Rationale and definition:

This indicator tracks the prevalence of child marriage, as defined by UNICEF. Child marriage is a violation of basic rights and may cause lifelong harm. Evidence shows that most girls who marry early abandon formal education and many have early and often high-risk pregnancies.¹ Child brides are also at higher risk of abuse, exploitation, and separation from family and friends, which can all have major consequences on health and wellbeing.

Disaggregation:

By age, urban/rural, ethnicity, wealth quintile.

Comments and limitations:

TBD.

Preliminary assessment of current data availability by Friends of the Chair:

TBD

Primary data source:

Household surveys.

Potential lead agency or agencies:

UNICEF.