GITNUXREPORT 2025

Young Marriage Statistics

Global decline in young marriage; varies widely worldwide and culturally.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking • Reputable sources • Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

In India, about 27% of women aged 20-24 were married before 18

Statistic 2

The median age at first marriage in Japan is around 30 for women and 32 for men

Statistic 3

The average age at first marriage in South Korea is 31 for women

Statistic 4

In Russia, the average age at first marriage is 27 for women and 29 for men

Statistic 5

The average age of marriage for women in France is approximately 31 years

Statistic 6

The median age at first marriage for women in Australia is 30 years

Statistic 7

In Italy, the average age at first marriage is approximately 32 for women

Statistic 8

The average age of marriage in Portugal is 29 for women

Statistic 9

In the Netherlands, the average age at first marriage is 31 for women

Statistic 10

In Ukraine, the median age at first marriage is 27 for women

Statistic 11

In Austria, the median age at first marriage is 33 for women

Statistic 12

In Greece, the average age at first marriage is 30 years for women

Statistic 13

In the United States, about 4% of men and women marry before age 20

Statistic 14

Youth marriage rates in the U.S. have decreased by approximately 75% since the 1950s

Statistic 15

Globally, approximately 9% of women aged 20-24 are married before age 18

Statistic 16

In Nigeria, childhood marriage rate among girls is approximately 43%

Statistic 17

Young marriages account for 60% of marriages in some rural areas of Ethiopia

Statistic 18

Among teenagers in the U.S., approximately 0.5% are married

Statistic 19

About 19% of women in religiously conservative areas in Pakistan marry before age 18

Statistic 20

In Brazil, 15% of women aged 20-24 are married before 18

Statistic 21

In some regions of Bangladesh, up to 70% of girls are married before age 18

Statistic 22

The rate of early marriage (under 18) among girls in Mexico is around 10%

Statistic 23

In Egypt, approximately 17% of women aged 20-24 were married before 18

Statistic 24

Youth marriage accounts for about 5% of all marriages in Germany

Statistic 25

About 30% of marriages in rural Indonesia involve individuals under 20

Statistic 26

In the Philippines, 23% of women aged 20-24 were married before 18

Statistic 27

In Saudi Arabia, about 18% of women aged 20-24 are married before 18

Statistic 28

Among teenagers in Canada, less than 1% are married

Statistic 29

Child marriage prevalence in Tanzania is about 37%

Statistic 30

In Kenya, approximately 23% of women aged 20-24 married before 18

Statistic 31

Young marriage (under 21) constitutes approximately 8% of total marriages in France

Statistic 32

In Vietnam, about 11% of women marry before age 18

Statistic 33

Early marriage in Yemen affects roughly 18% of girls by age 18

Statistic 34

In Argentina, 12% of women aged 20-24 are married before 18

Statistic 35

According to Pew Research, 15% of millennials married before age 23 compared to 30% of Generation X

Statistic 36

The rate of marriage for women under 20 in Chile is about 4%

Statistic 37

21% of women in Armenia are married before age 18

Statistic 38

The marriage rate for teenagers in New Zealand is below 1%

Statistic 39

In Colombia, 10% of women aged 20-24 married before 18

Statistic 40

In South Africa, approximately 14% of girls are married before age 18

Statistic 41

In Lebanon, about 13% of women aged 20-24 married before 18

Statistic 42

Young marriage rates have declined by 66% in Sweden since 1970

Statistic 43

In Iran, around 19% of women aged 20-24 married before 18

Statistic 44

In Venezuela, 14% of women aged 20-24 married before 18

Slide 1 of 44

Sources

Our Reports have been cited by:

Trust Badges - Publications that have cited our reports

Key Highlights

In the United States, about 4% of men and women marry before age 20
Youth marriage rates in the U.S. have decreased by approximately 75% since the 1950s
Globally, approximately 9% of women aged 20-24 are married before age 18
In India, about 27% of women aged 20-24 were married before 18
The median age at first marriage in Japan is around 30 for women and 32 for men
In Nigeria, childhood marriage rate among girls is approximately 43%
Young marriages account for 60% of marriages in some rural areas of Ethiopia
The average age at first marriage in South Korea is 31 for women
Among teenagers in the U.S., approximately 0.5% are married
About 19% of women in religiously conservative areas in Pakistan marry before age 18
In Brazil, 15% of women aged 20-24 are married before 18
In some regions of Bangladesh, up to 70% of girls are married before age 18
In Russia, the average age at first marriage is 27 for women and 29 for men

While young marriages are becoming increasingly rare in many countries, in parts of the world like Bangladesh and Nigeria, early marriage persists as a deeply entrenched tradition, contrasting sharply with the rising median ages of first marriage in nations such as Japan, France, and Australia.

