Central America

Nicaragua

Absolute number

Prevalence

328.9 thousand

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

10%
1.1 million

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

35%

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Nicaragua
  • Central America
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Nicaragua and Central America from 1987 to 2024.

In Nicaragua, 50% of girls in 1987 married before age 18, compared with 35% in 2012, which is the latest available value.

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

Show data table
YearNicaraguaCentral America
198749.9%
199247.9%
199748.1%
199924.2%
200244.0%
200424.9%
200742.2%
200926.4%
201235.2%
201425.1%
201922.9%
202420.8%
Child marriage age
Compare with other countries

Nicaragua

Child Marriage
Prevalence

Residence

  • Rural
  • Urban
Show Residence data table
YearRuralUrban
201247.9%26.0%

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
201271.8%62.1%23.6%
Child marriage age

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How does Nicaragua compare to other countries?

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Nicaragua
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Nicaragua from 1987 to 2012.

In Nicaragua, 50% of girls in 1987 married before age 18, compared with 35% in 2012, which is the latest available value.

Show data table
YearNicaragua
198749.9%
199247.9%
199748.1%
200244.0%
200742.2%
201235.2%

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 Nicaragua. Data refer to the latest available year.

In Nicaragua, 35% of girls married before age 18. The prevalence is 48% of girls in rural areas, compared with 26% in urban areas.

Show data table
CountryRuralUrbanTotal
Nicaragua47.9%26.0%35.2%
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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