Eastern Africa

Madagascar

Absolute number

Prevalence

1.2 million

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

13%
3.5 million

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

39%

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Madagascar
  • Eastern Africa
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Madagascar and Eastern Africa from 1996 to 2024.

In Madagascar, 35% of girls in 1996 married before age 18, compared with 39% in 2021, which is the latest available value.

In Eastern Africa, the prevalence was 46% in 1999 and was 32% in 2024.

Show data table
YearMadagascarEastern Africa
199634.7%
199946.2%
200135.7%
200443.5%
200642.7%
200944.6%
201139.8%
201442.1%
201638.9%
201937.4%
202138.8%
202432.4%
Child marriage age
Compare with other countries

Madagascar

Child Marriage
Prevalence

Residence

  • Rural
  • Urban
Show Residence data table
YearRuralUrban
202144.4%21.3%

Wealth

  • Poorest
  • Second
  • Middle
  • Fourth
  • Richest
Show Wealth data table
YearPoorestSecondMiddleFourthRichest
202158.3%54.6%44.4%32.2%15.0%

Education

  • No schooling
  • Primary education
  • Secondary or higher
Show Education data table
YearNo schoolingPrimary educationSecondary or higher
202165.8%53.6%23.9%
Child marriage age

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How does Madagascar compare to other countries?

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Madagascar
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Madagascar from 1996 to 2021.

In Madagascar, 35% of girls in 1996 married before age 18, compared with 39% in 2021, which is the latest available value.

Show data table
YearMadagascar
199634.7%
200135.7%
200642.7%
201139.8%
201638.9%
202138.8%

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 Madagascar. Data refer to the latest available year.

In Madagascar, 39% of girls married before age 18. The prevalence is 44% of girls in rural areas, compared with 21% in urban areas.

Show data table
CountryRuralUrbanTotal
Madagascar44.4%21.3%38.8%
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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