Is child marriage declining in Pakistan?
Last reviewed:
Direct answer
Yes, national survey evidence shows decline, although child marriage has not disappeared. In PDHS, the share of women aged 25–49 who had married by 18 fell from 35% in 2012–13 to 29% in 2017–18. Longer-run child-marriage series also move downward, but estimates can differ because some use women aged 20–24 and others older cohorts. A trend should therefore keep the indicator and denominator fixed. National decline can also coexist with much higher prevalence in particular provinces, districts or education groups.
35% → 29%Women aged 25–49 married by 18, PDHS 2012–13 to 2017–18
Sources used
Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey 2017–18
National Institute of Population Studies and The DHS Program
National survey evidence for marriage timing, women, households and health indicators.View sourceWomen first married by age 18: Pakistan
World Bank Data
World Bank indicator page sourcing the Pakistan series from UNICEF and DHS APIs.View source