Women who were first married by age 18 in Kenya
Kenya: Women who were first married by age 18 was 12.5% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Women who were first married by age 18 in Kenya, 1989–2022
Source: UNICEF Data, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). Measured in % of women ages 20-24.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 12.5% for women who were first married by age 18 in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 45.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, women who were first married by age 18 in Kenya peaked at 31.0% in 1989 and was at its lowest, 12.5%, in 2022.
That places Kenya 28th out of 31 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Women who were first married by age 18 in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 20-24 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 31.0% | — |
| 1993 | 28.1% | -9.4% |
| 1998 | 24.6% | -12.5% |
| 2003 | 24.6% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 26.4% | +7.3% |
| 2014 | 22.9% | -13.3% |
| 2022 | 12.5% | -45.4% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 12.5% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 25.8%, 48% of the median. (17 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 12.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 30.2%, 41% of the median. (17 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 31.0% | 31.0% | 31.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 26.4% | 24.6% | 28.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 25.5% | 24.6% | 26.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 22.9% | 22.9% | 22.9% | 1 |
| 2020s | 12.5% | 12.5% | 12.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More health data for Kenya
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6026 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,119 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 16,059 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 89 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.28 % 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 0.0621 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.28 % 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 Kenya?
- Women who were first married by age 18 in Kenya was 12.5% 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 31.0% in 1989.
- What is the lowest women who were first married by age 18 recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.5% in 2022.
- How does Kenya rank for women who were first married by age 18?
- Kenya ranks 28th out of 31 countries with data for 2022.
- Is women who were first married by age 18 rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 45.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya 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.