Eastern Africa

Somalia

Absolute number

Prevalence

411.6 thousand

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

8%
1.9 million

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

45%

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Somalia
  • Eastern Africa
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Somalia and Eastern Africa from 1981 to 2024.

In Somalia, 39% of girls in 1981 married before age 18, compared with 45% in 2006, which is the latest available value.

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

Show data table
YearSomaliaEastern Africa
198138.8%
198646.1%
199149.9%
199649.1%
199946.2%
200144.0%
200443.5%
200645.3%
200944.6%
201442.1%
201937.4%
202432.4%
Child marriage age
Compare with other countries

Somalia

Child Marriage
Prevalence

Residence

  • Rural
  • Urban
Show Residence data table
YearRuralUrban
200652.4%35.2%

Wealth

  • Poorest
  • Second
  • Middle
  • Fourth
  • Richest
Show Wealth data table
YearPoorestSecondMiddleFourthRichest
200643.7%58.7%56.4%43.4%27.9%

Education

  • No schooling
  • Primary education
  • Secondary or higher
Show Education data table
YearNo schoolingPrimary educationSecondary or higher
200651.7%37.6%11.2%
Child marriage age

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How does Somalia compare to other countries?

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Somalia
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Somalia from 1981 to 2006.

In Somalia, 39% of girls in 1981 married before age 18, compared with 45% in 2006, which is the latest available value.

Show data table
YearSomalia
198138.8%
198646.1%
199149.9%
199649.1%
200144.0%
200645.3%

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 Somalia. Data refer to the latest available year.

In Somalia, 45% of girls married before age 18. The prevalence is 52% of girls in rural areas, compared with 35% in urban areas.

Show data table
CountryRuralUrbanTotal
Somalia52.4%35.2%45.3%
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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