Is child marriage a global issue?
Child marriage is a truly global problem that cuts across countries, cultures, religions and ethnicities. Explore our interactive atlas to understand the scale of the problem and what is being done to end it.
How does child marriage affect the world?
By contributing to larger families and, in turn, population growth, child marriage delays the demographic dividend that can come from reduced fertility and investments in education. The associated cost could run in the trillions of dollars globally (in purchasing power parity) between now and 2030.
What is the youngest age you can get married in the world?
18 years
Can you marry a 10 year old?
In many cases, minors in the U.S. may be married when they are under the age of sexual consent, which is 16 to 18 for most states. In some states minors cannot legally divorce, leave their spouse, or enter a shelter to escape abuse.
Which states allow child marriage in USA?
Among the states that have no lower age limit for marriage are California, Maine, Washington, Idaho, Long Island, West Virginia and New Mexico. Other states allow children to get married at age 14 or 16 with parental consent, but these 13 have no lower age limit at all.
Is child marriage legal in USA?
There are only four states — Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey — that completely ban underage marriages. Most states have a minimum age of 18 but allow loopholes like parental consent that can leave girls vulnerable.
Are there still child brides?
Child marriage is common. It takes place in every corner of the world. More than 650 million women and girls alive today were married before their 18th birthday. Globally, 21 per cent of young women, 20-24 years old, were child brides.
What countries still have child brides?
Top countries for child marriage
- Niger* — 76%
- Central African Republic* — 68%
- Chad* — 67%
- Bangladesh* — 59%
- Mali* — 52%
- South Sudan* — 52%
- Burkina Faso — 52%
- Guinea — 51%
What causes teens to marry at an early age?
Many factors contribute to teenage marriage such as love, teenage pregnancy, religion, security, wealth, family, peer pressure, arranged marriage, economic and/or political reasons, social advancement, and cultural reasons.
What is the divorce rate for 18 year olds?
43. 48 percent of those who marry before the age of 18 are likely to divorce within 10 years, compared to 25 percent of those who marry after the age of 25. 44. 60 percent of couples married between the age of 20 -25 will end in divorce.