Gender-specific marriage age data and trends

In India, about 27% of women aged 20-24 were married before 18
The median age at first marriage in Japan is around 30 for women and 32 for men
The average age at first marriage in South Korea is 31 for women
In Russia, the average age at first marriage is 27 for women and 29 for men
The average age of marriage for women in France is approximately 31 years
The median age at first marriage for women in Australia is 30 years
In Italy, the average age at first marriage is approximately 32 for women
The average age of marriage in Portugal is 29 for women
In the Netherlands, the average age at first marriage is 31 for women
In Ukraine, the median age at first marriage is 27 for women
In Austria, the median age at first marriage is 33 for women

Gender-specific marriage age data and trends Interpretation

While India grapples with early marriages affecting nearly a quarter of young women, many developed nations are embracing later life unions, reflecting shifting priorities from tradition to personal growth and societal progression.

Marriage age trends and statistics by country and region

In Greece, the average age at first marriage is 30 years for women

Marriage age trends and statistics by country and region Interpretation

With women tying the knot at an average age of 30 in Greece, it seems the tradition of marrying young has given way to a more mature pursuit of love—and perhaps a little patience—and expectation of a more stable future.

Youth and early marriage prevalence and rates

In the United States, about 4% of men and women marry before age 20
Youth marriage rates in the U.S. have decreased by approximately 75% since the 1950s
Globally, approximately 9% of women aged 20-24 are married before age 18
In Nigeria, childhood marriage rate among girls is approximately 43%
Young marriages account for 60% of marriages in some rural areas of Ethiopia
Among teenagers in the U.S., approximately 0.5% are married
About 19% of women in religiously conservative areas in Pakistan marry before age 18
In Brazil, 15% of women aged 20-24 are married before 18
In some regions of Bangladesh, up to 70% of girls are married before age 18
The rate of early marriage (under 18) among girls in Mexico is around 10%
In Egypt, approximately 17% of women aged 20-24 were married before 18
Youth marriage accounts for about 5% of all marriages in Germany
About 30% of marriages in rural Indonesia involve individuals under 20
In the Philippines, 23% of women aged 20-24 were married before 18
In Saudi Arabia, about 18% of women aged 20-24 are married before 18
Among teenagers in Canada, less than 1% are married
Child marriage prevalence in Tanzania is about 37%
In Kenya, approximately 23% of women aged 20-24 married before 18
Young marriage (under 21) constitutes approximately 8% of total marriages in France
In Vietnam, about 11% of women marry before age 18
Early marriage in Yemen affects roughly 18% of girls by age 18
In Argentina, 12% of women aged 20-24 are married before 18
According to Pew Research, 15% of millennials married before age 23 compared to 30% of Generation X
The rate of marriage for women under 20 in Chile is about 4%
21% of women in Armenia are married before age 18
The marriage rate for teenagers in New Zealand is below 1%
In Colombia, 10% of women aged 20-24 married before 18
In South Africa, approximately 14% of girls are married before age 18
In Lebanon, about 13% of women aged 20-24 married before 18
Young marriage rates have declined by 66% in Sweden since 1970
In Iran, around 19% of women aged 20-24 married before 18
In Venezuela, 14% of women aged 20-24 married before 18

Youth and early marriage prevalence and rates Interpretation

While childhood marriage persists in some regions at alarming rates—reaching up to 70% in parts of Bangladesh—the overall decline in youth marriage across many Western countries reflects changing societal values, yet the global picture reveals that early marriage remains a deeply entrenched tradition in various cultures, highlighting the urgent need for continued international efforts to safeguard childhood and promote education over early matrimony.