Towards ending child marriage: Global trends and profiles of progress
Objectives
The report aims to present global and regional trends in child marriage and analyse how patterns have changed over the last three decades. It seeks to identify the structural conditions that support progress, including improvements in education, economic development, labour-force opportunities, reproductive health and legal protections. It also highlights countries that have achieved rapid or equitable reductions in child marriage to illustrate pathways for sustained progress
Findings
Global child marriage has declined, but progress remains uneven and too slow to meet the SDG target by 2030. South Asia has seen the steepest reduction, driven largely by India, while sub-Saharan Africa now carries a growing share of the global burden. Areas with stronger economic growth, improved school participation for girls and expanded access to modern contraception have experienced faster declines. The report shows that vulnerable girls, especially those from the poorest households, often benefit least, and inequality in progress has widened in many countries. Although legal reforms have advanced, loopholes and weak enforcement continue to limit their impact. The country profiles show that progress is possible across diverse contexts when improvements in education, poverty reduction and opportunities for girls occur together.
Recommendations
The report underscores the need to accelerate multisectoral action that improves girls’ access to schooling, economic opportunities and reproductive health services. It stresses the importance of addressing poverty and inequality to ensure progress reaches the most vulnerable. It recommends strengthening legal systems by closing loopholes, enforcing minimum-age laws and ensuring girls have access to justice. The findings call for investments that expand girls’ life options, including quality education, safe employment and social protection, and for sustained political commitment to maintain gains made over previous decades.
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