Western Africa

Burkina Faso

Absolute number

Prevalence

604.9 thousand

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

9%
3 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

  • Burkina Faso
  • Western Africa
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Burkina Faso and Western Africa from 1990 to 2024.

In Burkina Faso, 45% of girls in 1990 married before age 18, compared with 51% in 2015, which is the latest available value.

In Western Africa, the prevalence was 43% in 1999 and was 32% in 2024.

Show data table
YearBurkina FasoWestern Africa
199045.0%
199546.3%
199942.8%
200049.7%
200441.2%
200551.4%
200938.9%
201049.4%
201439.6%
201551.3%
201939.5%
202431.6%
Child marriage age

Burkina Faso

Child Marriage
Prevalence

Residence

  • Rural
  • Urban
Show Residence data table
YearRuralUrban

Wealth

  • Poorest
  • Second
  • Middle
  • Fourth
  • Richest
Show Wealth data table
YearPoorestSecondMiddleFourthRichest

Education

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

Compare regions of Burkina Faso

Understand differences inside the country

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

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

Prevalence of child marriage

Compare regions of Burkina Faso

Understand differences
inside the country

57% 60% 27% 56% 46% 56% 45% 76% 55% 62% 48% 49% 72%
Child marriage age

Region with no data

2010

Prevalence of child marriage in each region of Burkina Faso in 2010

0%100%

Region with no data

2010

Prevalence of child marriage in each region of Burkina Faso in 2010

0%100%

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

The practice is most common in Sahel (76%), Est (72%), Centre-Nord (62%), and Cascades (60%).

Show data table
YearBoucle Du MouhounCascadesCentreCentre-EstCentre-NordCentre-OuestCentre-SudEstHauts-BassinsNordPlateau-CentralSahelSud-Ouest
56.7%60.0%26.8%55.8%61.8%48.0%48.8%72.2%45.7%56.2%45.2%75.9%55.4%
Child marriage age

Compare countries

How does Burkina Faso compare to other countries?

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Burkina Faso
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Burkina Faso from 1990 to 2015.

In Burkina Faso, 45% of girls in 1990 married before age 18, compared with 51% in 2015, which is the latest available value.

Show data table
YearBurkina Faso
199045.0%
199546.3%
200049.7%
200551.4%
201049.4%
201551.3%

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

No data are available.

Show data table
CountryRuralUrbanTotal
Burkina Faso51.3%
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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Where does child marriage occur?

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