Southern Africa

Namibia

Absolute number

Prevalence

18.6 thousand

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

2%
78.6 thousand

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

7%

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Namibia
  • Southern Africa
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Namibia and Southern Africa from 1988 to 2024.

In Namibia, 11% of girls in 1988 married before age 18, compared with 7% in 2013, which is the latest available value.

In Southern Africa, the prevalence was 12% in 1999 and was 4% in 2024.

Show data table
YearNamibiaSouthern Africa
198811.3%
19939.4%
19988.8%
199911.6%
20038.1%
20049.2%
20087.8%
20096.3%
20136.9%
20147.3%
20195.8%
20243.9%
Child marriage age
Compare with other countries

Namibia

Child Marriage
Prevalence

Residence

  • Rural
  • Urban
Show Residence data table
YearRuralUrban
201311.1%4.4%

Wealth

  • Poorest
  • Second
  • Middle
  • Fourth
  • Richest
Show Wealth data table
YearPoorestSecondMiddleFourthRichest
201315.0%10.1%7.4%6.3%1.4%

Education

  • No schooling
  • Primary education
  • Secondary or higher
Show Education data table
YearNo schoolingPrimary educationSecondary or higher
201317.8%22.7%4.7%
Child marriage age

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How does Namibia compare to other countries?

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Namibia
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Namibia from 1988 to 2013.

In Namibia, 11% of girls in 1988 married before age 18, compared with 7% in 2013, which is the latest available value.

Show data table
YearNamibia
198811.3%
19939.4%
19988.8%
20038.1%
20087.8%
20136.9%

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 Namibia. Data refer to the latest available year.

In Namibia, 7% of girls married before age 18. The prevalence is 11% of girls in rural areas, compared with 4% in urban areas.

Show data table
CountryRuralUrbanTotal
Namibia11.1%4.4%6.9%
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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