Education emerges as a powerful protective factor. Women with no formal schooling faced a 52 per cent child marriage rate, plummeting to 5.5 per cent for those with higher education.
In a stark revelation underscoring the enduring challenges of gender inequality and social norms in Nepal, the newly released Nepal Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2024-25 has highlighted that one in three women aged 18-49 were married before turning 18.
The comprehensive survey, conducted across all seven provinces and involving nearly 14,000 women and over 4,600 men aged 15-49, paints a picture of gradual progress amid persistent disparities. Released by the National Statistics Office in collaboration with UNICEF, the findings serve as a critical benchmark for policymakers, activists, and international organisations working to eradicate child marriage in the Himalayan nation.
The MICS 2024-25, part of a global initiative to monitor progress on child and maternal health, education, and well-being, comes at a pivotal time as Nepal strives to meet its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) commitments, including ending child marriage by 2030. While the data indicates a slow decline in the practice over generations, experts warn that without accelerated interventions, child marriage could remain a widespread issue for decades. The survey’s release has sparked renewed calls for targeted programmes in high-risk areas, emphasising the need to address root causes like poverty and lack of education.
A Generational Shift, But Slow Progress
At the national level, the survey reveals that approximately 33 per cent of women in the 18-49 age group experienced child marriage, a figure that drops to about one in nine for men in the same cohort. This gender disparity is even more pronounced among adolescents: around 14 per cent of girls aged 15-19 are currently married, compared to fewer than 2 per cent of boys in the same age range. These statistics highlight how child marriage disproportionately affects girls, often curtailing their opportunities and perpetuating cycles of inequality.
Comparing generational trends, the data shows encouraging signs of change. Women in their late 40s reported significantly higher rates of child marriage than those in their early 20s, with an overall reduction of about 13 percentage points over the past 25 years. This decline reflects broader societal shifts, including increased awareness campaigns, legal reforms, and improved access to education. Nepal’s legal framework, which sets the minimum marriage age at 20 for both genders, has been in place since 1963, but enforcement remains uneven. The MICS findings suggest that while younger generations are marrying later, the pace of change is insufficient to eliminate the practice entirely within the next decade.
The survey’s methodology, which employed cluster sampling to ensure representation across urban and rural areas, provides a robust dataset for tracking these trends. It builds on previous MICS iterations, offering a longitudinal view that underscores Nepal’s progress since the 1990s, when child marriage rates were even higher. However, the persistence of the issue – affecting millions of lives – raises questions about the effectiveness of current strategies.
Madhesh Province Bears the Brunt
Geographical variations in child marriage rates are among the most alarming findings of the MICS 2024-25. Madhesh Province, in the southern Terai region bordering India, leads with the highest prevalence: nearly 50 per cent of women were married before 18, almost double the national average. This figure is attributed to deeply entrenched cultural practices, economic pressures, and cross-border influences, where early marriage is sometimes seen as a protective measure against social stigma or elopement.
In contrast, Bagmati Province, home to the capital Kathmandu, records the lowest rates at around 20 per cent. Urban areas like the Kathmandu Valley show even lower figures, benefiting from better access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. However, the survey exposes intra-provincial divides: rural parts of Bagmati have rates nearing 39 per cent, aligning closely with the national average. These disparities illustrate how urbanization and development play key roles in reducing child marriage, yet leave rural and marginalised communities behind.
Other provinces fall between these extremes, with higher rates in the more remote and economically challenged areas of Karnali and Sudurpashchim. The MICS data urges province-specific interventions, such as community-based awareness programmes and incentives for girls’ education, to bridge these gaps.
Poverty and Education as Key Drivers
The survey delves into socioeconomic determinants, revealing that child marriage is inextricably linked to wealth and education levels. Among the poorest households, 42 per cent of women were married before 18, compared to 21 per cent in the wealthiest. For currently married teenage girls, the divide is stark: over 20 per cent from the poorest families versus just 3 per cent from the richest. Men from low-income backgrounds are five times more likely to marry early than their affluent counterparts.
Education emerges as a powerful protective factor. Women with no formal schooling faced a 52 per cent child marriage rate, plummeting to 5.5 per cent for those with higher education. The MICS highlights a vicious cycle: child marriage often forces girls to drop out of school, while lack of education increases vulnerability to early unions. More than half of currently married teenage girls have no education, perpetuating intergenerational poverty and limiting economic independence.
These factors are compounded by cultural or patriarchal norms, where early marriage is viewed as a way to secure family honour or economic stability. In rural areas, limited job opportunities for women reinforce the practice, as families prioritize marriage over prolonged education.
Impacts and the Path Forward
The consequences of child marriage are profound and multifaceted. It interrupts education, exposes girls to early motherhood and health risks, and restricts life choices, often leading to domestic violence and economic dependence. The MICS 2024-25 frames child marriage not just as a statistic but as a human rights violation affecting Nepal’s future workforce and social fabric.
In response to the survey’s release, advocates are pushing for enhanced government action. While Nepal has ratified international conventions like the Convention on the Rights of the Child, implementation lags. Proposed measures include strengthening school retention programmes, providing scholarships for girls from poor families, and enforcing anti-child marriage laws more rigorously. UNICEF, a key partner in the MICS, has called for multi-sectoral approaches involving health, education, and justice systems.
Image: Grok
