A Profile of Child Marriage in East Asia and the Pacific
November 24, 2025
Key facts
One in 13 young women in East Asia and the Pacific were first married or
in union before their 18th birthday. The region is home to 93 million child brides, accounting for
14 per cent of the global total.
in union before their 18th birthday. The region is home to 93 million child brides, accounting for
14 per cent of the global total.
Levels of child marriage vary considerably across the region, with the highest levels
observed in Oceania.
observed in Oceania.
Child brides in East Asia and the Pacific tend to live in poor households, have low
levels of education, and reside in rural areas.
levels of education, and reside in rural areas.
More than 8 in 10 child brides in East Asia and the Pacific give birth while they
are still adolescents;
close to half give birth before they turn 18.
are still adolescents;
close to half give birth before they turn 18.
The vast majority of child brides in the region are out of school.
Married girls are five times more likely to be out of school than their unmarried peers.
Married girls are five times more likely to be out of school than their unmarried peers.
While child marriage has remained less common in East Asia and the Pacific
than elsewhere in the world, progress in the region has stalled.
than elsewhere in the world, progress in the region has stalled.
East Asia and the Pacific is not on track to eliminate child marriage by 2030; meeting the target would require an acceleration beyond the progress seen in the bestperforming countries in the region.
