Southern Africa

Lesotho

Summary

Explore how common child marriage is throughout the country, how levels have changed over time, and how the situation in this country compares to others.

Absolute number

Prevalence

20.7 thousand

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

1%
182.4 thousand

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

16%

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Southern Africa
  • Lesotho
Child marriage age
Show table of data
YearSouthern AfricaLesotho
199330.7%
199811.9%26.3%
20039.4%21.7%
20086.4%19.8%
20137.4%16.4%
20185.9%16.4%
20234.1%
Child marriage age
Compare with other countries

Lesotho

Child Marriage
Prevalence

Residence

  • Urban
  • Rural
Show Residence table of data
YearUrbanRural
201812.9%19.6%

Wealth

  • Poorest
  • Second
  • Middle
  • Fourth
  • Richest
Show Wealth table of data
YearPoorestSecondMiddleFourthRichest
201832.5%26.1%14.7%9.7%9.3%

Education

  • No schooling
  • Primary education
  • Secondary or higher
Show Education table of data
YearNo schoolingPrimary educationSecondary or higher
201812.8%
Child marriage age

Compare countries

How does Lesotho compare to other countries?

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Lesotho
Child marriage age
Show table of data
YearLesotho
199330.7%
199826.3%
200321.7%
200819.8%
201316.4%
201816.4%

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

Show table of data
CountryUrbanRuralTotal prevalence
Lesotho12.9%19.6%16.4%
Perspective
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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Where does child marriage occur?

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