South-Eastern Asia

Timor-Leste

Absolute number

Prevalence

17.2 thousand

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

3%
80.9 thousand

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

15%

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Timor-Leste
  • South-Eastern Asia
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Timor-Leste and South-Eastern Asia from 1991 to 2024.

In Timor-Leste, 24% of girls in 1991 married before age 18, compared with 15% in 2016, which is the latest available value.

In South-Eastern Asia, the prevalence was 24% in 1999 and was 15% in 2024.

Show data table
YearTimor-LesteSouth-Eastern Asia
199123.6%
199622.6%
199924.3%
200124.3%
200421.6%
200620.6%
200919.2%
201117.9%
201417.5%
201614.9%
201916.6%
202414.7%
Child marriage age

Timor-Leste

Child Marriage
Prevalence

Residence

  • Rural
  • Urban
Show Residence data table
YearRuralUrban
201620.3%7.1%

Wealth

  • Poorest
  • Second
  • Middle
  • Fourth
  • Richest
Show Wealth data table
YearPoorestSecondMiddleFourthRichest
201625.6%23.0%16.7%11.0%6.3%

Education

  • No schooling
  • Primary education
  • Secondary or higher
Show Education data table
YearNo schoolingPrimary educationSecondary or higher
201623.7%36.4%10.9%
Child marriage age

Compare regions of Timor-Leste

Understand differences inside the country

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

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

Prevalence of child marriage

Compare regions of Timor-Leste

Understand differences
inside the country

8% 23% 19% 17% 20% 6% 23% 15% 14% 24% 26% 35% 18%
Child marriage age

Region with no data

2016

Prevalence of child marriage in each region of Timor-Leste in 2016

0%100%

Region with no data

2016

Prevalence of child marriage in each region of Timor-Leste in 2016

0%100%

The map shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) across Timor-Leste. Data refer to 2016, the latest year with available data.

The practice is most common in Oecussi (35%), Manufahi (26%), Manatuto (24%), and Ermera (23%).

Show data table
YearAileuAinaroBaucauBobonaroCova LimaDiliErmeraLautemLiquicaManatutoManufahiOecussiViqueque
7.7%22.8%19.1%16.6%20.0%5.7%23.4%15.1%14.4%23.5%25.9%34.8%18.3%
Child marriage age

Compare countries

How does Timor-Leste compare to other countries?

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Timor-Leste
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Timor-Leste from 1991 to 2016.

In Timor-Leste, 24% of girls in 1991 married before age 18, compared with 15% in 2016, which is the latest available value.

Show data table
YearTimor-Leste
199123.6%
199622.6%
200124.3%
200620.6%
201117.9%
201614.9%

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 Timor-Leste. Data refer to the latest available year.

In Timor-Leste, 15% of girls married before age 18. The prevalence is 20% of girls in rural areas, compared with 7% in urban areas.

Show data table
CountryRuralUrbanTotal
Timor-Leste20.3%7.1%14.9%
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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Where does child marriage occur?

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