Central America

Belize

Absolute number

Prevalence

8.5 thousand

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

6%
39.8 thousand

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

34%

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Belize
  • Central America
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Belize and Central America from 1991 to 2024.

In Belize, 23% of girls in 1991 married before age 18, compared with 34% in 2016, which is the latest available value.

In Central America, the prevalence was 24% in 1999 and was 21% in 2024.

Show data table
YearBelizeCentral America
199122.5%
199627.8%
199924.2%
200127.5%
200424.9%
200631.1%
200926.4%
201128.1%
201425.1%
201633.5%
201922.9%
202420.8%
Child marriage age
Compare with other countries

Belize

Child Marriage
Prevalence

Residence

  • Rural
  • Urban
Show Residence data table
YearRuralUrban
201633.7%33.2%

Wealth

  • Poorest
  • Second
  • Middle
  • Fourth
  • Richest
Show Wealth data table
YearPoorestSecondMiddleFourthRichest
201631.2%41.7%32.1%30.5%31.8%

Education

  • No schooling
  • Primary education
  • Secondary or higher
Show Education data table
YearNo schoolingPrimary educationSecondary or higher
201640.6%29.5%
Child marriage age

Compare countries

How does Belize compare to other countries?

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Belize
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Belize from 1991 to 2016.

In Belize, 23% of girls in 1991 married before age 18, compared with 34% in 2016, which is the latest available value.

Show data table
YearBelize
199122.5%
199627.8%
200127.5%
200631.1%
201128.1%
201633.5%

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 Belize. Data refer to the latest available year.

In Belize, 34% of girls married before age 18. The prevalence is 34% of girls in rural areas, compared with 33% in urban areas.

Show data table
CountryRuralUrbanTotal
Belize33.7%33.2%33.5%
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

Back to Country Profiles