Legal Marriage Age for Girls by Country

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The Global Range of Legal Marriage Ages

When we look at marriage laws across our planet, we see enormous variations that often follow regional or cultural patterns. The world map below illustrates the minimum legal age at which girls can marry with parental consent worldwide—a metric that ranges from as young as 9 years old to 20 years old.

Regional Patterns

North America

In the United States, the legal marriage age (with parental approval) is 12 years old. Many readers may be taken aback by this since it contradicts the nation’s generally progressive views on a wide range of social issues. Due to judicial approval loopholes and parental consent, child marriage is actually still permitted in many U.S. states.

Canada, meanwhile, upholds higher standards, albeit with varying laws in different provinces.

Europe

Despite its geographic proximity, Europe exhibits significant variation. Minimum ages of 16–18 are indicated by the blue shading over most of Western and Northern Europe. However, nations with lower minimum ages, such as Estonia, Lithuania, and Romania, stand out.

Asia and the Middle East

The most alarming statistics are found in the Middle East, where Iran’s legal marriage age for girls with parental consent is only nine years old. Yemen and Saudi Arabia also allow very young marriages.

East Asia, on the other hand, has some of the highest minimum ages in the world. Even with parental consent, women in China, Myanmar, and Libya must be at least 20 years old before getting married.

What Drives These Global Differences?

You may be wondering why these age requirements differ so much between regions after looking at the world map above. The geographic patterns we’re observing can be explained by a few important factors:

The Function of Tradition and Religion

Initially, marriage eligibility has historically been tied to puberty rather than a particular age. But today, in many parts of the world, marriage laws are heavily influenced by religious beliefs. Lower marriage ages that are consistent with historical customs are frequently maintained in nations where religious leaders have a substantial influence on legal frameworks.

Education and Economic Situation

There is no doubt that marriage ages are closely related to the level of education and economic development. Higher minimum marriage ages are typically maintained in nations with more robust economies and superior educational programs for girls.

According to World Bank research, a girl’s chances of getting married before turning 18 are decreased by at least five percentage points for every year of secondary school. Marriage usually occurs later for girls who attend school longer.

Effects of Early Marriage on Health

Early marriage has a strong impact on women’s health. Early pregnancy in young mothers is associated with higher rates of maternal mortality and morbidity. Girls aged 15-19 are twice as likely to die during childbirth compared to women in their twenties.

Beyond physical health, early marriage frequently cuts short a girl’s education, limits her career opportunities, and can lead to social isolation. Higher rates of depression and other mental health issues are a result of these factors. Young brides frequently lack decision-making authority in partnerships, which makes it more difficult for them to agree on safe sexual practices or obtain medical care when necessary.

The Evolution of Marriage Laws

As nations update their legal systems, the global marriage law landscape is dynamic and ever-changing. Although the rate of change varies significantly by region, there has been a general trend toward raising the minimum marriage age.

Although there are still differences in implementation, international organizations continue to advocate for a universal minimum marriage age of 18 without exceptions. Some nations have undergone significant change. For example, Nepal, which formerly had one of the highest rates of child marriage, tightened its regulations in 2018 to require men and women to be at least 20 years old.

These changes are being accelerated in unexpected ways by technology and greater connectivity. Access to mobile phones and the internet has given communities in remote areas where child marriage has been prevalent a wider range of viewpoints and given girls the confidence to oppose early marriage.