The Hidden Economic Costs of Child Marriage
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| Emma Batha 27 June 2017 |
LONDON, June 27 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Child
marriage will cost developing countries trillions of dollars by 2030, seriously
hampering global efforts to eradicate poverty, the World Bank said on Tuesday.
marriage will cost developing countries trillions of dollars by 2030, seriously
hampering global efforts to eradicate poverty, the World Bank said on Tuesday.
Ending child marriage would cut population growth and boost
girls’ educational achievements and earning ability, boosting national
prosperity, according to a report by the bank and the International Center for
Research on Women.
girls’ educational achievements and earning ability, boosting national
prosperity, according to a report by the bank and the International Center for
Research on Women.
Here are some facts:
– Some 15 million girls a year are married before the age of
18 – one girl every two seconds.
18 – one girl every two seconds.
– Niger has the highest rate of child marriage with nearly
77 percent of girls wed before 18, followed by Chad with over 68 percent, and
Mali and Bangladesh with over 59 percent.
77 percent of girls wed before 18, followed by Chad with over 68 percent, and
Mali and Bangladesh with over 59 percent.
– Although rates of child marriage have fallen, the total
number of child brides continues to increase due to population growth.
number of child brides continues to increase due to population growth.
IMPACT ON POPULATION GROWTH
– Women who marry early tend to have more children. Ending
child marriage would reduce the fertility rate by 12 percent in Nigeria, 15
percent in Ethiopia and Niger and 18 percent in Bangladesh, having significant
implications for population growth.
child marriage would reduce the fertility rate by 12 percent in Nigeria, 15
percent in Ethiopia and Niger and 18 percent in Bangladesh, having significant
implications for population growth.
– Niger’s population would fall by around 5 percent by 2030
if child marriage ended immediately, having a positive effect on national
budgets and welfare.
if child marriage ended immediately, having a positive effect on national
budgets and welfare.
– Lower population growth would increase GDP. If child
marriage had ended in 2015, the estimated annual global benefit would be $566
billion by 2030.
marriage had ended in 2015, the estimated annual global benefit would be $566
billion by 2030.
– The benefit would be almost $1 billion in Nepal, $1.7
billion in Niger and $4.8 billion in Ethiopia.
billion in Niger and $4.8 billion in Ethiopia.
CHILD MORTALITY AND DEVELOPMENT
– Children born to child brides are more at risk of death or
poor development due to lack of good nutrition.
poor development due to lack of good nutrition.
– Three in 100 deaths among under-fives are attributable to
the young age of the mother. One in 100 stunted children are stunted because of
early childbirths.
the young age of the mother. One in 100 stunted children are stunted because of
early childbirths.
– The global annual benefit from ending under-five mortality
and stunting would be $98 billion by 2030.
and stunting would be $98 billion by 2030.
EDUCATION
– Child brides are much more likely to drop out of school,
affecting their future ability to earn money.
affecting their future ability to earn money.
– Child marriage reduces women’s earnings by 9 percent. In
Nigeria this is equivalent to $7.6 billion annually in lost earnings and
productivity.
Nigeria this is equivalent to $7.6 billion annually in lost earnings and
productivity.
– Ending child marriage could increase national earnings by
an average of 1 percent.
an average of 1 percent.
– Reducing populations would also produce big savings in
national education budgets. Eliminating child marriage would save countries 5
percent or more of their education budget by 2030. Sources: World Bank, Girls
Not Brides.
national education budgets. Eliminating child marriage would save countries 5
percent or more of their education budget by 2030. Sources: World Bank, Girls
Not Brides.
