Eastern Africa

Uganda

Absolute number

Prevalence

1.6 million

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

7%
5.5 million

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

34%

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Uganda
  • Eastern Africa
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Uganda and Eastern Africa from 1991 to 2024.

In Uganda, 52% of girls in 1991 married before age 18, compared with 34% in 2016, which is the latest available value.

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

Show data table
YearUgandaEastern Africa
199151.5%
199653.2%
199946.2%
200150.4%
200443.5%
200645.6%
200944.6%
201138.3%
201442.1%
201634.0%
201937.4%
202432.4%
Child marriage age
Compare with other countries

Uganda

Child Marriage
Prevalence

Residence

  • Rural
  • Urban
Show Residence data table
YearRuralUrban
201639.8%20.5%

Wealth

  • Poorest
  • Second
  • Middle
  • Fourth
  • Richest
Show Wealth data table
YearPoorestSecondMiddleFourthRichest
201654.4%45.7%37.4%27.6%17.4%

Education

  • No schooling
  • Primary education
  • Secondary or higher
Show Education data table
YearNo schoolingPrimary educationSecondary or higher
201665.7%48.8%15.3%
Child marriage age

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How does Uganda compare to other countries?

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Uganda
Child marriage age

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

In Uganda, 52% of girls in 1991 married before age 18, compared with 34% in 2016, which is the latest available value.

Show data table
YearUganda
199151.5%
199653.2%
200150.4%
200645.6%
201138.3%
201634.0%

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 Uganda. Data refer to the latest available year.

In Uganda, 34% of girls married before age 18. The prevalence is 40% of girls in rural areas, compared with 21% in urban areas.

Show data table
CountryRuralUrbanTotal
Uganda39.8%20.5%34.0%
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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