Currently, child marriage remains a global issue. One in five girls worldwide may marry before the age of 18. Every year, more than 12 million girls are married before turning 18.
Countries with the highest child marriage rates:
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Niger — 75% (girls married before 18),
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Central African Republic — 68%,
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Chad — 67%,
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Bangladesh — 59%,
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Mali, South Sudan, Burkina Faso — around 52%,
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Guinea — 51%,
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Mozambique — 48%,
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India — 47%,
- In Sub-Saharan Africa and Central/South Asia, the prevalence of child marriage is the highest — around 30–31%.
Situation in specific countries:
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Niger has the highest rate — 75% of girls marry before 18, and 28% before 15.
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In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 37% of girls marry before 18, and 10% before 15.
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In Bangladesh, 65% of girls marry before 18, and 29% before 15; since the pandemic, these numbers have increased further.
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In Nigeria, 43% of girls marry before 18, and 17% before 15.
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In Cameroon, 31% of girls marry before 18, and 10.7% before 15. In some regions (tourist, rural), the rate is even higher.
