17 Countries with Highest Child Marriage Rates in the World

1. Niger

The nation where child marriage is most common in the world in our list is no other than Niger. According to the latest statistics, in this West African nation, over 75% of girls under the age of 18 are married, with almost 30% of them being younger than 15 years old. Factors such as food shortages, challenging natural environment, and recurring droughts compel certain families to resort to marrying their daughters to affluent men as a means of survival and with the aspiration of improving their economic and social standing. Additionally, child marriage has reportedly been employed by families as a means to “settle debts.”

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Disclosure: None. 17 Countries With Highest Child Marriage Rates in the World is originally published on Insider Monkey.