8 Countries with the Highest Rates of Child Marriage
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Child marriage below the age of 18 is a fundamental violation of human rights.
This practice poses a significant risk to a child's physical and mental health. However, as of 2021, it still occurs in many countries.
According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), child marriage of girls under the age of 18 is most prevalent in Niger.
This West African nation has the highest percentage of girls married before the age of 18 in the world, reaching 76%. This means that more than half of the girls in Niger experience child marriage.
Chad and the Central African Republic follow with the same percentage, namely 61%. This is followed by Mali with 54% of girls marrying at a young age.
This practice not only has a detrimental impact on the child who is married, but also carries risks for the child born from such a marriage.
Pregnancy at a very young age is also correlated with maternal mortality and morbidity rates.
Girls aged 10-14 are five times more likely to die during pregnancy or childbirth compared to the 20-24 age group. The risk of pregnancy is even doubled in the 15-19 age group.
(See also: 10 Best Countries to Raise Children)
"Disclosure: This is an AI-generated translation of the original article. We strive for accuracy, but please note that automated translations may contain errors or slight inconsistencies."
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