IMPACT OF EARLY

MARRIAGE ON
GIRLS’ SECONDARY
& HIGHER
EDUCATION IN
SOUTH ASIA
 Introduction

1 in 4 girls in South Asia marry before 18 (UNICEF, 2023)

 Marriage often leads to:

• School Dropout

• Early motherhood

• Loss of opportunities & independence

 Consequences:

• Limits personal growth

• Reinforces poverty & gender inequality

 This study examines:

• How age, location, and income affect girls’ ability to complete school

 Goal:

• Provide insights for targeted policies to keep girls in school

 Objectives
 Compare Marriage Timing:

• Look at early vs. later marriage using DHS data.

 Assess Education Impact:

• Check how marriage timing affects school completion.

 Examine Cultural & Legal Factors:

• Understand how local customs and laws influence marriage timing, especially in tribal
areas.
 Evaluate Socioeconomic Influences & Interventions:
 Research questions

What is the impact of marrying before age 18 on the likelihood of girls completing

Secondary and Higher education in South Asia?

Subsidiary Questions:

1. How much do things like family income or parents’ education change the chances of a girl

who marries young still completing secondary school in South Asia?

2. How does the effect of early marriage on finishing secondary school differ between

countries like India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan in South Asia?

 Research questions

3.What recurring themes emerge in case studies of girls who married early

regarding their educational journey?

4.Which programs or rules in South Asia help girls who marry early stick

with school and finishing their secondary education?

5. Which laws in South Asia in various countries help prevent early

 Significance

• The significance of this research is that it examines how's early marriages

impacts the lives of a girl living in South Asia.

• This study uses existing data to help people understand the long-term problems
caused by early Marriages

• The purpose of this research is to create awareness and to help organizations

that help these girls
Limitations

• Secondary data (no personal opinions or personal experiences)

• Outdated data (Authenticity effected)

• Study includes several countries which may have different laws due to
diverse culture

• Does not include enough facts about poverty, jobs and accessibility of schools

• Incomplete data
Ethical Considerations

• Uses secondary data due to privacy concerns

• Credible sources such as UNICEF AND UNESCO

• Respects boundaries of individuals

 Literature Review
• Common Tradition

• Disrupts the lives of young girls

• Girls are unaware of their lawful rights

• Effects their mental health and health issues

• Legal age of Girl being 16 and man being 18

• Children dying at a young age

• Domestic Violence

• Poverty
Research Methodology – Overview
Mixed-Methods Secondary Research Why This Approach?

 Approach: • Quantitative: Identify patterns

• Combines quantitative and qualitative data • Qualitative: Understand real-life

• Based on existing research and reports context

 Data Sources: • Offers a full picture across South Asia

• Peer-reviewed journals

• NGO reports (UNICEF, DHS, Girls Not Brides, HRW)

• Government stats & law review

Quantitative Data – Measuring Impact

Statistical Evidence  Purpose:

 Key Indicators: • Track trends in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh

• % of girls married before 18 and 15 • Compare married vs. unmarried girls’

• education
Literacy rates
• Measure policy impact
• Dropout rates
 Visual Idea:
• Age at marriage vs. education level

 Sources: • Bar Graph: Trends across different countries

• Table: Factor Analysis

• UNICEF, DHS, UNESCO, Girls Not Brides
 Qualitative Data – Real-Life Stories
Lived Experiences  Purpose:

 Sources: • Show emotional + social impact

• NGO case studies • Explain obstacles to returning to school
• Cultural reviews • Support data with personal stories

• Legal Policy analysis

• Key Themes: Quote Example:

• Family/societal pressure “ I wanted to keep studying, but my husband said
• Barriers to schooling after marriage school is no place for a married woman. ” – HRW,
2016
• Law vs. real-life gaps
Quantitative Findings: Regional and
Comparative Overview
• South Asia is home to 290 million
Percentage of Girls married before 18
child brides, accounting for 45% 60.00%
of the global total (UNICEF,
2023). 50.00%
51%

40.00%
• Child brides are four times more
likely to drop out of school than 30.00%

unmarried peers.
20.00% 23%
18%
• Elimination by 2030 requires a 7 10.00%
times faster decline in child Bangladesh India Pakistan
marriage rates across the region. 0.00%
1
Education and Early marriage

• Bangladesh- 82% dropout after

marriage No Higher
Country Gap
• Pakistan- 18% dropout after marriage Education Education
• India- 80% dropout after marriage
Bangladesh 15.6 yrs 19.5 yrs 4 yrs

India 17.2 yrs 22.7 yrs 5.5 yrs

Urban Vs Rural
• Bangladesh: 54%- Rural 44%-Urban Pakistan 18.7 yrs 24.9 yrs 6.2 yrs
• Pakistan: 31%- Rural 12%- Urban
• India: 27%-Rural 15%-Urban
UNICEF Report Illustration
 Religious Causes of Early Marriages

• Parents believe it’s essential to marry off their daughters before they reach puberty.

• In Hinduism, early marriage is linked to the concept of Kanyadan.

• Akshaya Tritiya is a significant Hindu festival, and it’s associated with mass marriages in

some communities.

• Religious beliefs are often blended with traditional customs that contribute to early marriage.

• Religious leader promote early marriage as a way to uphold religious and traditional values.
 Cultural Causes of Early Marriages

• Preserve family honor and reputation.

• Reducing dowry demands (less dowry for younger bride).

• Working women are seen as immodest.

• Societal pressure

• Jigras arrange early marriages to resolve disputes or conflicts between families.

 Early Marriage in South Asia – Root Causes

1. Poverty: Major driver—girls seen as financial burdens; early marriage reduces expenses or
secures dowry.

2. Low Parental Education : Especially mothers' education strongly affects girls’ likelihood of
early marriage.

3. Rural Living Conditions : Limited school access, transport issues, and traditional norms
increase child marriage rates.
 The Impact of Poverty

• Girls from low-income rural families are twice as likely to marry before 18.

• Natural Disasters (like floods in Bangladesh) make families feel urgent need to marry
daughters.

• In poor areas, education is seen as less important for girls

• Dowry pressure makes early marriage a financial strategy for struggling families

• Poverty leads to a cycle: early marriage → no education → continued poverty

Education’s Role in Preventing Early Marriage

• Educated parents (especially mothers) are more likely to support daughters’ schooling

• In Bangladesh, risk of early marriage drops from 94% to 0% if a girl is educated .

• In Sindh, Pakistan, educated families strongly resist marrying girls early..

• Parents without education may not realize the value of girls’ schooling.

• Female education promotes awareness of rights, health, and future opportunities

Rural Disadvantages

• Few schools nearby; many villages lack access to secondary education.

• Unsafe or long travel discourages attendance, especially for girls.

• Lack of transport makes education inaccessible.

• Strong social pressure to conform to traditional gender roles.

• Girls in rural areas also face caste, ethnic, and religious discrimination.

• Minorities and lower-caste girls in Nepal, Bangladesh, and India are especially affected.
Interventions
• Barriers to Girls’ Education
• Impact of Early Marriage
• Legislative Efforts
• Effectiveness of Interventions
• WASH Interventions
• Use of Secondary Data
Conclusion
THANK YOU