In this article, we will take a look at the 17 countries with the highest child marriage rates in the world.
We know that some cultures globally continue to permit child marriage as a deeply rooted tradition. Truth be told, this act is still happening today. It’s crucial to emphasize that marrying before the age of 18 constitutes a fundamental breach of human rights. Various factors contribute to the vulnerability of a child to early marriage, including economic hardship, the misconception that marriage offers ‘protection,’ family reputation, societal norms, customary or religious traditions that endorse this practice, an insufficient legal framework, and the state of civil registration systems in some countries. Although this practice disproportionately affects girls, it is a rights violation regardless of gender.
Child marriage frequently jeopardizes a child’s development, leading to early pregnancies, social isolation, disruptions in education, restricted prospects for career growth, and increased vulnerability to domestic violence. While the effects on boys who enter child marriages have not been extensively researched, such unions may similarly thrust them into adult responsibilities for which they are ill-prepared. These marriages could also impose economic burdens, and limit their chances for further education, and career advancement.
Almost every country has laws against early marriage. Nevertheless, these laws are frequently overlooked and not enforced in many nations. In numerous cases, families and young girls may not even be aware that such laws exist. In accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, forced and early marriages violate children’s entitlement to protection from harmful practices, abuse, and exploitation. Furthermore, it deprives them of their right to full and unhindered development.
The underlying reasons for violence against children are highly intricate, encompassing various social, economic, and cultural elements. Among these factors are gender disparities, financial insecurity, humanitarian emergencies, and educational deficits. According to the World Health Organization, these root causes frequently interconnect, with one issue potentially giving rise to another. For instance, experiencing childhood abuse can heighten an individual’s susceptibility to becoming an abuser in the future.
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Our Methodology
In our effort to create a list of the 17 countries with the highest child marriage rates globally, we conducted extensive research and drew insights from five reputable sources (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) and examined the child marriage statistics worldwide. Our research process began by identifying over 32 countries mentioned across these sources. Each time a country was referenced with a specific ranking related to its child marriage rates, we systematically organized this information and assigned corresponding points. By rigorously analyzing the data, we ultimately compiled our list of the countries with the highest child marriage rates in the world.
17 Countries With Highest Child Marriage Rates in the World
17. Malawi
Malawi is among the countries with the highest incidences of child marriage globally, with an estimated 42% of girls entering marriage before reaching the age of 18, and 9% even before turning 15. It’s worth noting that some boys are also affected by child marriage in the region.
16. Nepal
Among the nations of South Asia, Nepal is the only country where child marriages are notably widespread among both boys and girls. In Nepal, one out of every ten men between the ages of 20 and 24 entered into marriage during their childhood. The legal marrying age in the country is 20 for both men and women. Nonetheless, statistics reveal that 37% of Nepali girls enter into marriage before reaching the age of 18.
15. Congo
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, 29% of girls are married before their 18th birthday, and 8% are married prior to turning 15. Additionally, 6% of boys in the Democratic Republic of Congo enter marriage before reaching the age of 18. Furthermore, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s high fertility rate can be attributed to cultural norms that promote childbearing, with large families being highly regarded. According to the most recent demographic and health survey in the country, Congolese women expressed a desire for an average of six children, while men aspired to have seven.
14. Brazil
According to the latest accessible data, 36% of girls in Brazil enter into marriage before turning 18, while 11% of them are married before reaching the age of 15. Brazil holds the distinction of having the highest number of child marriages in Latin America, and in 2006, statistics revealed that 26% of women aged 20–24 in Brazil, entered into marriage before turning 18, and 6% did so before reaching the age of 15.
13. Madagascar
Madagascar boasts one of the world’s highest rates of child marriage, with a significant portion of these marriages being informal. This issue primarily impacts girls; however, in comparison to other countries in the region, there is also a relatively elevated rate of marriage among boys. In Madagascar, 40% of girls enter into marriage before their 18th birthday, and 13% are married before turning 15. For boys in Madagascar, the corresponding figures are 12% who marry before the age of 18, and 2% before the age of 15.
12. Somalia
Somalia faces a significant and escalating issue of adolescent pregnancies, primarily stemming from child marriages. Statistics reveal that 36% of girls in Somalia enter into marriage before they reach their 18th birthday, and 17% are married before turning 15.
11. India
Child marriage in India is a deeply ingrained tradition, sanctioned by both societal and religious norms, and it transcends all segments of the population. India accounts for over 40% of global child marriages. Nearly half of all girls in the country are married off before reaching the age of 18, with 47% of women between the ages of 20 to 24 having been married before turning 18. According to a UNICEF report from 2005, child marriage rates in India were estimated at around 47%, but this figure has since decreased to 27% as per a more recent UNICEF report published in 2015.
