Women who were first married by age 18 in Zambia
Zambia: Women who were first married by age 18 was 23.9% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Women who were first married by age 18 in Zambia, 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 Zambia is 23.9%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
The figure is down 23.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, women who were first married by age 18 in Zambia peaked at 44.2% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 23.9%, in 2024.
Zambia ranks 17th of 31 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Women who were first married by age 18 in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % of women ages 20-24 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 43.3% | — |
| 1996 | 44.2% | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 42.1% | -4.8% |
| 2007 | 41.6% | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 31.4% | -24.5% |
| 2018 | 29.0% | -7.6% |
| 2024 | 23.9% | -17.6% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 23.9% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 25.8%, 93% of the median. (17 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 23.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 30.2%, 79% of the median. (17 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 43.8% | 43.3% | 44.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 41.9% | 41.6% | 42.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 30.2% | 29.0% | 31.4% | 2 |
| 2020s | 23.9% | 23.9% | 23.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More health data for Zambia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7971 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 809.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,894 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.68 % 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 0.0743 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.69 % 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 Zambia?
- Women who were first married by age 18 in Zambia was 23.9% 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 Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 44.2% in 1996.
- What is the lowest women who were first married by age 18 recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.9% in 2024.
- How does Zambia rank for women who were first married by age 18?
- Zambia ranks 17th out of 31 countries with data for 2024.
- Is women who were first married by age 18 rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia 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.