Central America

El Salvador

Absolute number

Prevalence

199.7 thousand

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

4%
720.3 thousand

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

20%

Prevalence of child marriage

  • El Salvador
  • Central America
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in El Salvador and Central America from 1996 to 2024.

In El Salvador, 31% of girls in 1996 married before age 18, compared with 20% in 2021, which is the latest available value.

In Central America, the prevalence was 24% in 1999 and was 21% in 2024.

Show data table
YearEl SalvadorCentral America
199630.8%
199924.2%
200129.9%
200424.9%
200628.5%
200926.4%
201124.6%
201425.1%
201625.0%
201922.9%
202119.7%
202420.8%
Child marriage age
Compare with other countries

El Salvador

Child Marriage
Prevalence

Residence

  • Rural
  • Urban
Show Residence data table
YearRuralUrban
202126.6%16.5%

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
202148.6%15.8%
Child marriage age

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How does El Salvador compare to other countries?

Prevalence of child marriage

  • El Salvador
Child marriage age

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

In El Salvador, 31% of girls in 1996 married before age 18, compared with 20% in 2021, which is the latest available value.

Show data table
YearEl Salvador
199630.8%
200129.9%
200628.5%
201124.6%
201625.0%
202119.7%

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 El Salvador. Data refer to the latest available year.

In El Salvador, 20% of girls married before age 18. The prevalence is 27% of girls in rural areas, compared with 17% in urban areas.

Show data table
CountryRuralUrbanTotal
El Salvador26.6%16.5%19.7%
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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