Girls Still Being Married Off Before 18 In These States, Says Report

Last Updated:September 09, 2025, 14:18 IST

According to the report, in 2023, the average marriage age for girls was 22.4 years in rural areas and 24.3 years in urban areas, up from 22.2 and 23.9 in 2022

At the national level, 2.1% of girls marry before the age of 18, while 25% marry between 18 and 20. (Representative/Shutterstock)

The practice of child marriage was once widespread in India, with girls often married between the ages of 10 to 13. However, the situation has notably improved over time. Today, the average marriage age for girls in India has risen to 22.9 years.

This represents a slight increase from 22.7 years in 2022, according to the Statistical Report 2023 of the Sample Registration System (SRS), as reported by The Times of India.

The report stated that in most states of India, girls are now typically marrying after the age of 18. Nonetheless, certain states, such as West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh, still report cases of girls marrying before 18, it added.

This State Sees Girls Marrying At The Youngest Age

The age of marriage varies across different states, with West Bengal having the lowest average at 21.3 years and Jammu and Kashmir the highest at 26.3 years.

According to The Times of India, data from 2019 to 2023 shows that the mean age at effective marriage for females was 22.1 in 2019, 22.7 in 2020, and 22.5 in 2021.

Significant Age Gap Between Village And City Marriages

The report further stated that a significant disparity persists between rural and urban areas. In 2023, the average marriage age for girls in rural areas was 22.4 years, compared to 24.3 years in urban areas. Similarly, in 2022, this figure was 22.2 years in rural areas and 23.9 years in urban areas.

According to The Times of India, the Sample Registration System (SRS) has been tracking the number of women entering into effective marriages every six months since 1990. This data is used to estimate the average age at which women marry.

Many Girls Still Marry Before 18

At the national level, 2.1% of girls marry before the age of 18, while 25% marry between 18 and 20. The majority, 72.9%, tie the knot at 21 or older, the report pointed out.

When broken down by area, the report indicated that 2.5% of rural girls marry before 18, compared to 1.2% in urban areas. For those aged 18 to 20, the figures are 28.1% for rural areas and 17% for urban areas. For marriages at 21 or older, the figures are 69.4% for rural areas and 81.8% for urban areas.

Looking at major states and union territories, the report highlights that West Bengal tops the list for girls marrying before 18, with 6.3% affected. In contrast, Kerala records the lowest at just 0.1%.

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