Southern Asia

Pakistan

Absolute number

Prevalence

5 million

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

4%
20.5 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

  • Pakistan
  • Southern Asia
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Pakistan and Southern Asia from 1993 to 2024.

In Pakistan, 41% of girls in 1993 married before age 18, compared with 18% in 2018, which is the latest available value.

In Southern Asia, the prevalence was 53% in 1999 and was 26% in 2024.

Show data table
YearPakistanSouthern Asia
199340.7%
199838.8%
199953.1%
200331.1%
200449.5%
200825.3%
200945.9%
201322.7%
201438.6%
201818.3%
201931.8%
202425.6%
Child marriage age
Compare with other countries

Pakistan

Child Marriage
Prevalence

Residence

  • Rural
  • Urban
Show Residence data table
YearRuralUrban
201821.6%12.5%

Wealth

  • Poorest
  • Second
  • Middle
  • Fourth
  • Richest
Show Wealth data table
YearPoorestSecondMiddleFourthRichest
201834.1%23.0%20.6%11.8%7.3%

Education

  • No schooling
  • Primary education
  • Secondary or higher
Show Education data table
YearNo schoolingPrimary educationSecondary or higher
201833.7%22.9%7.5%
Child marriage age

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How does Pakistan compare to other countries?

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Pakistan
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Pakistan from 1993 to 2018.

In Pakistan, 41% of girls in 1993 married before age 18, compared with 18% in 2018, which is the latest available value.

Show data table
YearPakistan
199340.7%
199838.8%
200331.1%
200825.3%
201322.7%
201818.3%

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 Pakistan. Data refer to the latest available year.

In Pakistan, 18% of girls married before age 18. The prevalence is 22% of girls in rural areas, compared with 13% in urban areas.

Show data table
CountryRuralUrbanTotal
Pakistan21.6%12.5%18.3%
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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