Eastern and Southern Africa

Child Marriage Atlas

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Under 18 prevalence in Eastern and Southern Africa

Top 5 countries with the highest prevalence rates of child marriage in Eastern and Southern Africa

Top 5 countries with the highest prevalence rates of child marriage in Eastern and Southern Africa
Position Country
1
53.0% Mozambique
2
52.0% South Sudan
3
45.0% Somalia
4
41.0% Eritrea
5
40.0% Ethiopia

*Percentage of women 20-24 years old who were first married or in union before they were 18 years old. Source: UNICEF global databases 2020, based on Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), and other national surveys.

Under 18 burden in Eastern and Southern Africa

Top 5 countries with the highest absolute numbers of child marriage in Eastern and Southern Africa

Top 5 countries with the highest absolute numbers of child marriage in Eastern and Southern Africa
Position Country
1
19,900,000 Ethiopia
2
6,400,000 Tanzania
3
5,500,000 Uganda
4
5,100,000 Mozambique
5
5,100,000 Sudan

Number of women 20-24 years old who were first married or in union before they were 18 years.

National Partnerships and Coalitions in Eastern and Southern Africa

In this region we have national partnerships. Many Girls Not Brides member organisations have come together to accelerate progress to end child marriage in their countries by forming National or State Partnerships and coalitions. Below is an overview of what and where these networks are, what they do and how they work with Girls Not Brides.

Countries in Eastern and Southern Africa

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  • Last updated:

    24 April 2025

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