|
Legal Age for Marriage
|
|
Country or area |
As of year |
|
|
|
| Algeria |
2005 |
|
18 |
|
21 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (32nd session) |
|
| Andorra
|
2001 |
|
16 |
|
16 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (25th session) |
|
| Angola |
2004 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
15 |
r |
16 |
r |
CEDAW (31st session) |
|
| Antigua & Barbuda |
1997 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
15 |
d |
15 |
d |
CEDAW (17th session) |
|
| Argentina |
2002 |
|
16 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (exceptional session 2002)
|
|
| Armenia |
2002 |
|
17 |
|
17 |
|
16 |
r |
|
|
CEDAW (exceptional session 2002)
|
|
| Australia |
2006 |
a |
18 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (34th session) |
|
| Austria |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
16 |
d |
16 |
d |
UNPD |
|
| Azerbaijan |
2007 |
|
17 |
|
18 |
|
16 |
r |
17 |
r |
CEDAW (37th session) |
|
| Bahamas |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
16 |
d |
17 |
d |
UNPD |
|
| Bangladesh |
2004 |
|
18 |
|
21 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (31st session) |
|
| Barbados |
2002 |
|
16 |
|
16 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (exceptional session 2002)
|
|
| Belarus |
2004 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
15 |
r |
15 |
r |
CEDAW (30th session) |
|
| Belgium |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
UNPD |
|
| Belize |
1999 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (21st session) |
|
| Benin |
2005 |
|
15 |
|
18 |
|
14-15 |
aa |
18-20 |
aa |
CEDAW (33rd session) |
|
| Bhutan |
2004 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (30th session) |
|
| Bolivia |
1995 |
|
14 |
|
16 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (14th session) |
|
| Bosnia & Herzegovina |
2006 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
16 |
r,s |
16 |
r,s |
CEDAW (35th session) |
|
| Botswana |
2003 |
|
21 |
|
21 |
|
18 |
d |
18 |
d |
UNPD |
|
| Brazil |
2003 |
|
21 |
|
21 |
|
16 |
d |
16 |
d |
CEDAW (29th session) |
|
| Bulgaria |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
UNPD |
|
| Burkina Faso |
2005 |
|
17 |
|
20 |
|
15 |
r,s |
18 |
r,s |
CEDAW (33rd session) |
|
| Burundi |
2001 |
b |
18 |
|
21 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (24th session) |
|
| Cambodia |
2006 |
|
18 |
|
20 |
|
<18 |
d,r |
<20 |
d,r |
CEDAW (34th session) |
|
| Cameroon |
2000 |
|
15 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (23rd session) |
|
| Canada |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
16 |
t |
16 |
t |
UNPD |
|
| Cape Verde |
2006 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
16 |
s |
16 |
s |
CEDAW (36th session) |
|
| Central African Republic |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
22 |
|
|
|
|
|
UNPD |
|
| Chile |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
14 |
d |
14 |
d |
UNPD |
|
| China |
2003 |
|
20 |
|
22 |
u |
|
|
|
|
UNPD |
|
| Colombia |
2007 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
12 |
d |
12 |
d |
CEDAW (37th session) |
|
| Congo |
2003 |
c |
18 |
|
21 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (28th session) |
|
| Cook Islands |
2007 |
|
21 |
|
21 |
|
16 |
d |
16 |
d |
CEDAW (39th session) |
|
| Costa Rica |
2003 |
d |
15 |
|
15 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (29th session) |
|
| Côte d'Ivoire |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
21 |
|
|
|
|
|
UNPD |
|
| Croatia |
2005 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
16 |
r,s |
16 |
r,s |
CEDAW (32nd session) |
|
| Cuba |
2006 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
14 |
r |
16 |
r |
CEDAW (36th session) |
|
| Cyprus |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
14 |
d |
14 |
d |
UNPD |
|
| Czech Republic |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
17 |
d |
17 |
d |
UNPD |
|
| Democratic People's Republic of Korea |
2005 |
|
17 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (33rd session) |
|
| Democratic Republic of Congo |
2006 |
|
15 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (36th session) |
|
| Denmark |
2006 |
f |
18 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (36th session) |
|
| Dominica |
2003 |
|
16 |
|
16 |
|
|
|
|
|
UNPD |
|
| Dominican Republic |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
16 |
d |
16 |
d |
UNPD |
|
| Ecuador |
2003 |
g |
18 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (29th session) |
|
| Egypt |
2003 |
|
16 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
UNPD |
|
| El Salvador |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
UNPD |
|
| Equatorial Guinea |
2004 |
|
12 |
|
