← Famidi AnswersEducation, health, women & children

How common is child marriage among Afghan girls?

Reviewed by Famidi editorial team
Direct answer

UNFPA reports that about one in four Afghan girls is married before age 18.

What the figure or term means

Early marriage can increase risks related to interrupted education, early pregnancy, health, and economic dependence.

A national prevalence estimate does not describe every community or family.

Definitions and survey years matter when comparing sources.

Use the source’s “before age 18” wording.

How to use this information responsibly

Current sources show how restrictions, funding cuts, disease, malnutrition, and access barriers overlap, especially for women and children.

National figures should not be used to diagnose an individual, predict one child’s future, or flatten the experiences of all Afghan women and families.

Sources and records

Check the underlying information.

  1. UNFPA Afghanistan country information ↗
  2. UNICEF Humanitarian Action for Children: Afghanistan 2026 ↗
  3. WHO Health Emergency Appeal: Afghanistan 2026 ↗
  4. UNESCO and UNICEF on education in Afghanistan, January 2026 ↗

Editorial standard: This page is reviewed by a person, sourced to Famidi records or authoritative references, and revised when the program or underlying guidance changes. It does not replace legal, tax, medical, or financial advice.