Eastern Africa

United Republic of Tanzania

Absolute number

Prevalence

1.4 million

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

5%
6.4 million

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

29%

Prevalence of child marriage

  • United Republic of Tanzania
  • Eastern Africa
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in United Republic of Tanzania and Eastern Africa from 1997 to 2024.

In United Republic of Tanzania, 39% of girls in 1997 married before age 18, compared with 29% in 2022, which is the latest available value.

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

Show data table
YearUnited Republic of TanzaniaEastern Africa
199739.0%
199946.2%
200234.9%
200443.5%
200737.0%
200944.6%
201231.2%
201442.1%
201729.8%
201937.4%
202229.1%
202432.4%
Child marriage age
Compare with other countries

United Republic of Tanzania

Child Marriage
Prevalence

Residence

  • Rural
  • Urban
Show Residence data table
YearRuralUrban
202237.9%14.3%

Wealth

  • Poorest
  • Second
  • Middle
  • Fourth
  • Richest
Show Wealth data table
YearPoorestSecondMiddleFourthRichest
202254.5%40.9%31.2%20.6%11.5%

Education

  • No schooling
  • Primary education
  • Secondary or higher
Show Education data table
YearNo schoolingPrimary educationSecondary or higher
202254.8%37.9%8.2%
Child marriage age

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How does United Republic of Tanzania compare to other countries?

Prevalence of child marriage

  • United Republic of Tanzania
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in United Republic of Tanzania from 1997 to 2022.

In United Republic of Tanzania, 39% of girls in 1997 married before age 18, compared with 29% in 2022, which is the latest available value.

Show data table
YearUnited Republic of Tanzania
199739.0%
200234.9%
200737.0%
201231.2%
201729.8%
202229.1%

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 United Republic of Tanzania. Data refer to the latest available year.

In United Republic of Tanzania, 29% of girls married before age 18. The prevalence is 38% of girls in rural areas, compared with 14% in urban areas.

Show data table
CountryRuralUrbanTotal
United Republic of Tanzania37.9%14.3%29.1%
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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