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A data analysis by IndiaSpend has revealed alarming statistics on child marriage in India. Nearly 12 million children, predominantly Hindu (84%) and Muslim (11%) were married before the age of 10. The figure is equivalent to the entire population of Jammu & Kashmir.
The gender disparity in these marriages is stark, with 7.84 million (65%) of these children being female, highlighting the disproportionate impact on girls. The data also indicates that a significant majority of these marriages involve illiterate children, with 80% being girls.
In rural areas, the prevalence of child marriage among Hindu girls stands at 72%, compared to 58.5% among Muslim girls. Education appears to play a crucial role in delaying marriage, with higher levels of education correlating with later marriage ages.
The median age at first marriage varies significantly among different religious communities. Jain women marry at the latest median age of 20.8 years, followed by Christian women at 20.6 years and Sikh women at 19.9 years. Hindu and Muslim women have the lowest median age at first marriage, at 16.7 years.
Child marriages linked to Hindu community
| Key Insights | Figures/Statistics |
|---|---|
| Children Married Before Age 10 | |
| Total Children Married Before 10 | Nearly 12 million |
| Distribution by Religion | Hindu: 84% Muslim: 11% |
| Gender Disparity | Female: 7.84 million (65%) |
| Rural vs. Urban | Hindu Girls: 72% in rural areas Muslim Girls: 58.5% in rural areas |
| Median Age at First Marriage (in years) | |
| Jain Women | 20.8 |
| Christian Women | 20.6 |
| Sikh Women | 19.9 |
| Hindu & Muslim Women | 16.7 |
| Education and Marriage | |
| Illiterate Married Children Under 10 | 5.4 million (44%) 80% of them are female |
| Never Attended School Females per 1,000 Males | 1,403 |
| Legal Framework | |
| Girls Married Before Age 18 (2011) | 102 million (30% of female population) |
| Boys Married Before Age 21 (2011) | 125 million (42% of male population) |
| Decrease Over Time | |
| Girls Married Before 18 (2001 vs. 2011) | Decrease of 14 percentage points |
| Boys Married Before 21 (2001 vs. 2011) | Decrease of 7 percentage points |
Urban women tend to marry more than two years later than their rural counterparts. The report also highlights the high level of teenage pregnancy and motherhood among women with no education, which is nine times higher than among women with 12 or more years of education.
The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act sets the legal marriage age at 18 for girls and 21 for boys. However, Muslim Personal Law allows a Muslim girl to marry upon reaching puberty or completing 15 years of age, as noted by the Gujarat High Court and Delhi High Court.
Despite a decrease in child marriage over the past decade, with a 14 percentage point drop among girls and a 7 percentage point drop among boys, the practice remains widespread. In 2011, 30% of girls and 42% of boys were married before the legal ages.
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