Eastern Africa

Eritrea

Absolute number

Prevalence

205.3 thousand

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

13%
526.1 thousand

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

41%

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Eritrea
  • Eastern Africa
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Eritrea and Eastern Africa from 1985 to 2024.

In Eritrea, 53% of girls in 1985 married before age 18, compared with 41% in 2010, which is the latest available value.

In Eastern Africa, the prevalence was 46% in 1999 and was 32% in 2024.

Show data table
YearEritreaEastern Africa
198552.5%
199050.4%
199549.9%
199946.2%
200050.0%
200443.5%
200543.4%
200944.6%
201040.7%
201442.1%
201937.4%
202432.4%
Child marriage age

Eritrea

Child Marriage
Prevalence

Residence

  • Rural
  • Urban
Show Residence data table
YearRuralUrban
201055.2%20.4%

Wealth

  • Poorest
  • Second
  • Middle
  • Fourth
  • Richest
Show Wealth data table
YearPoorestSecondMiddleFourthRichest
201051.9%58.2%55.1%41.1%13.4%

Education

  • No schooling
  • Primary education
  • Secondary or higher
Show Education data table
YearNo schoolingPrimary educationSecondary or higher
201059.0%62.2%25.8%
Child marriage age

Compare regions of Eritrea

Understand differences inside the country

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

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

Prevalence of child marriage

Compare regions of Eritrea

Understand differences
inside the country

41% 61% 30% 51% 15% 43%
Child marriage age

Region with no data

2010

Prevalence of child marriage in each region of Eritrea in 2010

0%100%

Region with no data

2010

Prevalence of child marriage in each region of Eritrea in 2010

0%100%

The map shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) across Eritrea. Data refer to 2010, the latest year with available data.

The practice is most common in Debub (61%), Gash (51%), Semienawi (43%), and Anseba (41%).

Show data table
YearAnsebaDebubDebubawi Keih BahriGash BarkaMaekelSemienawi Keih Bahri
41.2%61.2%30.4%51.2%14.5%43.2%
Child marriage age

Compare countries

How does Eritrea compare to other countries?

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Eritrea
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Eritrea from 1985 to 2010.

In Eritrea, 53% of girls in 1985 married before age 18, compared with 41% in 2010, which is the latest available value.

Show data table
YearEritrea
198552.5%
199050.4%
199549.9%
200050.0%
200543.4%
201040.7%

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 Eritrea. Data refer to the latest available year.

In Eritrea, 41% of girls married before age 18. The prevalence is 55% of girls in rural areas, compared with 20% in urban areas.

Show data table
CountryRuralUrbanTotal
Eritrea55.2%20.4%40.7%
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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Where does child marriage occur?

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