Women who were first married by age 18 (% of women ages 20-24) in India
India: Women who were first married by age 18 (% of women ages 20-24) was 22.3% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Women who were first married by age 18 in India, 1993–2021
Source: UNICEF Data, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). Measured in % of women ages 20-24.
Analysis
In 2021, women who were first married by age 18 in India stood at 22.3%. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
That represents a change of down 49.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, women who were first married by age 18 in India peaked at 50.2% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 22.3%, in 2021.
That places India 19th out of 31 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
Women who were first married by age 18 (% of women ages 20-24) in India, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 20-24 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 50.2% | — |
| 1999 | 50.0% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 44.5% | -11.0% |
| 2016 | 25.3% | -43.1% |
| 2021 | 22.3% | -11.9% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 22.3% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 25.8%, 86% of the median. (17 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 50.1% | 50.0% | 50.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 44.5% | 44.5% | 44.5% | 1 |
| 2010s | 25.3% | 25.3% | 25.3% | 1 |
| 2020s | 22.3% | 22.3% | 22.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near India
More health data for India
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4372 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 44,822 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 38 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.3809 % 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 0.0372 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.5922 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.04 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is women who were first married by age 18 in India?
- Women who were first married by age 18 in India was 22.3% in 2021, according to UNICEF Data, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
- What is the highest women who were first married by age 18 recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 50.2% in 1993.
- What is the lowest women who were first married by age 18 recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.3% in 2021.
- How does India rank for women who were first married by age 18?
- India ranks 19th out of 31 countries with data for 2021.
- Is women who were first married by age 18 rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 49.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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.