Overview
Recent analysis of census data by IndiaSpend reveals that nearly 12 million Indian children were married before the age of 10. Among these, a staggering 84% were Hindus and 11% were Muslims. The phenomenon disproportionately affects girls, particularly those in rural areas and with limited access to education.
Key Insights
1.Child Marriage Statistics
•The number of married children under 10 is equivalent to the population of Jammu & Kashmir.
•Of these, 7.84 million (65%) were girls.
2.Rural and Religious Divide
•72% of Hindu girls and 58.5% of Muslim girls married before 10 resided in rural areas.
•Higher levels of education correlate with delayed marriage.
3.Literacy and Gender Gap
•44% of married children under 10 were illiterate, with 80% of them being girls.
•For every 1,000 males who never attended school, 1,403 females have also been denied access to education.
4.Median Age at Marriage
•Jain women marry the latest, at a median age of 20.8 years, followed by Christian women at 20.6 years and Sikh women at 19.9 years.
•Hindu and Muslim women have the lowest median marriage age at 16.7 years.
5.Teenage Pregnancy and Education
•Teenage pregnancy is nine times more prevalent among women with no education compared to those with 12 or more years of education.
Observations and Implications
The data highlight a persistent gender disparity and the critical role of education in delaying marriage and improving life outcomes. Addressing rural-urban divides and improving access
