Southern Asia

Bangladesh

Absolute number

Prevalence

23.4 million

Married by 15: Number of girls and women (left) and percentage of women 20-24 years (right) married before age 15

17%
43.4 million

Married by 18: Number of girls and women (left) and percentage of women 20-24 years (right) married before age 18

51%

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Bangladesh
  • Southern Asia
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Bangladesh and Southern Asia from 1997 to 2024.

In Bangladesh, 75% of girls in 1997 married before age 18, compared with 51% in 2022, which is the latest available value.

In Southern Asia, the prevalence was 53% in 1999 and was 26% in 2024.

Show data table
YearBangladeshSouthern Asia
199774.6%
199953.1%
200271.5%
200449.5%
200767.5%
200945.9%
201262.7%
201438.6%
201759.2%
201931.8%
202250.7%
202425.6%
Child marriage age

Bangladesh

Child Marriage
Prevalence

Residence

  • Rural
  • Urban
Show Residence data table
YearRuralUrban
202253.3%44.9%

Wealth

  • Poorest
  • Second
  • Middle
  • Fourth
  • Richest
Show Wealth data table
YearPoorestSecondMiddleFourthRichest
202264.1%59.5%51.1%48.4%33.7%

Education

  • No schooling
  • Primary education
  • Secondary or higher
Show Education data table
YearNo schoolingPrimary educationSecondary or higher
202265.3%70.5%46.8%
Child marriage age

Compare regions of Bangladesh

Understand differences inside the country

Touch the timeline to see how the child marriage affect differently each sub-region of Bangladesh in the last decades.

Levels of child marriage vary across different parts of Bangladesh. See the range of values within the country, and explore the map for details.

Prevalence of child marriage

Compare regions of Bangladesh

Understand differences
inside the country

Child marriage age

Region with no data

2022

Prevalence of child marriage in each region of Bangladesh in 2022

0%100%
Map view not available for this data

Region with no data

2022

Prevalence of child marriage in each region of Bangladesh in 2022

0%100%

The map shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) across Bangladesh. Data refer to 2022, the latest year with available data.

The practice is most common in Rajshahi (65%), Rangpur (58%), Barishal (57%), and Khulna (57%).

Show data table
YearBarishalChattogramSylhetKhulnaRangpurRajshahiDhakaMymensingh
57.1%44.8%23.3%56.8%58.0%64.6%51.9%48.8%
Child marriage age

Compare countries

How does Bangladesh compare to other countries?

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Bangladesh
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Bangladesh from 1997 to 2022.

In Bangladesh, 75% of girls in 1997 married before age 18, compared with 51% in 2022, which is the latest available value.

Show data table
YearBangladesh
199774.6%
200271.5%
200767.5%
201262.7%
201759.2%
202250.7%

Residence

Child marriage prevalence

Review the data to find if girls living in rural areas are more likely to marry in childhood than girls in urban areas

The bubble chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) disaggregated by residence in Bangladesh. Data refer to the latest available year.

In Bangladesh, 51% of girls married before age 18. The prevalence is 53% of girls in rural areas, compared with 45% in urban areas.

Show data table
CountryRuralUrbanTotal
Bangladesh53.3%44.9%50.7%
Child marriage age

For more data related to child marriage, please see the child marriage country profiles available on the UNICEF Data website

UNICEF Data

Explore other countries

Where does child marriage occur?

Drag to rotate the map

Select Other Country