Child marriage persists despite progress, with crises reversing gains
Child marriage remains a global crisis, with 23 girls married every minute, costing an estimated $175 billion annually in lost productivity and health risks. While some countries have raised the minimum marriage age, the Taliban's new judicial code in Afghanistan has enabled child marriage below 16. Conflict and crises are driving up rates, with over one in three girls marrying before 18 in affected regions.
The Taliban’s May 2026 judicial code removed the previous minimum marriage age of 16 in Afghanistan, while also barring wives from leaving unions they entered as children if husbands object. Activists report that forced and early marriages have risen sharply since 2021, driven by the ban on secondary education for girls and economic collapse. In conflict zones globally, child marriage rates exceed one in three, nearly double the worldwide average, with Gaza’s war reversing prior declines from 28% to 18% between 2009 and 2022.
Legal progress remains uneven. While Sierra Leone raised its minimum age to 18 in 2024 and has begun prosecuting a forcible marriage case, the U.S. still has three states without an age floor, and Scotland permits marriage at 16 without parental consent. Australia allows 16- and 17-year-olds to marry in exceptional circumstances. Advocacy programs targeting girls and communities are threatened by overseas aid cuts, though laws, even when poorly enforced, signal societal norms.
This story could affect millions of girls in crisis-affected regions, where economic desperation and weakened protections may push families toward early marriage. It may also influence global aid priorities, as funding cuts to advocacy programs could stall progress. In wealthier nations, uneven legal standards may perpetuate hidden cases. The persistence of child marriage, despite some bans, suggests that legal change alone is insufficient; social and economic support systems may be equally critical. The Taliban’s regression could embolden similar rollbacks elsewhere, while successful prosecutions in Sierra Leone might deter others.