Western Africa

Ghana

Absolute number

Prevalence

592.5 thousand

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

3%
2.5 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

  • Ghana
  • Western Africa
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Ghana and Western Africa from 1997 to 2024.

In Ghana, 31% of girls in 1997 married before age 18, compared with 16% in 2022, which is the latest available value.

In Western Africa, the prevalence was 43% in 1999 and was 32% in 2024.

Show data table
YearGhanaWestern Africa
199730.8%
199942.8%
200227.0%
200441.2%
200724.2%
200938.9%
201222.4%
201439.6%
201719.2%
201939.5%
202216.1%
202431.6%
Child marriage age
Compare with other countries

Ghana

Child Marriage
Prevalence

Residence

  • Rural
  • Urban
Show Residence data table
YearRuralUrban
202222.4%11.5%

Wealth

  • Poorest
  • Second
  • Middle
  • Fourth
  • Richest
Show Wealth data table
YearPoorestSecondMiddleFourthRichest
202225.5%22.1%17.3%12.3%5.6%

Education

  • No schooling
  • Primary education
  • Secondary or higher
Show Education data table
YearNo schoolingPrimary educationSecondary or higher
202236.1%35.5%12.2%
Child marriage age

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How does Ghana compare to other countries?

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Ghana
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Ghana from 1997 to 2022.

In Ghana, 31% of girls in 1997 married before age 18, compared with 16% in 2022, which is the latest available value.

Show data table
YearGhana
199730.8%
200227.0%
200724.2%
201222.4%
201719.2%
202216.1%

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 Ghana. Data refer to the latest available year.

In Ghana, 16% of girls married before age 18. The prevalence is 22% of girls in rural areas, compared with 12% in urban areas.

Show data table
CountryRuralUrbanTotal
Ghana22.4%11.5%16.1%
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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