Published: June 12, 2025, 02:39 PM
UN report paints grim picture of gender inequality in Bangladesh as over half of girls are married before 18, highest in South Asia
Bangladesh has recorded the highest rate of child marriage in South Asia, with 51 percent of girls married before the age of 18 between 2006 and 2024, according to a report released by the United Nations on Wednesday.
The findings are part of the State of World Population 2025 report, titled The Real Fertility Crisis, published by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The report underscores alarming gender disparities in Bangladesh and highlights that, despite global progress, the country continues to struggle with entrenched child marriage practices and limited reproductive rights for women and girls.
In stark contrast, the report shows significantly lower child marriage rates in neighboring countries: Maldives (2%), Sri Lanka (10%), Pakistan (18%), India (23%), Bhutan (26%), and Nepal (35%).
Maternal health also remains a pressing concern in Bangladesh. The maternal mortality ratio stands at 115 deaths per 100,000 live births. While 70 percent of births are attended by skilled health personnel, only 54 percent of women aged 15–49 use contraceptives. The total fertility rate per woman is 2.1.
UNFPA estimates Bangladesh’s population at 175.7 million, with 28 percent under the age of 15 and 7 percent aged 65 or older. Life expectancy at birth is 74 years for men and 77 for women.
Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA, noted that the global reproductive rights landscape remains uneven. "Despite significant advances, the most marginalised people have experienced the fewest gains," she said. Kanem added that about one in 10 women globally cannot decide whether to use contraception, and nearly one in four are unable to make independent healthcare decisions.
A March report by UNICEF, UN Women, and Plan International also reaffirmed that Bangladesh holds the highest child marriage rate in Asia. It found that 51 percent of women aged 20–24 had been married before turning 18.
The UNFPA report stresses that adolescent girls in Bangladesh continue to face systemic challenges, including limited access to education, employment, and safety. It warns that, unless gender disparities are addressed urgently, millions of girls will remain trapped in cycles of early marriage, lost opportunity, and poor health outcomes.
