Middle Africa

Central African Republic

Absolute number

Prevalence

393.8 thousand

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

26%
812 thousand

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

61%

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Central African Republic
  • Middle Africa
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Central African Republic and Middle Africa from 1994 to 2024.

In Central African Republic, 54% of girls in 1994 married before age 18, compared with 61% in 2019, which is the latest available value.

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

Show data table
YearCentral African RepublicMiddle Africa
199454.3%
199954.9%43.9%
200455.0%43.5%
200961.7%40.1%
201457.8%40.0%
201961.0%37.1%
202433.3%
Child marriage age
Compare with other countries

Central African Republic

Child Marriage
Prevalence

Residence

  • Rural
  • Urban
Show Residence data table
YearRuralUrban
201966.4%52.8%

Wealth

  • Poorest
  • Second
  • Middle
  • Fourth
  • Richest
Show Wealth data table
YearPoorestSecondMiddleFourthRichest
201967.6%64.3%67.8%60.2%47.3%

Education

  • No schooling
  • Primary education
  • Secondary or higher
Show Education data table
YearNo schoolingPrimary educationSecondary or higher
201969.0%64.0%48.9%
Child marriage age

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How does Central African Republic compare to other countries?

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Central African Republic
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Central African Republic from 1994 to 2019.

In Central African Republic, 54% of girls in 1994 married before age 18, compared with 61% in 2019, which is the latest available value.

Show data table
YearCentral African Republic
199454.3%
199954.9%
200455.0%
200961.7%
201457.8%
201961.0%

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 Central African Republic. Data refer to the latest available year.

In Central African Republic, 61% of girls married before age 18. The prevalence is 66% of girls in rural areas, compared with 53% in urban areas.

Show data table
CountryRuralUrbanTotal
Central African Republic66.4%52.8%61.0%
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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