Central America

Mexico

Absolute number

Prevalence

2.3 million

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

4%
10.4 million

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

18%

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Mexico
  • Central America
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Mexico and Central America from 1998 to 2024.

In Mexico, 22% of girls in 1998 married before age 18, compared with 18% in 2023, which is the latest available value.

In Central America, the prevalence was 24% in 1999 and was 21% in 2024.

Show data table
YearMexicoCentral America
199821.7%
199924.2%
200322.4%
200424.9%
200824.2%
200926.4%
201322.9%
201425.1%
201820.7%
201922.9%
202318.2%
202420.8%
Child marriage age

Mexico

Child Marriage
Prevalence

Residence

  • Rural
  • Urban
Show Residence data table
YearRuralUrban
202329.4%14.8%

Wealth

  • Poorest
  • Second
  • Middle
  • Fourth
  • Richest
Show Wealth data table
YearPoorestSecondMiddleFourthRichest

Education

  • No schooling
  • Primary education
  • Secondary or higher
Show Education data table
YearNo schoolingPrimary educationSecondary or higher
202327.2%49.8%16.3%
Child marriage age

Compare regions of Mexico

Understand differences inside the country

Touch the timeline to see how the child marriage affect differently each sub-region of Mexico in the last decades.

Levels of child marriage vary across different parts of Mexico. See the range of values within the country, and explore the map for details.

Prevalence of child marriage

Compare regions of Mexico

Understand differences
inside the country

11% 16% 15% 23% 28% 14% 7% 17% 19% 25% 22% 35% 20% 14% 14% 25% 18% 27% 15% 20% 22% 14% 15% 17% 17% 21% 24% 16% 18% 21% 22% 27%
Child marriage age

Region with no data

2023

Prevalence of child marriage in each region of Mexico in 2023

0%100%

Region with no data

2023

Prevalence of child marriage in each region of Mexico in 2023

0%100%

The map shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) across Mexico. Data refer to 2023, the latest year with available data.

The practice is most common in Guerrero (35%), Chiapas (28%), Zacatecas (27%), and Nayarit (27%).

Show data table
YearAguascalientesBaja CaliforniaBaja California SurCampecheChiapasChihuahuaCiudad De MéxicoCoahuila De ZaragozaColimaDurangoGuanajuatoGuerreroHidalgoJaliscoMéxicoMichoacán De OcampoMorelosNayaritNuevo LeónOaxacaPueblaQuerétaroQuintana RooSan Luis PotosíSinaloaSonoraTabascoTamaulipasTlaxcalaVeracruz De Ignacio De La LlaveYucatánZacatecas
11.4%15.5%14.6%23.4%27.6%14.3%7.3%16.6%19.1%24.7%21.6%35.2%20.2%13.7%14.1%25.1%18.1%26.5%15.4%20.0%22.2%13.5%14.6%17.4%17.4%21.4%24.4%15.8%18.0%20.7%21.6%27.1%
Child marriage age

Compare countries

How does Mexico compare to other countries?

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Mexico
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Mexico from 1998 to 2023.

In Mexico, 22% of girls in 1998 married before age 18, compared with 18% in 2023, which is the latest available value.

Show data table
YearMexico
199821.7%
200322.4%
200824.2%
201322.9%
201820.7%
202318.2%

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 Mexico. Data refer to the latest available year.

In Mexico, 18% of girls married before age 18. The prevalence is 29% of girls in rural areas, compared with 15% in urban areas.

Show data table
CountryRuralUrbanTotal
Mexico29.4%14.8%18.2%
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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