A World Bank report says child marriage is imposing a heavy economic and social cost on Africa, with losses estimated at $63 billion in earnings and human capital wealth.
The report, Educating Girls and Ending Child Marriage: A Priority for Africa, says about one-third of the continent’s population marries before the age of 18 and many girls leave school as a result.
It adds that early marriage often leads to early childbearing, which can harm the health of young mothers and affect the education and health of their children.
According to the report, women with secondary education are more likely to work and earn twice as much as women with no education.
In sub-Saharan Africa, seven in 10 girls complete primary school, but only four in 10 finish lower secondary school.
Quentin Wodon, Lead Economist at the World Bank and principal author of the report, said: “Primary education for girls is simply not sufficient. Girls reap the biggest benefits of education when they are able to complete secondary school, but we know that girls very often don’t stay in school if they marry early,”
The report also says early marriage contributes to higher fertility and faster population growth, which can reduce living standards, especially among poorer households.
It further links child marriage to a greater risk of intimate partner violence and weaker decision-making power within the household.
“Child marriage also affects the well-being of the children of young mothers, including higher risks of mortality and malnutrition for children below the age of five,” it stated.
