Middle East and North Africa

Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith/Panos for DFID

Under 18 prevalence in Middle East and North Africa

Top 5 countries with the highest prevalence rates of child marriage in Middle East and North Africa

Top 5 countries with the highest prevalence rates of child marriage in Middle East and North Africa
Position Country
1
34% Sudan
2
30% Yemen
3
28% Iraq
4
17% Iran
5
16% Egypt

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 Middle East and North Africa

Top 5 countries with the highest absolute numbers of child marriage in Middle East and North Africa

Top 5 countries with the highest absolute numbers of child marriage in Middle East and North Africa
Position Country
1
10,400,000 Iran
2
7,100,000 Egypt
3
5,100,000 Sudan
4
3,800,000 Yemen
5
1,400,000 Syria

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.

Countries in Middle East and North Africa

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Data sources

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