Early female marriage in the developing world

TLDR

Early marriage is common among women in the developing world, often imposed with little choice. The article examines patterns and trends of early marriage in the developing world. The authors analyze regional patterns and trends of early marriage. Incidence ranges from 70 % in South Asia to 30 % in Southeast Asia, and early marriage is linked to lower education, earlier childrearing, reduced household decision power, and higher domestic violence.

Abstract

Many women in the developing world are subject to marriage at an early age. Most such women have little choice in the age at which they marry, or whom they marry. In this article, we examine patterns and trends of early marriage in the developing world. The incidence varies widely, from a high of 70 per cent in south Asia to a low of 30 per cent in South East Asia. Women who marry young tend to have less education and begin childrearing earlier, and have less decision-making power in the household. They are also more likely to experience domestic violence.