The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has revealed that one in five girls worldwide is still married before the age of 18, despite efforts that have prevented an estimated 68 million child marriages over the past 25 years.
According to UNICEF, the progress recorded so far is largely attributed to investments in girls’ education, legal reforms and social protection programmes.
The agency disclosed this in a statement marking the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, observed on October 11, under the theme, “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights!”
UNICEF called for increased efforts to protect girls from early marriage and ensure they have access to education, healthcare and other essential services.
“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,” the agency said.
It added that governments, communities and other stakeholders must accelerate efforts to ensure that every girl can enjoy her rights and reach her full potential.
According to UNICEF, approximately 650 million women and girls alive today were married during childhood.
The agency also estimated that more than 12 million girls are married before reaching adulthood every year, equivalent to approximately one girl every three seconds.
Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest prevalence of child marriage globally, with 31 per cent of girls affected.
UNICEF further disclosed that nearly one in four ever-married or partnered girls aged 15 to 19 has experienced intimate partner violence at some point in her life.
The agency warned that humanitarian crises, armed conflicts and displacement continue to expose girls to increased risks of child marriage, sexual violence and maternal mortality.
It also noted that girls aged 15 to 19 are twice as likely as boys to be excluded from education, employment or training.
In fragile settings affected by conflict and violence, girls are nearly 90 per cent more likely to be out of secondary school than those living in stable environments, further increasing their vulnerability to early marriage.
UNICEF stressed that investing in girls remains one of the most effective ways to accelerate progress towards gender equality and sustainable development.
The organisation warned that child marriage continues to violate girls’ rights by depriving them of opportunities to remain in school, protect their health, live free from violence and achieve their ambitions.
It added that early marriage can have severe and lasting consequences for girls’ physical and mental health, including social isolation, anxiety and emotional distress.
The agency also highlighted concerns about self-harm, which remains one of the leading causes of death among adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 worldwide.
UNICEF urged governments and communities to strengthen policies and programmes that protect girls, challenge harmful cultural practices and promote their education and empowerment.
“Every girl deserves a childhood. Every girl deserves the freedom to learn, to grow, to make her own choices and to define her own future,” the agency said.
It emphasised that protecting and empowering girls would contribute to healthier families, stronger communities and more peaceful and prosperous societies.
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