Southern Asia

Bhutan

Absolute number

Prevalence

19.9 thousand

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

6%
82.3 thousand

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

26%

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Bhutan
  • Southern Asia
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Bhutan and Southern Asia from 1985 to 2024.

In Bhutan, 29% of girls in 1985 married before age 18, compared with 26% in 2010, which is the latest available value.

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

Show data table
YearBhutanSouthern Asia
198528.7%
199034.6%
199536.4%
199953.1%
200033.3%
200449.5%
200528.3%
200945.9%
201025.8%
201438.6%
201931.8%
202425.6%
Child marriage age
Compare with other countries

Bhutan

Child Marriage
Prevalence

Residence

  • Rural
  • Urban
Show Residence data table
YearRuralUrban
201030.6%17.1%

Wealth

  • Poorest
  • Second
  • Middle
  • Fourth
  • Richest
Show Wealth data table
YearPoorestSecondMiddleFourthRichest
201039.5%32.2%26.9%25.5%11.1%

Education

  • No schooling
  • Primary education
  • Secondary or higher
Show Education data table
YearNo schoolingPrimary educationSecondary or higher
201039.6%38.0%5.9%
Child marriage age

Compare regions of Bhutan

Understand differences inside the country

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

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

Prevalence of child marriage

Compare regions of Bhutan

Understand differences
inside the country

27% 19% 44% 32% 28% 12% 40% 28% 29% 29% 24% 34% 15% 18% 48% 19% 31% 19% 34% 17%
Child marriage age

Region with no data

2010

Prevalence of child marriage in each region of Bhutan in 2010

0%100%

Region with no data

2010

Prevalence of child marriage in each region of Bhutan in 2010

0%100%

The map shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) across Bhutan. Data refer to 2010, the latest year with available data.

The practice is most common in Dagana (48%), Samdrupjongkhar (44%), Trashigang (40%), and Monggar (34%).

Show data table
YearBumthangChhukhaDaganaGasaHaaLhuentseMonggarParoPemagatshelPunakhaSamdrupjongkharSamtseSarpangThimphuYangtseTrashigangTrongsaTsirangWangduephodrangZhemgang
15.4%18.4%47.6%19.0%30.7%18.6%34.5%17.1%27.4%18.8%43.6%31.7%27.7%11.5%23.7%40.2%27.9%29.2%28.6%33.9%
Child marriage age

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How does Bhutan compare to other countries?

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Bhutan
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Bhutan from 1985 to 2010.

In Bhutan, 29% of girls in 1985 married before age 18, compared with 26% in 2010, which is the latest available value.

Show data table
YearBhutan
198528.7%
199034.6%
199536.4%
200033.3%
200528.3%
201025.8%

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 Bhutan. Data refer to the latest available year.

In Bhutan, 26% of girls married before age 18. The prevalence is 31% of girls in rural areas, compared with 17% in urban areas.

Show data table
CountryRuralUrbanTotal
Bhutan30.6%17.1%25.8%
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

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