A report cited in a private TV report says 24.7% of women aged 20 to 24 in Sindh were married before turning 18, while 7.5% were married before age 15. The same figures, drawn from the State of Children in Pakistan 2024 report prepared by the National Commission on the Rights of Child with UNICEF’s support, also show child marriage among men in Sindh.
Figures from the report on Sindh
According to the report, 8.5% of men in Sindh were married before the age of 18, and 2.2% were married before the age of 15.
| Group in Sindh | Married before 18 | Married before 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Women aged 20 to 24 | 24.7% | 7.5% |
| Men | 8.5% | 2.2% |
What the report says about causes
The report says child marriage is not only the result of family decisions. It links the practice to poverty, limited access to education, social expectations and gender inequality.
Research method and time frame
For the study, interviews were held with people from different social backgrounds in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, along with group discussions. More than 400 men, women, boys, girls and other relevant people were consulted.
The Sindh figures are based on the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2018-19, and the report says they should not be treated as the current rate in 2026. They reflect the situation during the survey period only.
