Women who were first married by age 18 in Ghana
Ghana: Women who were first married by age 18 was 16.1% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Women who were first married by age 18 in Ghana, 1988–2022
Source: UNICEF Data, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). Measured in % of women ages 20-24.
Analysis
In 2022, women who were first married by age 18 in Ghana stood at 16.1%. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 22.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, women who were first married by age 18 in Ghana peaked at 40.9% in 1988 and was at its lowest, 16.1%, in 2022.
Ghana ranks 23rd of 31 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Women who were first married by age 18 in Ghana, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 20-24 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 40.9% | — |
| 1993 | 37.6% | -8.1% |
| 1998 | 35.5% | -5.6% |
| 2003 | 27.9% | -21.4% |
| 2008 | 24.6% | -11.8% |
| 2014 | 20.7% | -15.9% |
| 2022 | 16.1% | -22.2% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 16.1% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 25.8%, 62% of the median. (17 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 16.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 30.2%, 53% of the median. (17 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 40.9% | 40.9% | 40.9% | 1 |
| 1990s | 36.5% | 35.5% | 37.6% | 2 |
| 2000s | 26.2% | 24.6% | 27.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 20.7% | 20.7% | 20.7% | 1 |
| 2020s | 16.1% | 16.1% | 16.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More health data for Ghana
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.37 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6224 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 986.1 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,361 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.5623 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.06 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.5816 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is women who were first married by age 18 in Ghana?
- Women who were first married by age 18 in Ghana was 16.1% in 2022, according to UNICEF Data, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
- What is the highest women who were first married by age 18 recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 40.9% in 1988.
- What is the lowest women who were first married by age 18 recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.1% in 2022.
- How does Ghana rank for women who were first married by age 18?
- Ghana ranks 23rd out of 31 countries with data for 2022.
- Is women who were first married by age 18 rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ghana 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 18 (% 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 18 refers to the percentage of women ages 20-24 who were first married by age 18.