Northern Africa

Egypt

Absolute number

Prevalence

1.3 million

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

2%
7.1 million

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

16%

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Egypt
  • Northern Africa
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Egypt and Northern Africa from 1996 to 2024.

In Egypt, 27% of girls in 1996 married before age 18, compared with 16% in 2021, which is the latest available value.

In Northern Africa, the prevalence was 20% in 1999 and was 13% in 2024.

Show data table
YearEgyptNorthern Africa
199627.3%
199920.0%
200122.4%
200416.3%
200620.6%
200914.7%
201118.7%
201413.6%
201617.3%
201912.9%
202115.8%
202412.6%
Child marriage age
Compare with other countries

Egypt

Child Marriage
Prevalence

Residence

  • Rural
  • Urban
Show Residence data table
YearRuralUrban
202120.6%8.7%

Wealth

  • Poorest
  • Second
  • Middle
  • Fourth
  • Richest
Show Wealth data table
YearPoorestSecondMiddleFourthRichest
202117.7%22.2%18.3%15.7%8.9%

Education

  • No schooling
  • Primary education
  • Secondary or higher
Show Education data table
YearNo schoolingPrimary educationSecondary or higher
202131.5%36.4%13.7%
Child marriage age

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How does Egypt compare to other countries?

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Egypt
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Egypt from 1996 to 2021.

In Egypt, 27% of girls in 1996 married before age 18, compared with 16% in 2021, which is the latest available value.

Show data table
YearEgypt
199627.3%
200122.4%
200620.6%
201118.7%
201617.3%
202115.8%

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 Egypt. Data refer to the latest available year.

In Egypt, 16% of girls married before age 18. The prevalence is 21% of girls in rural areas, compared with 9% in urban areas.

Show data table
CountryRuralUrbanTotal
Egypt20.6%8.7%15.8%
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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