Slideshow

Voices of child brides around the world

calendar_today01 February 2018

1/15

Child marriage is common; it takes place in every corner of the world. In Nicaragua, Irayda ran away from an abusive home and got married at age 14. “Before I was 15, I was already pregnant,” she said. © UNFPA Nicaragua

Millions of girls are married off every year. In Myanmar, this girl was married off while still a teenager. © UNFPA Myanmar/Yenny Gamming

Child marriage is largely driven by poverty and gender inequality. Fanny, in Malawi, was married at 17. “This was due to pressure from my parents, who were overwhelmed by the deep poverty we were experiencing, but I was not ready,” she said. ©UNFPA Malawi

The practice takes an enormous toll on children. Child brides often drop out of school, limiting their future potential. In Kabul, Leda’s husband forced her to leave the 11th grade. This is her empty classroom chair. © UNFPA Afghanistan

The reverse is true as well: Girls who leave school are extremely vulnerable to child marriage. “If I quit my studies, I will be married off immediately,” said Kabita, 16, in Nepal. © UNFPA Nepal/Dhana Bahadur Lamsal

Child brides are vulnerable to violence. “They really beat me up, a beating like I had never experienced in my entire life,” said Eunice, in Kenya, describing her forced marriage. She escaped and now, at 16, she is happily in school. Luca Zordan for UNFPA

Violence leaves a lasting mark, affecting girls’ physical, emotional and mental well-being. “I wanted to finish my life because of all the torture,” said one girl in Afghanistan, who was a child bride at age 12. These are her shoes. © UNFPA Afghanistan

Child brides are often pushed into premature parenthood. “My sister wasn't ready to be a bride at 17,” said Puja, in Nepal. “Her marriage was against her will. Right after her marriage, she became a mother.” © UNFPA Nepal/Dhana Bahadur Lamsal

Many become pregnant before their bodies are ready. Pregnancy-related complications are the world’s leading killer of adolescent girls. “I damaged my spine because of this early pregnancy,” said Ameena, in Yemen (second from left), married at 15. © UNFPA

Pregnancy also increases the risk of child marriage. In Kenya, Pamela’s father tried to marry her off after she became pregnant. She fled. “If I ever go back home, he will kill me,” she said. But she is happy she escaped. Luca Zordan for UNFPA

Boys are married off as well. “I was a child,” said this young man in Yemen, who was married at age 16. His wife was 13. “I could not make my own decisions. My father ordered me to marry, so I got married.” © UNFPA Yemen

But empowering youth can help to end this practice. With knowledge about their reproductive health and human rights, young people can take a stand. “If I were married right now, I would not be ready,” said Yuridia, 11, in Mexico. © UNFPA Mexico

When they are empowered, girls can pursue dreams bigger than an early marriage. “I am not ready for marriage because I want to continue studying to be a professional,” said Maybelle, 15, in El Salvador. © UNFPA El Salvador

Informing children, and their communities, about the harms of child marriage can help mobilize a movement against it. “I think it’s not a good idea for young children to be married,” said Faina, 18. © UNFPA Comoros

And families can make better choices. “When I fell pregnant, my mother refused [to have] me go and stay with the boy responsible. I think she made a good decision,” said Edna, 17. “Here at school, you dream of a better future.” © UNFPA Malawi

Video

Teenage pregnancy in Myanmar: One girl's story

calendar_today24 January 2018

Teenage pregnancy in Myanmar: One girl's story

Teenage pregnancy in Myanmar: One girl's story

Every year, almost 50,000 teenage girls in Myanmar give birth, according to 2014 census information. Thiri was one of these girls. 

Denmark

Donor rankings include UN-to-UN transfers, which are UNFPA's top source of revenue overall.

1

Effective 1 January 2022, UNFPA adopted a new revenue recognition policy; however, for the purposes of this website, information is presented based on previous policy to allow comparability of information across different years.

2024 | Top
Donor Global Statistics

News & Updates

News story
NIASSA PROVINCE, Mozambique – Early in the morning, queues begin to form outside the Lichinga health centre in Mozambique’s northwest Niassa Province, as staff prepare to treat patients. Nearby, health workers offer HIV…
17 January 2024 Read Story
News story
IBB GOVERNORATE, Yemen – “I wanted to be a midwife – midwives are respected. I thought being a midwife would give me the freedom to help and guide other women to have fulfilling lives,” Kholoud told UNFPA, the United…
08 January 2024 Read Story
Updates
UNITED NATIONS, New York – The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) has pledged an additional contribution of SEK75.0 million – approximately US$ 6.9 million – to the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme…
03 January 2024 Read Story

News

For Malawi students, menstrual cups offer cost-saving alternative

calendar_today08 January 2018

University students Prisca Gama and Given Mwira teach women and girls about the menstrual cup, and say there has been keen interest. © Henry Chimbali/UNFPA Malawi
1

News

Among Syrian refugees, dispelling myths about contraceptives

calendar_today03 January 2018

Dr. Hiba Al-Mallah gives family planning counselling to Syrian refugees. She says there are many misconceptions about contraception. © UNFPA Jordan/Elspeth Dehnert
1

News

Judges in Nicaragua learn to see the world through the eyes of vulnerable women

calendar_today14 December 2017

District family court judge Yorlin Matamoro has received a UNFPA-supported master's degree in gender equality and human rights. © UNFPA Nicaragua/Joaquín Zuñiga
1

News

For most vulnerable Nigerian women, high rates of traumatic birth injury

calendar_today16 November 2017

Women and girls are waiting for a fistula repair at Maiduguri’s State Specialist Hospital © Anne Wittenberg/UNFPA
1

News

In Cambodia, push to end maternal deaths in remote areas

calendar_today08 November 2017

Romam Pchuek reaches out to pregnant women in Ratanakiri, encouraging them to seek appropriate care. © UNFPA/ Matthew Taylor
1
UNFPA Supplies Annual Report 2016

Publication date

Jun 2017

Author

UNFPA

Number of pages

99

Publication

UNFPA Supplies Annual Report 2016

1

Publication date

Jun 2017

Author

UNFPA

Resources

UNFPA Supplies Annual Report 2016 Executive Summary

UNFPA Supplies is the world’s largest provider of contraceptives, accounting for around 40 per cent of all contraception procured by donors on behalf of developing countries. This Executive Summary provides an overview of the programme's activities in 2016, based on the full annual report