Women who were first married by age 18 in Malawi
Malawi: Women who were first married by age 18 was 38.7% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Women who were first married by age 18 in Malawi, 1992–2024
Source: UNICEF Data, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). Measured in % of women ages 20-24.
Analysis
The most recent figure for women who were first married by age 18 in Malawi is 38.7%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, women who were first married by age 18 in Malawi peaked at 54.9% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 38.7%, in 2024.
Malawi ranks 5th of 31 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Women who were first married by age 18 in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 20-24 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 54.9% | — |
| 2000 | 46.9% | -14.6% |
| 2004 | 48.9% | +4.3% |
| 2010 | 49.6% | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 42.1% | -15.1% |
| 2024 | 38.7% | -8.1% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 38.7% is above the median for low income countries, which is 38.7%, 1.0× the median. (7 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 38.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 30.2%, 1.3× the median. (17 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 54.9% | 54.9% | 54.9% | 1 |
| 2000s | 47.9% | 46.9% | 48.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 45.9% | 42.1% | 49.6% | 2 |
| 2020s | 38.7% | 38.7% | 38.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 2 Mozambique 48.4% compare
- 3 Bangladesh 47.2% compare
- 4 Madagascar 38.8% compare
- 6 Burkina Faso 38.2% compare
- 7 Nepal 34.9% compare
- 8 Uganda 34.0% compare
More health data for Malawi
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8368 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9312 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 856.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 6,399 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.61 % 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 0.0714 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.63 % 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 18 in Malawi?
- Women who were first married by age 18 in Malawi was 38.7% in 2024, according to UNICEF Data, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
- What is the highest women who were first married by age 18 recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 54.9% in 1992.
- What is the lowest women who were first married by age 18 recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.7% in 2024.
- How does Malawi rank for women who were first married by age 18?
- Malawi ranks 5th out of 31 countries with data for 2024.
- Is women who were first married by age 18 rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi 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.