Gender Inequality and Women’s Limited Opportunities

Women in Nepal face persistent barriers in education, employment, health, and decision-making.

UN Women reports that 34.9% of women aged 20–24 were married or in a union before age 18 (2019).
The adolescent birth rate (15–19 years) stands at 71.2 per 1,000 girls (2020).
102.2% of girls and 100.8% of boys complete lower secondary school in Nepal as of 2024 data. – check these percentages
The gap in adult literacy between men and women, 20.3, is larger than the gap of the South Asia aggregate, 13. Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short, simple statement about their everyday life.
World Bank Gender Data shows that 91.2% of employed women are in vulnerable, low-security jobs (2023).

Why this matters:
Early marriage, early pregnancy, and limited economic opportunities restrict women’s potential and reinforce cycles of poverty. Gender inequality affects not only women’s well-being but also the health, education, and economic prospects of entire families and communities.

Data sources:

World Bank Gender Data Portal
UN Women Data Hub

UN Women reports that 34.9% of women aged 20–24 were married or in a union before age 18 (2019).

The adolescent birth rate (15–19 years) stands at 71.2 per 1,000 girls (2020).

102.2% of girls and 100.8% of boys complete lower secondary school in Nepal as of 2024 data. – check these percentages