Child Marriage : Confronting Customs and Controversy

Discover the social, economic, demographic, and public health impacts that child marriage has within the cultures and countries that practice it.

Around the globe, one in five girls under age 18 are married, and this number can double in areas affected by poverty, conflict, and other humanitarian crises. Child marriage, especially when accompanied by early and frequent pregnancy, often has sharply negative effects on female health, fertility, and mortality. In a wider context, child marriage influences population dynamics, economic development, and many other aspects of the cultures in which it is practiced.

Part I of this book features a collection of essays examining the drivers and consequences of modern-day child marriage. Part II profiles 30 cultures that engage in child marriage around the globe, including in countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. These case studies allow readers to uncover the similarities and differences in patterns of child marriage across cultures and geographies, providing a more nuanced understanding of this complex and controversial subject.