10. Ethiopia
Between 2005 and 2016, the percentage of young Ethiopian women married before age 18 declined from 49 to 40%, a reduction of 18% from 2005 levels. The percentage of women married before age 15 experienced even greater reductions, declining by 26% in the same period. Ethiopia has experienced impressive declines in child marriage over the last decade. However, progress has also been uneven. Trends in the last decade have resulted in a geographical shift in where child marriage is most prevalent. In particular, locations that are challenging in terms of access, including the most remote and hard to reach, pose persistent challenges to those attempting to eradicate the practice. Intensifying efforts in rural areas and underserved regions can facilitate further declines in child marriage in Ethiopia.
Between 2005 and 2016, there was a notable decrease in the percentage of young Ethiopian women entering marriage before the age of 18, declining from 49% to 40%. This marks an 18% reduction from 2005 levels. Even more significant was the reduction in the percentage of women marrying before the age of 15, which dropped by 26% during the same period.
9. Guinea
Child marriage rates in Guinea remain elevated. Among women aged 18 to 22, 51.1% entered marriage during their childhood, although this figure has exhibited a decline over time. The incidence of very early marriages, occurring before the age of 15, has also decreased, albeit at a slower pace.
Child marriage in Guinea is linked with lower socioeconomic status, reduced educational attainment, and increased participation in the labor force. However, it’s essential to note that these connections are correlations and not necessarily indicative of causal relationships.
8. Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso currently harbors 3 million child brides, with 500,000 of them having entered into marriage before the age of 15. Unfortunately, the nation has not demonstrated any discernible advancement in diminishing the prevalence of child marriage over the past quarter-century. The prevalence has remained static at 52%, signifying that more than half of all girls are married during their childhood. Consequently, unless observable signs of progress emerge, the projected prevalence of this detrimental practice will persist at its current levels.
In Burkina Faso, girls face the dual risk of not only child marriage but also the detrimental practice of female genital mutilation (FGM).
7. Mozambique
Mozambique boasts one of the world’s highest child marriage rates, impacting nearly half of its girls. It holds the second-highest rate in the eastern and southern African sub-region. To be specific, 48% of women in Mozambique between the ages of 20 and 24 entered their first marriage or union before reaching the age of 18, while 14% did so before turning 15.
Child marriage in Mozambique is propelled by gender inequality, rooted in the perception of girls as inferior to boys. Additionally, poverty plays a significant role in driving child marriage, with half of the country’s population residing in impoverished conditions.
6. Bangladesh
According to a Unicef report, Bangladesh tops the list of the highest incidence of child marriage in South Asia. In Bangladesh, 51% of girls enter into marriage before they reach their 18th birthday, with 22% marrying before the age of 15. For boys, 4% are married before turning 18. Child marriage exhibits a higher prevalence in rural regions, where 60% of girls are wed before the age of 18, as compared to 55% in urban areas.
5. Mali
In Mali, 54% of girls are married before they reach 18 years of age, and 16% are married prior to their 15th birthday. On the other hand, 2% of boys in Mali enter marriage before their 18th birthday. In 2018, UN Women pinpointed child marriage hotspots in Kayes, Sikasso, and Mopti. While nearly all other regions also exhibit a prevalence of at least 60% for child marriage, it is predominantly concentrated in the southwestern, rural part of the country, characterized by high poverty rates.
According to a 2017 study conducted by the World Bank and ICRW, putting an end to child marriage in Mali could potentially yield an additional US$174.8 million in gains in terms of productivity. The significant occurrence of child marriage in Mali continues to endure despite prior legal provisions that prohibited and penalized the practice, which was in effect until 2011. As per Mali’s Marriage Code of 1962, the legally established minimum age for marriage without parental consent was set at 18 years.
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4. Chad
Chad holds the unfortunate distinction of having one of the highest prevalences of child marriage globally, affecting a staggering 70% of married girls. This detrimental practice is particularly widespread in rural areas, and its repercussions only serve to sustain the cycle of poverty. Frequently, married girls are forced to discontinue their education, depriving them of access to quality schooling and hindering their meaningful involvement in development efforts.
In Chad, a significant 61% of girls enter into marriage before they reach the age of 18, and 24% are married before their 15th birthday. Conversely, 8% of boys in Chad are married before their 18th birthday. A study was conducted examining the regions with the highest rates of child marriage among women in Chad, and Chari Baguirmi stands out with a rate of 70%, followed by Mayo Kebbi Est at 66%, Guera at 63%, Kanem at 60%, and Salamat at 61%.
