Eastern Africa

Ethiopia

Summary

Explore how common child marriage is throughout the country, how levels have changed over time, and how the situation in this country compares to others.

Absolute number

Prevalence

8.7 million

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

14%
19.9 million

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

40%

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Eastern Africa
  • Ethiopia
Child marriage age
Show table of data
YearEastern AfricaEthiopia
199168.6%
199662.7%
199846.5%
200161.4%
200343.7%
200658.9%
200844.2%
201149.3%
201341.9%
201640.3%
201837.4%
202332.7%
Child marriage age
Compare with other countries

Ethiopia

Child Marriage
Prevalence

Residence

  • Urban
  • Rural
Show Residence table of data
YearUrbanRural
201615.7%48.0%

Wealth

  • Poorest
  • Second
  • Middle
  • Fourth
  • Richest
Show Wealth table of data
YearPoorestSecondMiddleFourthRichest
201658.0%53.2%49.6%35.1%18.7%

Education

  • No schooling
  • Primary education
  • Secondary or higher
Show Education table of data
YearNo schoolingPrimary educationSecondary or higher
201667.7%43.3%10.1%
Child marriage age

Compare regions of Ethiopia

Understand differences inside the country

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

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

Prevalence of child marriage

Compare regions of Ethiopia

Understand differences
inside the country

Child marriage age
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Region with no data

2016

Prevalence of child marriage in each region of Ethiopia in 2016

0%100%
Show table of data
YearEthiopiaAddis AbabaAfarAmharaBenishangul GumzDire DawaGambelaHarariOromiaSnnpSomaliTigray
40.3%7.8%67.4%43.0%50.3%31.6%47.3%41.0%47.7%30.9%49.6%42.9%
Child marriage age

Compare countries

How does Ethiopia compare to other countries?

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Ethiopia
Child marriage age
Show table of data
YearEthiopia
199168.6%
199662.7%
200161.4%
200658.9%
201149.3%
201640.3%

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

Show table of data
CountryUrbanRuralTotal prevalence
Ethiopia15.7%48.0%40.3%
Perspective
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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