Child Marriage in Niger

‘Child marriage’ refers to a formal or informal union in which at least one of the parties is under 18 years of age. This harmful practice affects Niger more than anywhere in the world, and the rate varies considerably between regions. Despite the efforts of the authorities and partners, the rate of child marriage has barely changed in 20 years. According to the DHS Niger-MICS 2012 surveys, 76% of women aged 20 to 24 were married before the age of 18.

This brief outlines child marriage trends and projections, consequences of child marriage, national response to the problem, and recommendations for accelerating progress.