Ending Child Marriage: A Profile of Progress in India

Child marriage is a violation of human rights. Every child has the right to be protected from this harmful practice - one that has devastating consequences for individuals and society. Child marriage is now firmly on the global development agenda, most prominently through its inclusion in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 5.3, which aims to eliminate the practice by 2030. Although indicator 5.3.1 measures child marriage among girls, the practice occurs among boys as well. Regardless of gender, marriage before adulthood is a violation of children’s rights.

This data brief presents key facts on child brides, the current state of child marriage, generational trends, child marriage among boys, and key interventions to eliminating child marriage in India.