12 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (31st session) |
|
| Eritrea |
2006 |
|
18 |
v |
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (34th session) |
|
| Estonia |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
16 |
d |
16 |
d |
UNPD |
|
| Ethiopia |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
UNPD |
|
| Fiji |
2003 |
|
21 |
|
21 |
|
15 |
d |
15 |
d |
UNPD |
|
| Finland |
2003 |
|
21 |
|
21 |
|
|
|
|
|
UNPD |
|
| France |
2003 |
|
21 |
|
21 |
|
15 |
d |
|
|
UNPD |
|
| Gabon |
2005 |
|
15 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (32nd session) |
|
| Gambia |
2005 |
h |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (33rd session) |
|
| Georgia |
2006 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
16 |
d |
16 |
d |
CEDAW (36th session) |
|
| Germany |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
16 |
d |
16 |
d |
UNPD |
|
| Ghana |
2006 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (36th session) |
|
| Greece |
2003 |
|
18 |
w |
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
UNPD |
|
| Guatemala |
2006 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
14 |
d |
16 |
d |
CEDAW (35th session) |
|
| Guinea |
2007 |
|
17 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (39th session) |
|
| Hungary |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
16 |
d |
16 |
d |
UNPD |
|
| Iceland |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
UNPD |
|
| India |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
21 |
|
|
|
|
|
UNPD |
|
| Indonesia |
2007 |
|
16 |
|
19 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (39th session) |
|
| Iran (Islamic Republic of) |
2003 |
|
15 |
x |
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
UNPD |
|
| Iraq |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
16 |
d |
16 |
d |
UNPD |
|
| Israel |
2003 |
|
17 |
|
17 |
|
14 |
d |
14 |
d |
UNPD |
|
| Italy |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
16 |
d |
16 |
d |
UNPD |
|
| Jamaica |
2006 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
16 |
d |
16 |
d |
CEDAW (36th session) |
|
| Japan |
2003 |
|
20 |
|
20 |
|
16 |
d |
18 |
d |
UNPD |
|
| Jordan |
2007 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
15 |
s |
15 |
s |
CEDAW (39th session) |
|
| Kazakhstan |
2007 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
16 |
s |
16 |
s |
CEDAW (37th session) |
|
| Kenya |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
UNPD |
|
| Kuwait |
2004 |
|
15 |
y |
17 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (30th session) |
|
| Kyrgyzstan |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
UNPD |
|
| Lao's People Democratic Republic |
2005 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
15 |
r |
15 |
r |
CEDAW (32nd session) |
|
| Latvia |
2004 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
16 |
|
16 |
|
CEDAW (31st session) |
|
| Liechtenstein |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
<18 |
d |
<18 |
d |
UNPD |
|
| Lithuania |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
14 |
d |
14 |
d |
UNPD |
|
| Luxembourg |
1997 |
i |
16 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (17th session) |
|
| Madagascar |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
17 |
d |
|
|
UNPD |
|
| Malawi |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
UNPD |
|
| Malaysia |
2006 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
<18 |
e |
<18 |
e |
CEDAW (35th session) |
|
| Maldives |
2001 |
j |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (24th session) |
|
| Mali |
2006 |
|
15 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (34th session) |
|
| Malta |
2004 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
16 |
d |
16 |
d |
CEDAW (31st session) |
|
| Mauritania |
2007 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (38th session) |
|
| Mauritius |
2006 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
16 |
d |
16 |
d |
CEDAW (31st session) |
|
| Mexico |
2006 |
k |
14-16 |
|
16-18 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (36th session) |
|
| Mongolia |
2001 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (24th session) |
|
| Morocco |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
UNPD |
|
| Mozambique |
2007 |
|
14 |
|
16 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (38th session) |
|
| Myanmar |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
UNPD |
|
| Namibia |
2003 |
|
21 |
|
21 |
|
15 |
d |
18 |
d |
UNPD |
|
| Nepal |
2003 |
|
20 |
|
20 |
|
18 |
d |
18 |
d |
UNPD |
|
| Netherlands |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
16 |
d |
16 |
d |
UNPD |
|
| New Zealand |
2003 |
|
20 |
|
20 |
|
16 |
d |
16 |
d |
UNPD |
|
