Kuwait raises minimum legal age for marriage to 18 years old

Kuwait has taken a major step to protect the rights of adolescent girls and boys by raising the minimum legal age for marriage to 18 years. The new law, enacted under Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025, came into effect on 16 March 2025.

The law amends Article 26 of Law No. 51/1984 (Personal Status Law), now prohibiting the documentation or ratification of marriage contracts for anyone under 18. It also modifies Article 15 of the Jaafari Personal Status Law No. 124/2019, thus extending the same minimum age across this religious legal framework.

Previously, girls could marry at 15 and boys at 17 with parental or judicial consent. Some sources also cite Article 24 of the Personal Status Law, which allows marriage below the minimum age if the individuals have reached puberty.

About child marriage laws

Child marriage remains a global issue, with 12 million girls married before the age of 18 each year. While legal reforms like Kuwait's are vital in protecting children, they must be accompanied by comprehensive approaches that address the root causes of child marriage, including gender inequality, poverty, and lack of access to education.

Laws against child marriage are important, but they are not enough on their own. To ensure girls and women can be socially, economically, and politically independent – making informed choices about marriage, their bodies, education, and work – the laws must also be accompanied by investment in gender-transformative services and policies to address the root causes of child marriage, and ensuring laws truly protect and support girls at risk.

Evidence also shows that criminalising child marriage can have unintended and negative consequences for adolescent girls, their families, and their children. This highlights the need for legal measures to be part of a comprehensive approach that addresses the structural drivers of child marriage and provides services and support for girls who are already married.