District-Level Disparities in Female Education and Child Marriage: Evidence from Maharashtra, India
Anil A. Landge
Department of Geography, Padmashri Vikhe Patil College, Pravaranagar, Maharashtra - 413 713, India.
Rajendra S. Pawar *
Department of Geography, Padmashri Vikhe Patil College, Pravaranagar, Maharashtra - 413 713, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: The study aims to examine district-level variations in women’s educational attainment and literacy in Maharashtra and to analyze their relationship with the prevalence of early marriage among women.
Study Design: This is a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study based on secondary data analysis.
Place and Duration of Study: The study covers all 36 districts of Maharashtra, using data from the National Family Health Survey–5 (NFHS-5), conducted during 2019–2021.
Methodology: The study is based on district-level secondary data extracted from the National Family Health Survey–5 (NFHS-5, 2019–21) for all 36 districts of Maharashtra and follows a quantitative, cross-sectional analytical approach. As all districts are included, a complete enumeration (census) method is adopted and no separate sample size formula is required. NFHS-5 itself follows a two-stage stratified random sampling design at the household level, ensuring reliable district-level estimates (IIPS & ICF, 2021). Data collection involved identification of key indicators, district-wise compilation, and consistency checks using official fact sheets. Descriptive statistics were used to examine inter-district variations, while Pearson correlation analysis was applied to assess relationships between women’s educational indicators and child marriage prevalence, consistent with recent district-level studies in India (Singh et al., 2024). The findings were interpreted in comparison with national trends from NFHS-4 and NFHS-5 and supported by established sociological and demographic literature on education and marriage outcomes (Desai & Vanneman, 2015; UNICEF, 2020).
Results: Substantial inter-district disparities were observed. Urbanized districts such as Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, and Thane reported very high female literacy and secondary schooling levels, along with very low child marriage prevalence. In contrast, districts such as Nandurbar, Parbhani, Bid, and Dhule exhibited low female educational attainment and high rates of early marriage. A strong negative correlation (r ≈ –0.66) was found between women’s completion of ten or more years of schooling and child marriage. Maharashtra’s overall child marriage rate (21.9%) was lower than the national average (23.3%), reflecting the state’s comparatively higher female literacy, though regional gaps remain pronounced.
Conclusion: The findings confirm that women’s education—particularly completion of secondary schooling—is a critical determinant in delaying marriage. Districts with higher female literacy and schooling consistently demonstrate lower child marriage prevalence. Strengthening access to quality education in lagging rural, tribal, and Marathwada districts, alongside supportive social and policy interventions, is essential for further reducing child marriage and advancing women’s empowerment in Maharashtra.
Keywords: Female literacy, women’s education, child marriage, educational attainment, women’s empowerment