girls and young women are currently married before the age of 18. Specifically, this means:
- 1,500,000 (1.5 million) girls were married before the age of 15.
- 5,400,000 (5.4 million) girls/women were married before the age of 18.
This represents approximately 35% (more than 1 in 3) of all girls in Nepal.
Percentage of child marriages by province
Although the overall rate of child marriage in Nepal is slowly declining, the country continues to have one of the highest rates in South Asia. Especially in rural areas and within specific marginalized communities, such as the Dalit caste in the Terai region, the rates are significantly higher than the national average.
The highest rates of child marriage for girls and women between the ages of 20-24 who were first married before age 18 are found in:
- Madhesh Province, 53%.
- Karnali Province, 48%.
- Sudurpashchim Province, 45%.
- Gandaki Province, 41%.
- Lumbini Province, 40%.
The highest rates of child marriage for boys and men between the ages of 20-24 who were first married before age 18 are found in:
- Karnali Province, 25%.
- Sudurpashchim Province , 21%.
- Madhesh Province, 18%.
- Lumbini Province, 16%.
- Gandaki Province and Koshi Province, 10%.
The impact of child marriage on girls’ education and safety
In practice, child marriage almost always leads to early school leaving. The focus shifts from personal development and education to domestic responsibilities and family care. This development hinders the girl’s economic independence and creates an unequal power balance within the marriage. This lack of autonomy significantly increases vulnerability to domestic violence. To ensure the safety and rights of the child, it is essential that they have the opportunity to complete their education and grow up free from the responsibilities of premature adulthood.
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