South America

Peru

Absolute number

Prevalence

383.6 thousand

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

3%
2.3 million

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

19%

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Peru
  • South America
Child marriage age

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

In Peru, 20% of girls in 1998 married before age 18, compared with 19% in 2023, which is the latest available value.

Data for South America are not available.

Show data table
YearPeruSouth America
199820.4%
200320.5%
200819.5%
201319.7%
201817.9%
202319.2%
Child marriage age
Compare with other countries

Peru

Child Marriage
Prevalence

Residence

  • Rural
  • Urban
Show Residence data table
YearRuralUrban
202339.2%15.3%

Wealth

  • Poorest
  • Second
  • Middle
  • Fourth
  • Richest
Show Wealth data table
YearPoorestSecondMiddleFourthRichest
202340.6%26.9%17.2%9.5%5.5%

Education

  • No schooling
  • Primary education
  • Secondary or higher
Show Education data table
YearNo schoolingPrimary educationSecondary or higher
202361.9%17.4%
Child marriage age

Compare regions of Peru

Understand differences inside the country

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

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

Prevalence of child marriage

Compare regions of Peru

Understand differences
inside the country

17% 27% 10% 20% 34% 11% 22% 25% 23% 13% 20% 24% 23% 13% 35% 23% 8% 21% 18% 21% 38% 15% 28% 43% 40%
Child marriage age

Region with no data

2023

Prevalence of child marriage in each region of Peru in 2023

0%100%

Region with no data

2023

Prevalence of child marriage in each region of Peru in 2023

0%100%

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

The practice is most common in Ucayali (43%), Amazonas (40%), San (38%), and Loreto (35%).

Show data table
YearAmazonasAncashApurimacArequipaAyacuchoCajamarcaCallaoCuscoHuancavelicaHuanucoIcaJuninLa LibertadLambayequeLimaLoretoMadre De DiosMoqueguaPascoPiuraPunoSan MartinTacnaTumbesUcayali
40.3%16.8%26.6%10.2%20.3%33.5%11.2%22.0%24.8%22.7%13.4%19.6%23.6%22.5%13.1%35.0%23.2%7.9%21.2%18.4%21.2%38.2%15.0%27.5%43.3%
Child marriage age

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How does Peru compare to other countries?

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Peru
Child marriage age

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

In Peru, 20% of girls in 1998 married before age 18, compared with 19% in 2023, which is the latest available value.

Show data table
YearPeru
199820.4%
200320.5%
200819.5%
201319.7%
201817.9%
202319.2%

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 Peru. Data refer to the latest available year.

In Peru, 19% of girls married before age 18. The prevalence is 39% of girls in rural areas, compared with 15% in urban areas.

Show data table
CountryRuralUrbanTotal
Peru39.2%15.3%19.2%
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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