Read the Beforeitsnews.com story here. Advertise at Before It's News here.
Profile image
By Sebastian Clouth
Contributor profile | More stories
Story Views
Now:
Last hour:
Last 24 hours:
Total:

Top 12 Countries Where Girls Are Most Likely to Be Child Brides

% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.


 

By Helena Zhu
Epoch Times Staff

 

A 16 year old boy waits to be married to a much younger girl during a mass child marriage ceremony in Indore, India, on May 15 2002. (AFP/Getty Images)

Despite international commitments to end child marriage, one in three girls in developing countries (excluding China) will be married before they turn 18 by 2030, according to the latest United Nations report on the issue. In 2010, a total of 67 million women around the world had gotten married while they were still under 18—half in Asia, one-fifth in Africa.

“Whenever I saw him, I hid. I hated to see him,” Tehani, an 8-year-old Yemenese girl, recalled the early days of her marriage in the U.N. Population Fund report. Tehani was married at age 6 to a 25-year-old man.

Below are the top 12 countries by percentage of women 20 to 24 years old who married or entered into union before age 18 over the past decade.

No. 12 India: 47 Percent

With a population of more than 1.2 billion, India has the second largest population in the world after China. India would be ranked No. 1 in terms of the absolute number of young women who have entered marriage before age 18.

No. 11 Burkina Faso: 48 Percent

Home to 16.4 million people, this western African country is one of the least developed in the world. Nearly 30 percent of rural adolescent women between 15 and 19 have already begun childbearing.

No. 10 Sierra Leone: 48 Percent

With a population of nearly 6 million, Sierra Leone ranked last of 179 countries on the UNDP Human Development Index in 2008. Until recently, this western African country did not have a minimum age for marriage under customary law.

No. 9 Madagascar: 48 Percent

Malagasy law only required women to be 14 years old to be married before a new 2007 law set marriageable age at 18. In an island country with 21.3 million residents, 34 percent of women begin childbearing while between age 15 and 19.

No. 8 Malawi: 50 Percent

In this southern African country, about half of the women between 20 and 24 years old were married before their 18th birthday. In 2010, women aged 20-24 in rural areas were twice as likely to be married before 18 than those living in urban areas. The U.N. has been working with locals to launch an advocacy campaign aimed at policymakers.

No. 7 Mozambique: 52 Percent

On average, one out of every two girls in Mozambique will be married before the age of 18. The number of child marriages is declining however, with a drop of 4 percent over the past 10 years.


No. 6 Mali: 55 Percent

In this landlocked country of mostly desert or semi-desert, the median age at marriage for women is 17 while for men it is 26. Just over half of Mali’s 15.8 million population lives on less than $1 a day.

 

No. 5 Central African Republic: 61 Percent

Despite the legal minimum age for marriage being 18 in the Central African Republic, three out of every five girls are married before they turn 18.

No. 4 Guinea: 63 Percent

Guinea’s 10.2 million residents are predominately rural and poor. The median age at marriage for women is 16 while that for men is 26.

No. 3 Bangladesh: 66 Percent

Bangladesh is one of the world’s most densely populated countries with an estimated population of 150 million. This is the country with the highest prevalence of child marriages in South Asia. Despite legislation in place the practice of child marriage is pushed by strong social and cultural norms.

No. 2 Chad: 72 Percent

Child marriage prevalence in Chad is notably higher than the sub-Saharan Africa regional average. Once the girls are married, only 7.4 percent of them are using contraception.

 

No. 1 Niger: 75 Percent

In this Western African country where women on average give birth to seven children, three in every four young women aged 20 to 24 were married before they turned 18. The United Nations has been working at the community level to tame the social-cultural factors that increase girls’ vulnerability to child marriage.

*Republished under agreement from The Epoch Times



Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world.

Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.

"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.

Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.


LION'S MANE PRODUCT


Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules


Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.



Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.


Report abuse

    Comments

    Your Comments
    Question   Razz  Sad   Evil  Exclaim  Smile  Redface  Biggrin  Surprised  Eek   Confused   Cool  LOL   Mad   Twisted  Rolleyes   Wink  Idea  Arrow  Neutral  Cry   Mr. Green

    MOST RECENT
    Load more ...

    SignUp

    Login

    Newsletter

    Email this story
    Email this story

    If you really want to ban this commenter, please write down the reason:

    If you really want to disable all recommended stories, click on OK button. After that, you will be redirect to your options page.