Southern Asia

India

Summary

Explore how common child marriage is throughout the country, how levels have changed over time, and how the situation in this country compares to others.

Absolute number

Prevalence

90.5 million

Married by 15: Number of girls and women (left) and percentage of women 20-24 years (right) married before age 15

5%
222.4 million

Married by 18: Number of girls and women (left) and percentage of women 20-24 years (right) married before age 18

23%

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Southern Asia
  • India
Child marriage age
Data table
YearSouthern AsiaIndia
199653.2%
199953.1%
200148.8%
200449.5%
200645.7%
200945.9%
201138.0%
201438.6%
201629.5%
201931.8%
202123.3%
202425.6%
Child marriage age
Compare with other countries

India

Child Marriage
Prevalence

Residence

  • Urban
  • Rural
Residence Data table
YearUrbanRural
202114.7%27.0%

Wealth

  • Poorest
  • Second
  • Middle
  • Fourth
  • Richest
Wealth Data table
YearPoorestSecondMiddleFourthRichest
202139.7%30.9%23.4%16.0%7.5%

Education

  • No schooling
  • Primary education
  • Secondary or higher
Education Data table
YearNo schoolingPrimary educationSecondary or higher
202148.0%43.3%18.9%
Child marriage age

Compare countries

How does India compare to other countries?

Prevalence of child marriage

  • India
Child marriage age
Data table
YearIndia
199653.2%
200148.8%
200645.7%
201138.0%
201629.5%
202123.3%

Residence

Child marriage prevalence

Review the data to find if girls living in rural areas are more likely to marry in childhood than girls in urban areas

Data table
CountryUrbanRuralTotal prevalence
India14.7%27.0%23.3%
Perspective
Child marriage age

For more data related to child marriage, please see the child marriage country profiles available on the UNICEF Data website

UNICEF Data

Explore other countries

Where does child marriage occur?

Drag to rotate the map

Select Other Country

Back to Country Profiles