Women who were first married by age 15 (% of women ages 20-24) - Middle East
Definition: Women who were first married by age 15 refers to the percentage of women ages 20-24 who were first married by age 15.
Description: The map below shows how Women who were first married by age 15 (% of women ages 20-24) varies by country in the Middle East. The shade of the country corresponds to the magnitude of the indicator. The darker the shade, the higher the value. The country with the highest value in the region is Yemen, with a value of 9.40. The country with the lowest value in the region is Qatar, with a value of 0.00.
Source: Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS)
See also: Country ranking, Time series comparison
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Development Relevance: Although the legal age of marriage is defined as 18 years in most countries, the practice of child marriage remains widespread. A women’s access to education and later her employment opportunities as well as the nature and terms of her work are often compromised by this practice. Young married girls whose schooling is cut short often lack the knowledge and skills for formal work and are limited to occupations with lower incomes and inferior working conditions. Sustainable Development Goal 5 commits to eliminate the practice of child marriage.