| Nicaragua |
2007 |
|
18 |
|
21 |
|
14 |
d |
15 |
d |
CEDAW (37th session) |
|
| Niger |
2007 |
i |
15 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (38th session) |
gg |
| Norway |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
<18 |
ff |
<18 |
ff |
UNPD |
|
| Oman |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
UNPD |
|
| Pakistan |
2007 |
|
16 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (38th session) |
|
| Panama |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
14 |
d |
16 |
d |
UNPD |
|
| Papua New Guinea |
2003 |
|
21 |
|
21 |
|
|
|
|
|
UNPD |
|
| Paraguay |
2005 |
l |
16 |
|
16 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (32nd session) |
|
| Peru |
2007 |
|
16 |
z |
16 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (37th session) |
|
| Philippines |
2006 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (36th session) |
|
| Poland |
2007 |
|
18 |
|
21 |
|
16 |
bb |
18 |
bb |
CEDAW (37th session) |
|
| Portugal |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
16 |
d |
16 |
d |
UNPD |
|
| Republic of Korea |
2007 |
|
16 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (39th session) |
|
| Republic of Moldova |
2006 |
|
16 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
16 |
cc |
CEDAW (36th session) |
|
| Romania |
2006 |
|
16 |
|
18 |
|
15 |
r |
|
|
CEDAW (35th session) |
|
| Russian Federation |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
UNPD |
|
| Rwanda |
2003 |
|
21 |
|
21 |
|
|
|
|
|
UNPD |
|
| Saint Lucia |
2006 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
16 |
d |
16 |
d |
CEDAW (35th session) |
|
| Samoa |
2005 |
|
19 |
|
21 |
|
16 |
d |
18 |
d |
CEDAW (32nd session) |
|
| San Marino |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
16 |
d |
16 |
d |
UNPD |
|
| Saudi Arabia |
2003 |
|
17 |
|
20 |
|
|
|
|
|
UNPD |
|
| Serbia |
2007 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
16 |
s |
16 |
s |
CEDAW (38th session) |
|
| Sierra Leone |
2007 |
m |
21 |
|
21 |
|
<21 |
|
<21 |
|
CEDAW (38th session) |
|
| Singapore |
2001 |
|
21 |
|
21 |
|
<21 |
dd |
<21 |
dd |
CEDAW (25th session) |
|
| Slovakia |
1998 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (19th session) |
|
| Slovenia |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
UNPD |
|
| South Africa |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
<18 |
ff |
<18 |
ff |
UNPD |
|
| Spain |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
12 |
d |
16 |
d |
UNPD |
|
| Sri Lanka |
2002 |
n |
18 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (26th session) |
|
| Suriname |
2003 |
|
20 |
|
20 |
|
15 |
d |
15 |
d |
UNPD |
|
| Sweden |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
UNPD |
|
| Switzerland |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
UNPD |
|
| Thailand |
2006 |
i |
17 |
|
17 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (34th session) |
|
| Togo |
2006 |
|
17 |
|
20 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (34th session) |
|
| Trinidad and Tobago |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
12,14 |
hh |
16,18 |
hh |
UNPD |
|
| Tunisia |
2003 |
|
20 |
|
20 |
|
17 |
d |
|
|
UNPD |
|
| Turkey |
2005 |
o |
17 |
|
17 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (32nd session) |
|
| Uganda |
2003 |
|
16 |
|
18 |
|
16 |
d |
|
|
UNPD |
|
| Ukraine |
2003 |
|
17 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
UNPD |
|
| United Kingdom |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
16 |
d |
16 |
d |
UNPD |
|
| United Republic of Tanzania |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
14 |
d |
14 |
d |
UNPD |
|
| United States of America |
2003 |
p |
18-19 |
|
18-21 |
|
13-18 |
d |
14-18 |
d |
UNPD |
|
| Uruguay |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
UNPD |
|
| Uzbekistan |
2006 |
|
17 |
|
18 |
|
16 |
ee |
17 |
ee |
CEDAW (36th session) |
|
| Vanuatu |
2007 |
d |
16 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (38th session) |
|
| Venezuela |
2006 |
|
14 |
|
16 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (34th session) |
|
| Vietnam |
2003 |
|
18 |
|
20 |
|
|
|
|
|
UNPD |
|
| Yemen |
2002 |
q |
15 |
|
15 |
|
|
|
|
|
CEDAW (exceptional session 2002)
|
|
| Zambia |
2003 |
|
21 |
|
21 |
|
|
|
|
|
UNPD |
|
|
Sources:
Compiled by the United Nations Statistics Division from information provided in the periodic country reports to the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), available from the website, http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw.html (accessed June 2007), supplemented by data published by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, “Results of the Eighth and Ninth United Nations inquiry on population and development”.
