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Legal framework on child marriage

What this indicator measures

The law is examined on four points: the legal age of marriage is 18 or older for both girls and boys, there is no exception with parental consent, a marriage below the legal age is void or voidable, and adults who allow or perform it are penalized. Data from the 2026 edition of "Women, Business and the Law", which describes written laws in force on 1 October 2025 (not their actual enforcement or uncodified customs).

How to read this?

"All four conditions" means that all are met; the other label indicates that at least one is missing.

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186countries with data
2025data year(s)

In brief

Legal framework on child marriage: 186 countries and territories covered. Breakdown: All four conditions are met : 45 ; At least one condition is missing : 141.

Why this indicator matters

Child marriage is regulated by law in very different ways. Comparing these rules shows whether the minimum age, the exceptions and the penalties protect minors.

What makes this indicator vary

The rules depend on legal tradition, religious or customary law, international commitments and recent reforms aimed at raising the legal age or removing exemptions.

Reading precautions

Only the written law is examined, not its implementation or unregistered unions. The indicator is positive only if all four conditions are met: a single missing one is enough to change the result.

Legal framework on child marriage

All four conditions are met (45)

At least one condition is missing (141)

Frequently asked questions

Where does the "Legal framework on child marriage" data come from?

It comes from Banque mondiale – Women, Business and the Law (WBL 2.0). Site last updated: November 8, 2026. Each country is shown with the year of its most recent value.

Which conditions are examined?

The law must set the minimum age at the age of majority for girls and boys, rule out parental exemptions, annul the unions of minors and penalize those who allow them.

What does at least one condition is missing mean?

It means that the law does not meet all of the checkpoints. It may still meet several of them.

Source and update

Source : Banque mondiale – Women, Business and the Law (WBL 2.0). Site last updated: November 8, 2026.

Indicators in the same category : Family & Nationality