Ethiopia advances efforts to end child marriage

ADDIS ABABA, 11 October 2026 – The proportion of young women in Ethiopia who were married before the age of 18 fell from 40 per cent in 2016 to 32 per cent in 2025, marking important progress in the country’s efforts to end child marriage.

On International Day of the Girl, UNICEF joins the Government of Ethiopia, girls, communities and partners in recognizing this achievement and renewing collective commitment to accelerate progress. Strong government leadership, community engagement and sustained support for girls have contributed to fewer girls marrying before 18 and to girls marrying later.

“Ethiopia’s progress shows what strong leadership, community support and continued action can achieve. Every girl deserves to stay in school, reach her full potential and choose her own future. UNICEF will continue to support Ethiopia in building on this progress and reaching every girl,” said Dr Aboubacar Kampo, UNICEF Representative in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia is preparing its second National Costed Roadmap to End Child Marriage and Female Genital Mutilation for 2026-2031. Building on the country’s 2014 commitment, the roadmap will define priority actions, responsibilities and mechanisms for tracking progress. The Government-led National Alliance to End Child Marriage and FGM is bringing together government institutions, community organizations, development partners, religious leaders and women’s groups to support coordinated action.

Through the UNFPA–UNICEF Global Programme to End Child Marriage, UNICEF supports efforts to keep girls in school, strengthen their skills and agency, expand access to protection and other essential services, and work with communities to address the social norms that drive child marriage.

UNICEF is also working with the Government and partners to mobilize the resources needed to implement the new roadmap and expand approaches that have achieved results. Support from the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, the Gates Foundation and other partners is helping to advance this work.

Further progress will require sustained investment in girls’ education, health, protection and participation, alongside continued action by families, communities, government institutions, civil society and development partners. Together, Ethiopia can build a future in which every girl is free from child marriage and able to learn, lead and thrive.