Child Marriage in South Asia is the Highest in the World
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Child marriage has been widely recognized as a violation of human rights and a significant impediment to national development. This practice also causes long-term damage to children's physical and mental health.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), South Asia has the highest percentage globally of girls first married before age 18, reaching 47%. This means almost half of the girls in South Asia marry before turning 18.
East Asia and the Pacific region ranks second with 13%. West and Central Africa, East and Southern Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean each have a similar percentage of child marriages at 9%.
The percentage of girls first married before age 18 in Eastern Europe and Central Asia is 5%. Meanwhile, the percentage in the Middle East and North Africa is 4%.
Child marriage is most prevalent in low-income countries. Children under 18 are not fully prepared for marriage due to their unstable physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development.
(Read More: 1 Million Teenage Pregnancies Predicted as a Result of the COVID-19 Pandemic)
"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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