CEDAW |
|
Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
|
UNPD |
|
United Nations Population Division
|
Footnotes:
a |
In exceptional circumstances, where one party to a proposed marriage is under the age of 18 years and has already turned 16 years, the court may grant approval to that person being married to a specific person over the age of 18 years. |
b |
Exceptions may be made only on serious grounds such as pregnancy. |
c |
The State Procurator may, in a serious case, grant a dispensation of the minimum legal age. |
d |
Requires parental consent. |
e |
| Females who have reached the age of 16 may marry if prior permission from the Chief Minister of the relevant State has been obtained. For Muslims, females under 16 and males under 18 may marry where the Syariah judge has granted permission. |
|
f |
If person is under 18, the Danish High Commissioner resident may grant permission to marry. |
g |
Parental consent or authorization by a competent judge is required in the case of minors. |
h |
No minimum legal age for marriage. The constitution states that men and women of "full age and capacity" shall have the right to marry and find a family. |
i |
Requires parental consent for minors. |
j |
No minimum legal age for marriage. An individual can enter into marriage once puberty has been reached, however, government policy strictly discourages marriages under the age of 16. |
k |
The legal minimum age for marriage varies by State: 26 states set the minimum age for marriage at 16 for men and 14 for women; 5 states establish an age of 16 for both sexes; and one state raised the age to 18 and 16 years, respectively. |
l |
Requires parental consent when younger than 20 years. |
m |
Based on the Christian Marriage Act (no minimum age set for customary law). Persons under the age of 21 years are allowed to marry provided parental consent is given. |
n |
Does not apply to Muslim population. |
o |
Requires parental consent for those aged below the age of legal competence . |
p |
The legal minimum age for marriage varies by State. |
q |
Based on age of majority. Marriage may not be contracted with a minor, except where such marriage will entail some clear benefit. |
r |
Under exceptional circumstances. |
s |
Requires authorization of civil court. |
t |
Authorization of marriage at younger ages through court decision possible in some provinces and territories. |
u |
Exceptions apply to men. |
v |
In case the woman is pregnant or has already given birth to a child at the age of 16, dispensation might be granted from the rule concerning age. |
w |
The court may permit the marriage of minors under exceptional circumstances. |
x |
Marriage for women allowed after puberty, but with parental consent. |
y |
Requires consent of the wife's guardian and the wife or the person acting on behalf of either. |
z |
Requires judicial authorization. |
aa |
Refers to customary law of Dahomey. Differences are also reported depending on ethnic group and form of marriage. |
bb |
Requires authorization of the appropriate guardianship court. |
cc |
Requires authorization of local public administration. |
dd |
Requires parental consent. In the case of those below 18 years of age, the Minister issues a special marriage license. |
ee |
Under exceptional circumstances, requires the authorization of the Khokim of the district, city, or town. |
ff |
Subject to permission from authorities. |
gg |
CEDAW data supplemented by information available from the website, http://www.right-to-education.org/content/age/niger.html (accessed June 2007). |
hh |
Minimum age with parental consent is 12 for Muslim women or 14 for Hindus; and 16 for Muslim men or 18 for Hindus. |
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Technical notes:
The legal age for marriage shown in the table is the legal minimum age at which marriage can be performed without parental consent. Marriage is defined in terms of the laws of the individual country or area. Exceptions to the legal minimum age are shown as applicable.
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