Middle Africa

Cameroon

Absolute number

Prevalence

1 million

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

11%
2.8 million

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

30%

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Cameroon
  • Middle Africa
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Cameroon and Middle Africa from 1993 to 2024.

In Cameroon, 47% of girls in 1993 married before age 18, compared with 30% in 2018, which is the latest available value.

In Middle Africa, the prevalence was 44% in 1999 and was 33% in 2024.

Show data table
YearCameroonMiddle Africa
199347.4%
199843.0%
199943.9%
200340.3%
200443.5%
200836.1%
200940.1%
201334.3%
201440.0%
201829.8%
201937.1%
202433.3%
Child marriage age
Compare with other countries

Cameroon

Child Marriage
Prevalence

Residence

  • Rural
  • Urban
Show Residence data table
YearRuralUrban
201844.6%19.2%

Wealth

  • Poorest
  • Second
  • Middle
  • Fourth
  • Richest
Show Wealth data table
YearPoorestSecondMiddleFourthRichest
201857.0%44.7%32.8%20.2%10.7%

Education

  • No schooling
  • Primary education
  • Secondary or higher
Show Education data table
YearNo schoolingPrimary educationSecondary or higher
201869.6%46.0%15.3%
Child marriage age

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How does Cameroon compare to other countries?

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Cameroon
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Cameroon from 1993 to 2018.

In Cameroon, 47% of girls in 1993 married before age 18, compared with 30% in 2018, which is the latest available value.

Show data table
YearCameroon
199347.4%
199843.0%
200340.3%
200836.1%
201334.3%
201829.8%

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 Cameroon. Data refer to the latest available year.

In Cameroon, 30% of girls married before age 18. The prevalence is 45% of girls in rural areas, compared with 19% in urban areas.

Show data table
CountryRuralUrbanTotal
Cameroon44.6%19.2%29.8%
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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