Caribbean

Jamaica

Absolute number

Prevalence

14.7 thousand

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

6%
102.9 thousand

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

27%

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Jamaica
  • Caribbean
Child marriage age

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

In Jamaica, 20% of girls in 1997 married before age 18, compared with 27% in 2022, which is the latest available value.

In Caribbean, the prevalence was 30% in 1999 and was 24% in 2024.

Show data table
YearJamaicaCaribbean
199720.4%
199930.1%
200220.5%
200429.7%
200723.2%
200931.1%
201224.8%
201428.0%
201727.1%
201924.7%
202226.9%
202423.8%
Child marriage age
Compare with other countries

Jamaica

Child Marriage
Prevalence

Residence

  • Rural
  • Urban
Show Residence data table
YearRuralUrban
202225.0%28.8%

Wealth

  • Poorest
  • Second
  • Middle
  • Fourth
  • Richest
Show Wealth data table
YearPoorestSecondMiddleFourthRichest
202234.9%30.3%29.2%21.0%20.3%

Education

  • No schooling
  • Primary education
  • Secondary or higher
Show Education data table
YearNo schoolingPrimary educationSecondary or higher
202226.9%
Child marriage age

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How does Jamaica compare to other countries?

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Jamaica
Child marriage age

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

In Jamaica, 20% of girls in 1997 married before age 18, compared with 27% in 2022, which is the latest available value.

Show data table
YearJamaica
199720.4%
200220.5%
200723.2%
201224.8%
201727.1%
202226.9%

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 Jamaica. Data refer to the latest available year.

In Jamaica, 27% of girls married before age 18. The prevalence is 25% of girls in rural areas, compared with 29% in urban areas.

Show data table
CountryRuralUrbanTotal
Jamaica25.0%28.8%26.9%
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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