Central America

Guatemala

Absolute number

Prevalence

565.3 thousand

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

6%
2.1 million

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

30%

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Guatemala
  • Central America
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Guatemala and Central America from 1990 to 2024.

In Guatemala, 40% of girls in 1990 married before age 18, compared with 30% in 2015, which is the latest available value.

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

Show data table
YearGuatemalaCentral America
199040.0%
199536.9%
199924.2%
200036.5%
200424.9%
200536.0%
200926.4%
201030.9%
201425.1%
201529.5%
201922.9%
202420.8%
Child marriage age
Compare with other countries

Guatemala

Child Marriage
Prevalence

Residence

  • Rural
  • Urban
Show Residence data table
YearRuralUrban
201536.9%20.0%

Wealth

  • Poorest
  • Second
  • Middle
  • Fourth
  • Richest
Show Wealth data table
YearPoorestSecondMiddleFourthRichest
201545.7%37.9%30.2%24.5%12.3%

Education

  • No schooling
  • Primary education
  • Secondary or higher
Show Education data table
YearNo schoolingPrimary educationSecondary or higher
201553.2%44.7%14.5%
Child marriage age

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How does Guatemala compare to other countries?

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Guatemala
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Guatemala from 1990 to 2015.

In Guatemala, 40% of girls in 1990 married before age 18, compared with 30% in 2015, which is the latest available value.

Show data table
YearGuatemala
199040.0%
199536.9%
200036.5%
200536.0%
201030.9%
201529.5%

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 Guatemala. Data refer to the latest available year.

In Guatemala, 30% of girls married before age 18. The prevalence is 37% of girls in rural areas, compared with 20% in urban areas.

Show data table
CountryRuralUrbanTotal
Guatemala36.9%20.0%29.5%
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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