Child Marriage Laws: Age Requirements & Countries Where It Occurs

In most countries, the legal age for marriage is 18 years old. However, there are some countries where it is possible for a 15 year old boy to marry a 14 year old girl. These countries include:

* Afghanistan

* Bangladesh

* Guinea

* Iran

* Iraq

* Maldives

* Niger

* Pakistan

* Saudi Arabia

* Senegal

* Somalia

* Sudan

* Yemen

It is important to note that in some of these countries, parental consent is required for a marriage between a 15 year old boy and a 14 year old girl. In other countries, a court order may be required.

It is also important to note that child marriage is a serious human rights violation. It can lead to a number of problems for girls, including:

* Health problems: Early marriage can lead to health problems for girls, such as anemia, malnutrition, and sexually transmitted infections.

* Lack of education: Early marriage often leads to girls dropping out of school, which can limit their opportunities for employment and empowerment.

* Domestic violence: Girls who are married early are at an increased risk of experiencing domestic violence.

* Child labor: Early marriage can lead to girls being forced into child labor.

* Social isolation: Early marriage can lead to girls being isolated from their peers and from society as a whole.

For these reasons, it is important to work to end child marriage around the world.