Western Africa

Liberia

Absolute number

Prevalence

165.7 thousand

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

6%
554.7 thousand

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

25%

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Liberia
  • Western Africa
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Liberia and Western Africa from 1995 to 2024.

In Liberia, 49% of girls in 1995 married before age 18, compared with 25% in 2020, which is the latest available value.

In Western Africa, the prevalence was 43% in 1999 and was 32% in 2024.

Show data table
YearLiberiaWestern Africa
199549.3%
199942.8%
200043.7%
200441.2%
200539.2%
200938.9%
201033.1%
201439.6%
201529.1%
201939.5%
202024.9%
202431.6%
Child marriage age
Compare with other countries

Liberia

Child Marriage
Prevalence

Residence

  • Rural
  • Urban
Show Residence data table
YearRuralUrban
202038.9%18.1%

Wealth

  • Poorest
  • Second
  • Middle
  • Fourth
  • Richest
Show Wealth data table
YearPoorestSecondMiddleFourthRichest
202047.0%31.4%30.6%18.1%10.7%

Education

  • No schooling
  • Primary education
  • Secondary or higher
Show Education data table
YearNo schoolingPrimary educationSecondary or higher
202046.3%40.6%14.5%
Child marriage age

Compare countries

How does Liberia compare to other countries?

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Liberia
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Liberia from 1995 to 2020.

In Liberia, 49% of girls in 1995 married before age 18, compared with 25% in 2020, which is the latest available value.

Show data table
YearLiberia
199549.3%
200043.7%
200539.2%
201033.1%
201529.1%
202024.9%

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 Liberia. Data refer to the latest available year.

In Liberia, 25% of girls married before age 18. The prevalence is 39% of girls in rural areas, compared with 18% in urban areas.

Show data table
CountryRuralUrbanTotal
Liberia38.9%18.1%24.9%
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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