The legal age at which a person can get married varies significantly across different countries and jurisdictions. Typically, the minimum marriage age is set between 15 to 18 years old, although there are some places with no minimum age when certain conditions are met. This article will provide a broad overview of marriage age limits around the world and discuss some of the rationale behind setting minimum ages.
Minimum Marriage Ages Around the World
There is considerable diversity globally in the legal minimum age for marriage. According to a study by the Pew Research Center, over 100 countries have set the marriage age at 18 for both genders with no exceptions. However, in many other countries, the minimum age is lower, and exceptions allow marriage even earlier in some cases.
Here is a summary of minimum marriage ages in different regions of the world:
North America
| Country | Minimum Age |
| Canada | 16 with parental consent, 18 without |
| Mexico | 18 |
| United States | Varies by state, typically 16-18 |
In the United States, marriage age requirements are set at the state level and range from 15 to 18 years old. Most states allow exceptions with parental consent or judicial approval.
Central & South America
| Country | Minimum Age |
| Argentina | 18 |
| Brazil | 18 |
| Chile | 16 |
The minimum marriage age in most South American countries is 18. Chile has a lower minimum age of 16 years old for both genders. Some countries also allow exceptions with parental or court approval.
Europe
| Country | Minimum Age |
| France | 18 |
| Germany | 18 |
| Spain | 16 |
| Sweden | 18 |
| United Kingdom | 16 |
Most European countries require a minimum marriage age of 18 years old. However, some like Spain and the UK have set lower minimums at 16 years old. Parental consent requirements may also allow younger ages in some cases.
Africa
| Country | Minimum Age |
| Egypt | 18 |
| Nigeria | 18 |
| South Africa | 18 for males, 15 for females |
| Tunisia | 18 for males, 17 for females |
Many African nations have set their minimum marriage ages at 18 years old. However, some countries like Tunisia and South Africa have lower ages for females than males. There are also frequently exceptions made with parental or court consent.
Asia
| Country | Minimum Age |
| China | 22 for males, 20 for females |
| India | 21 for males, 18 for females |
| Indonesia | 19 for males, 16 for females |
| Philippines | 18 |
There is significant diversity in marriage age limits across Asia. Some countries like India and Indonesia have lower minimum ages for females than males. China has set the bar higher at 20 years old for women and 22 for men. The Philippines has an equal age minimum of 18 years old. Parental consent can sometimes provide exceptions.
Middle East
| Country | Minimum Age |
| Iran | 13 for females, 15 for males |
| Iraq | 18 |
| Saudi Arabia | No minimum age |
| Yemen | 15 |
Some Middle Eastern countries stand out for having very low or no minimum marriage age requirements. Saudi Arabia has no mandated minimum age, while Iran’s limits are 13 years old for girls and 15 for boys. Yemen and Iraq have set their minimums at 15 and 18 years old respectively.
Reasons for Minimum Marriage Age Laws
There are several reasons countries impose age limits on marriage:
Preventing Child Marriage
A major rationale behind minimum marriage age laws is preventing child marriage. Child marriage is defined as a formal marriage before age 18. It disproportionally impacts young girls, depriving them of education, health, and opportunities. Setting age limits aims to curb this practice which is now widely seen as a human rights violation.
Ensure Maturity for Marriage
Marriage age minimums try to ensure people are emotionally and mentally mature enough before taking on the responsibilities of married life. Early marriage is associated with higher divorce rates and instability. Minimum age laws attempt to make sure young people are prepared.
Protect Young Women’s Rights
In many cultures, young women face significant pressure to marry early. Minimum age requirements help protect girls’ autonomy and prevent forced marriages against their will. Keeping age minimums gender-neutral promotes equality.
Reduce Teen Pregnancies
Teen pregnancies carry higher health risks and can limit educational attainment. Since young married couples often have children soon after marriage, minimum age laws can reduce rates of early pregnancy and associated risks.
Arguments Against Minimum Age Laws
While minimum marriage age laws aim to protect young people, some arguments have been made against them:
Infringes on Personal Choice
Some see minimum ages as an unjustified limit on personal freedom. They argue marriage should be a choice made by individuals and families without government interference. However, others counter that some limitations are needed to protect children.
Goes Against Religious or Cultural Traditions
Certain religious or ethnic groups have traditions of early marriage. Minimum age requirements can be perceived as infringing on these customs and values. However, practices harmful to human rights may need limits regardless of tradition.
Drives Young Couples to Elope
Strict age minimums with few exceptions motivate some determined young couples to elope or have unofficial marriages outside the law. This can reduce oversight and make problems like domestic abuse harder to address. More flexibility could potentially prevent this.
Inconsistent Enforcement
Laws with very low minimum marriage ages or loose exceptions are inconsistently enforced. This can undermine the purpose of such laws. But raising ages significantly without cultural support risks backlash. Gradual change may work better.
What is the Absolute Lowest Marriage Age in the World?
Based on a thorough review of marriage age laws worldwide, the absolute lowest legal minimum marriage age allowed today is:
13 years old
This is the mandated minimum age for girls in Iran, which has an age floor of 13 for females and 15 for males.
However, many other countries also have rules allowing marriage even earlier than 13 in some circumstances. These include:
- Saudi Arabia – No minimum age if approved by court and guardian
- Yemen – No minimum with guardian and court approval
- Philippines – 12 for girls and 14 for boys with judicial consent
- Nigeria – Sometimes allowed under 12 with court permission
- Russia – 14 in special cases with local government approval
So while 13 is the lowest unambiguously stated legal minimum, actual marriage of children under 12 still occurs in certain countries without fully clarified laws.
Trends in Minimum Marriage Age Laws
Global trends show a pattern of increasing minimum marriage ages, especially for young women:
- Over the last 50 years, average legal minimum marriage age has increased across countries.
- More countries are setting equal minimums for males and females.
- Exceptions allowing marriage under 18 are being reduced and better regulated.
- International human rights consensus against child marriage is strengthening.
But progress remains very uneven. UNICEF estimates over 100 million children were already married before age 18 as of 2020. So while laws are slowly improving, changing social norms around child marriage remains a significant challenge.
Conclusion
Minimum legal marriage age is as low as 13 in Iran, but several countries allow exceptions for marriage under 18 or even 12 with approval. The rationale for age limits includes preventing child marriage, ensuring maturity, and protecting young women’s rights. Global trends are towards higher, gender-equal marriage ages. But social change is still needed to align traditions with human rights. Gradual legal reform combined with education offers hope for a future where child marriage becomes unacceptable worldwide.