Early-Age Self-Initiated Marriage of Girls in Nepal
By: Nub Raj Bhandari | Published on: January 26, 2026
Early-Age Self-Initiated Marriage of Girls in Nepal
About This Research
This study explores the emerging trend of early-age self-initiated marriage among adolescent girls in Nepal, from the perspective of women and girls, which is one of the underexplored areas of child marriage in the country. Using a qualitative design, the research draws on key informant interviews with married women who entered into marriage by self-initiation, unmarried young women, and key stakeholders across four provinces: Koshi, Madhesh, Lumbini, and Far-Western.
The findings reveal that peer influence, romantic and emotional pressures, social media, and mobile phones play central roles in shaping girls’ decisions to initiate marriage at an early age. Socio-economic constraints, entrenched gender norms, migration, and exposure to modern lifestyles further interact to influence girls' choices. Informants consistently emphasized delaying marriage until at least age 20. The study highlights the need for multi-level interventions focused on education, digital literacy, and adolescent empowerment. The research also recommends further studies, including similar research from the perspectives of boys and men.
This research is funded by DKA Austria.
Mr. Nub Raj Bhandari (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7625-8775)
Principal Researcher
Program Director and Researcher, JWAS