Western Asia

Iraq

Absolute number

Prevalence

971.7 thousand

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

7%
3.4 million

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

28%

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Iraq
  • Western Asia
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Iraq and Western Asia from 1993 to 2024.

In Iraq, 24% of girls in 1993 married before age 18, compared with 28% in 2018, which is the latest available value.

In Western Asia, the prevalence was 24% in 1999 and was 18% in 2024.

Show data table
YearIraqWestern Asia
199324.1%
199822.9%
199924.0%
200319.3%
200420.8%
200820.5%
200917.9%
201327.4%
201417.1%
201827.9%
201918.4%
202417.7%
Child marriage age
Compare with other countries

Iraq

Child Marriage
Prevalence

Residence

  • Rural
  • Urban
Show Residence data table
YearRuralUrban
201827.6%28.0%

Wealth

  • Poorest
  • Second
  • Middle
  • Fourth
  • Richest
Show Wealth data table
YearPoorestSecondMiddleFourthRichest
201835.8%37.3%30.3%23.8%14.2%

Education

  • No schooling
  • Primary education
  • Secondary or higher
Show Education data table
YearNo schoolingPrimary educationSecondary or higher
201846.2%41.4%16.8%
Child marriage age

Compare regions of Iraq

Understand differences inside the country

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

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

Prevalence of child marriage

Compare regions of Iraq

Understand differences
inside the country

37% 18% 44% 23% 31% 37% 25% 23% 13% 17% 28% 33% 32% 8% 24% 31% 35% 29%
Child marriage age

Region with no data

2018

Prevalence of child marriage in each region of Iraq in 2018

0%100%

Region with no data

2018

Prevalence of child marriage in each region of Iraq in 2018

0%100%

The map shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) across Iraq. Data refer to 2018, the latest year with available data.

The practice is most common in Maysan (44%), Najaf (37%), Kerbela (37%), and Thi-Qar (35%).

Show data table
YearAnbarBabylonBaghdadBasrahDiyalaDohukErbilKerbelaKirkukMaysanMuthannaNainawaNajafQadisiyaSalah Al-DeenSulaimaniyahThi-QarWasit
17.3%30.6%27.9%33.5%32.0%8.1%24.0%36.8%18.1%43.5%23.2%31.5%37.2%25.3%22.7%13.5%34.8%28.7%
Child marriage age

Compare countries

How does Iraq compare to other countries?

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Iraq
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Iraq from 1993 to 2018.

In Iraq, 24% of girls in 1993 married before age 18, compared with 28% in 2018, which is the latest available value.

Show data table
YearIraq
199324.1%
199822.9%
200319.3%
200820.5%
201327.4%
201827.9%

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 Iraq. Data refer to the latest available year.

In Iraq, 28% of girls married before age 18. The prevalence is 28% of girls in rural areas, compared with 28% in urban areas.

Show data table
CountryRuralUrbanTotal
Iraq27.6%28.0%27.9%
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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