Western Africa

Mauritania

Absolute number

Prevalence

292.4 thousand

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

16%
592.5 thousand

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

37%

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Mauritania
  • Western Africa
Child marriage age

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

In Mauritania, 40% of girls in 1996 married before age 18, compared with 37% in 2021, which is the latest available value.

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

Show data table
YearMauritaniaWestern Africa
199639.6%
199942.8%
200137.2%
200441.2%
200636.2%
200938.9%
201137.3%
201439.6%
201637.5%
201939.5%
202136.6%
202431.6%
Child marriage age
Compare with other countries

Mauritania

Child Marriage
Prevalence

Residence

  • Rural
  • Urban
Show Residence data table
YearRuralUrban
202151.8%23.3%

Wealth

  • Poorest
  • Second
  • Middle
  • Fourth
  • Richest
Show Wealth data table
YearPoorestSecondMiddleFourthRichest
202158.3%52.5%40.5%29.7%14.9%

Education

  • No schooling
  • Primary education
  • Secondary or higher
Show Education data table
YearNo schoolingPrimary educationSecondary or higher
202152.7%47.0%16.5%
Child marriage age

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How does Mauritania compare to other countries?

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Mauritania
Child marriage age

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

In Mauritania, 40% of girls in 1996 married before age 18, compared with 37% in 2021, which is the latest available value.

Show data table
YearMauritania
199639.6%
200137.2%
200636.2%
201137.3%
201637.5%
202136.6%

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 Mauritania. Data refer to the latest available year.

In Mauritania, 37% of girls married before age 18. The prevalence is 52% of girls in rural areas, compared with 23% in urban areas.

Show data table
CountryRuralUrbanTotal
Mauritania51.8%23.3%36.6%
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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