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 2025.

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 19% in 2000 and was 12% in 2025.

Show data table
YearEgyptNorthern Africa
199627.3%
200019.3%
200122.4%
200515.9%
200620.6%
201014.4%
201118.7%
201513.3%
201617.3%
202012.8%
202115.8%
202512.3%
Child marriage age

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

Compare regions of Egypt

Understand differences inside the country

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

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

Prevalence of child marriage

Compare regions of Egypt

Understand differences
inside the country

Prevalence of child marriage before age 18 years in each region of Egypt in 2021.

Child marriage age

Region with no data

2021

Prevalence of child marriage in each region of Egypt in 2021

0%100%

The chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) across Egypt. Data refer to 2021, the latest year with available data.

The practice is most common in Upper Egypt (19%) and Lower Egypt (17%).

Show data table
YearFrontier GovernoratesLower EgyptUpper EgyptUrban Governorates
202113.7%16.8%18.5%6.5%
Child marriage age

Compare countries

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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