GUWAHATI: Assam has recorded a decline in child marriage rates over the past few years, according to the latest National Family Health Survey-6 (NFHS-6) 2023-2024 data, although the State continues to remain above the national average.
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As per the survey, 25.3 per cent of women aged 20-24 years in Assam were married before the age of 18 in 2023-2024. The figure marks a decline from 31.8 per cent recorded during NFHS-5 conducted between 2019 and 2021, indicating a gradual reduction in early marriages across the State.
The data also highlights a sharp rural-urban divide in Assam. In rural areas, 27 per cent of women aged 20-24 years were married before turning 18, compared to 9.2 per cent in urban areas.
Despite the improvement, Assam’s overall child marriage rate remains significantly higher than the national average of 20.1 per cent recorded in NFHS-6. Across India, 23.3 per cent of women aged 20-24 years had been married before the age of 18 during NFHS-5, showing a nationwide decline similar to Assam’s trend.
The latest findings come amid continued efforts by the Assam government and various social organisations to address child marriage through awareness campaigns, stricter enforcement measures and community-level interventions, particularly in rural districts where prevalence remains higher.