Southern Asia

India

Absolute number

Prevalence

90.5 million

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

5%
222.4 million

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

23%

Prevalence of child marriage

  • India
  • Southern Asia
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in India and Southern Asia from 1996 to 2024.

In India, 53% of girls in 1996 married before age 18, compared with 23% in 2021, which is the latest available value.

In Southern Asia, the prevalence was 53% in 1999 and was 26% in 2024.

Show data table
YearIndiaSouthern Asia
199653.2%
199953.1%
200148.8%
200449.5%
200645.7%
200945.9%
201138.0%
201438.6%
201629.5%
201931.8%
202123.3%
202425.6%
Child marriage age
Compare with other countries

India

Child Marriage
Prevalence

Residence

  • Rural
  • Urban
Show Residence data table
YearRuralUrban
202127.0%14.7%

Wealth

  • Poorest
  • Second
  • Middle
  • Fourth
  • Richest
Show Wealth data table
YearPoorestSecondMiddleFourthRichest
202139.7%30.9%23.4%16.0%7.5%

Education

  • No schooling
  • Primary education
  • Secondary or higher
Show Education data table
YearNo schoolingPrimary educationSecondary or higher
202148.0%43.3%18.9%
Child marriage age

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How does India compare to other countries?

Prevalence of child marriage

  • India
Child marriage age

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

In India, 53% of girls in 1996 married before age 18, compared with 23% in 2021, which is the latest available value.

Show data table
YearIndia
199653.2%
200148.8%
200645.7%
201138.0%
201629.5%
202123.3%

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

The bubble chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) disaggregated by residence in India. Data refer to the latest available year.

In India, 23% of girls married before age 18. The prevalence is 27% of girls in rural areas, compared with 15% in urban areas.

Show data table
CountryRuralUrbanTotal
India27.0%14.7%23.3%
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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