Women who were first married by age 15 in Nigeria
Nigeria: Women who were first married by age 15 was 11.4% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Women who were first married by age 15 in Nigeria, 1990–2024
Source: UNICEF Data, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). Measured in % of women ages 20-24.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 11.4% for women who were first married by age 15 in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
The figure is down 34.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, women who were first married by age 15 in Nigeria peaked at 26.7% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 11.4%, in 2024.
That places Nigeria 5th out of 31 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
Women who were first married by age 15 in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 20-24 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 26.7% | — |
| 2003 | 18.8% | -29.6% |
| 2008 | 16.4% | -12.8% |
| 2013 | 17.3% | +5.5% |
| 2018 | 15.7% | -9.2% |
| 2024 | 11.4% | -27.4% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 11.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.2%, 2.2× the median. (17 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 11.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.3%, 1.6× the median. (17 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 26.7% | 26.7% | 26.7% | 1 |
| 2000s | 17.6% | 16.4% | 18.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 16.5% | 15.7% | 17.3% | 2 |
| 2020s | 11.4% | 11.4% | 11.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 2 Bangladesh 13.4% compare
- 3 Mozambique 12.9% compare
- 4 Madagascar 12.7% compare
- 6 Cameroon 10.7% compare
- 7 Dominican Republic 9.4% compare
- 8 Senegal 9.0% compare
More health data for Nigeria
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.08 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8137 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,301 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 257,921 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 14 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0711 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.17 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is women who were first married by age 15 in Nigeria?
- Women who were first married by age 15 in Nigeria was 11.4% in 2024, according to UNICEF Data, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
- What is the highest women who were first married by age 15 recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 26.7% in 1990.
- What is the lowest women who were first married by age 15 recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.4% in 2024.
- How does Nigeria rank for women who were first married by age 15?
- Nigeria ranks 5th out of 31 countries with data for 2024.
- Is women who were first married by age 15 rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 34.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF Data, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), published as part of Women who were first married by age 15 (% of women ages 20-24). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Women who were first married by age 15 refers to the percentage of women ages 20-24 who were first married by age 15.