One in five girls worldwide still married before 18 – UNICEF

One in five girls worldwide is still married before the age of 18, despite 68 million child marriages being averted over the past 25 years, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has disclosed.

The agency attributed the progress to investments in girls’ education, legal reforms and social protection, while calling for stronger efforts to protect girls’ rights.

UNICEF made the disclosure in a message marking the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child on October 11, under the theme, “End child marriage and invest in girls’ rights!”

According to the agency, approximately 650 million women and girls alive today were married during childhood, while more than 12 million girls are married before turning 18 every year, equivalent to roughly one every three seconds.

Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest prevalence of child marriage, at 31 per cent, UNICEF said.

The agency called for improved access to education, healthcare, protection and social services, alongside efforts to work with families and communities to challenge harmful social norms.

“We have the solutions: keeping girls in school; expanding access to health, protection and social services; working with families and communities to challenge harmful norms; investing in girls’ rights and supporting their leadership,” UNICEF said.

It added that crises, conflicts and displacement continue to increase girls’ vulnerability to child marriage, sexual violence and maternal mortality.

UNICEF also disclosed that nearly one in four ever-married or partnered girls aged 15 to 19 had experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime.

The agency noted that adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 were twice as likely as boys to be outside education, employment or training.

In fragile and conflict-affected settings, girls were nearly 90 per cent more likely to be out of secondary school than those in stable environments, further exposing them to the risk of child marriage.

UNICEF warned that child marriage remains a widespread violation of girls’ rights, depriving many of the opportunity to complete their education, protect their health, live free from violence and fulfil their potential.

The agency urged governments and other stakeholders to intensify efforts to ensure every girl can enjoy her childhood, access education and make decisions about her future.