Latin America and Caribbean

Photo: The Mariposa Foundation

Under 18 prevalence in Latin America and Caribbean

Top 5 countries with the highest prevalence rates of child marriage in Latin America and Caribbean

Top 5 countries with the highest prevalence rates of child marriage in Latin America and Caribbean
Position Country
1
36% Suriname
2
35% Nicaragua
3
34% Belize
4
34% Honduras
5
31% Dominican Republic

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 Latin America and Caribbean

Top 5 countries with the highest absolute numbers of child marriage in Latin America and Caribbean

Top 5 countries with the highest absolute numbers of child marriage in Latin America and Caribbean
Position Country
1
2,226,000 Brazil
2
1,421,000 Mexico
3
118,000 Nicaragua

Number (in thousands) of women 20-24 years old who were first married or in union before they were 18 years. Based on population in 2019. Source: Population data from United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2019). World Population Prospects 2019, Online Edition. Rev. 1.

National Partnerships and Coalitions in Latin America and Caribbean

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 Latin America and Caribbean

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Data sources

  • [1] UNICEF, State of the World’s Children, 2017.
  • [2] UNICEF, State of the World’s Children, 2017.
  • [3] Population Council, 2013.
  • [4] Girls Not Brides, Exploratory research: child marriage in Latin America, 2014.
  • [5] UNICEF, Ending child marriage: progress and prospects, 2014.
  • [6] UN Women, UN launches regional flagship programme to eradicate child marriage, 27 November 2015.

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