South-Eastern Asia

Lao People's Democratic Republic

Absolute number

Prevalence

218.2 thousand

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

6%
804 thousand

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

31%

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • South-Eastern Asia
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Lao People's Democratic Republic and South-Eastern Asia from 1998 to 2024.

In Lao People's Democratic Republic, 33% of girls in 1998 married before age 18, compared with 31% in 2023, which is the latest available value.

In South-Eastern Asia, the prevalence was 24% in 1999 and was 15% in 2024.

Show data table
YearLao People's Democratic RepublicSouth-Eastern Asia
199833.0%
199924.3%
200335.9%
200421.6%
200833.1%
200919.2%
201329.8%
201417.5%
201830.9%
201916.6%
202330.5%
202414.7%
Child marriage age

Lao People's Democratic Republic

Child Marriage
Prevalence

Residence

  • Rural
  • Urban
Show Residence data table
YearRuralUrban
202336.3%16.7%

Wealth

  • Poorest
  • Second
  • Middle
  • Fourth
  • Richest
Show Wealth data table
YearPoorestSecondMiddleFourthRichest
202348.5%39.6%26.7%20.9%9.2%

Education

  • No schooling
  • Primary education
  • Secondary or higher
Show Education data table
YearNo schoolingPrimary educationSecondary or higher
202344.6%49.0%23.5%
Child marriage age

Compare regions of Lao People's Democratic Republic

Understand differences inside the country

Touch the timeline to see how the child marriage affect differently each sub-region of Lao People's Democratic Republic in the last decades.

Levels of child marriage vary across different parts of Lao People's Democratic Republic. See the range of values within the country, and explore the map for details.

Prevalence of child marriage

Compare regions of Lao People's Democratic Republic

Understand differences
inside the country

29% 33% 38% 20% 53% 29% 38% 42% 42% 40% 36% 26% 27% 32% 11% 28% 43% 38%
Child marriage age

Region with no data

2023

Prevalence of child marriage in each region of Lao People's Democratic Republic in 2023

0%100%

Region with no data

2023

Prevalence of child marriage in each region of Lao People's Democratic Republic in 2023

0%100%

The map shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) across Lao People's Democratic Republic. Data refer to 2023, the latest year with available data.

The practice is most common in Houaphan (53%), Xaisomboon (43%), Louangphabang (42%), and Oudomxai (42%).

Show data table
YearAttapeuBokeoBolikhamxaiChampasackHouaphanKhammouanLouangnamthaLouangphabangOudomxaiPhongsalySalavanSavannakhetSekongVientianeVientiane CapitalXaignaboulyXaisomboonXiengkhouang
29.3%33.3%38.2%19.9%53.2%29.5%37.7%42.2%41.7%39.7%35.9%26.3%27.1%32.3%10.9%28.0%42.9%38.1%
Child marriage age

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How does Lao People's Democratic Republic compare to other countries?

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Lao People's Democratic Republic from 1998 to 2023.

In Lao People's Democratic Republic, 33% of girls in 1998 married before age 18, compared with 31% in 2023, which is the latest available value.

Show data table
YearLao People's Democratic Republic
199833.0%
200335.9%
200833.1%
201329.8%
201830.9%
202330.5%

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 Lao People's Democratic Republic. Data refer to the latest available year.

In Lao People's Democratic Republic, 31% of girls married before age 18. The prevalence is 36% of girls in rural areas, compared with 17% in urban areas.

Show data table
CountryRuralUrbanTotal
Lao People's Democratic Republic36.3%16.7%30.5%
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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