Eastern Africa

Mozambique

Absolute number

Prevalence

1.8 million

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

13%
5.1 million

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

48%

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Mozambique
  • Eastern Africa
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Mozambique and Eastern Africa from 1998 to 2024.

In Mozambique, 48% of girls in 1998 married before age 18, compared with 48% in 2023, which is the latest available value.

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

Show data table
YearMozambiqueEastern Africa
199848.1%
199946.2%
200348.1%
200443.5%
200849.8%
200944.6%
201350.4%
201442.1%
201850.3%
201937.4%
202348.4%
202432.4%
Child marriage age

Mozambique

Child Marriage
Prevalence

Residence

  • Rural
  • Urban
Show Residence data table
YearRuralUrban
202359.3%30.2%

Wealth

  • Poorest
  • Second
  • Middle
  • Fourth
  • Richest
Show Wealth data table
YearPoorestSecondMiddleFourthRichest
202364.4%61.1%60.9%42.9%17.3%

Education

  • No schooling
  • Primary education
  • Secondary or higher
Show Education data table
YearNo schoolingPrimary educationSecondary or higher
202354.1%66.7%22.9%
Child marriage age

Compare regions of Mozambique

Understand differences inside the country

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

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

Prevalence of child marriage

Compare regions of Mozambique

Understand differences
inside the country

Child marriage age

Region with no data

2023

Prevalence of child marriage in each region of Mozambique in 2023

0%100%
Map view not available for this data

Region with no data

2023

Prevalence of child marriage in each region of Mozambique in 2023

0%100%

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

The practice is most common in Cabo (61%), Manica (57%), Tete (56%), and Nampula (56%).

Show data table
YearNiassaCaboNampulaZambeziaTeteManicaSofalaInhambaneGazaMaputoMaputo
54.1%61.0%55.9%54.1%56.2%56.9%48.7%33.9%39.0%15.9%10.7%
Child marriage age

Compare countries

How does Mozambique compare to other countries?

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Mozambique
Child marriage age

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

In Mozambique, 48% of girls in 1998 married before age 18, compared with 48% in 2023, which is the latest available value.

Show data table
YearMozambique
199848.1%
200348.1%
200849.8%
201350.4%
201850.3%
202348.4%

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

The bubble chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) disaggregated by residence in Mozambique. Data refer to the latest available year.

In Mozambique, 48% of girls married before age 18. The prevalence is 59% of girls in rural areas, compared with 30% in urban areas.

Show data table
CountryRuralUrbanTotal
Mozambique59.3%30.2%48.4%
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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