Women who were first married by age 18 in India
India: Women who were first married by age 18 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 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)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,332 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 44,822 deaths (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)
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.