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PAPUA NEW GUINEA
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
FEMALE
MALE
PREVALENCE OF MARRIAGE BY AGE 15
8%
N/A
PREVALENCE OF MARRIAGE BY AGE 18
4%
4%
Year of data:
2018
Source:
DHS 2016-18
Year of data:
2018
Source:
DHS 2016-18
LEGAL AGE OF MARRIAGE
16 or 18
18
LOWEST PERMITTED AGE OF MARRIAGE DUE TO EXCEPTIONS IN THE LAW
14
16
ABOUT THE LAW AND ANY EXCEPTIONS
Law(s) which govern marriage and/or child marriage:
Marriage Act 1963, Lukautim Pikinini 2015
The Marriage Act allows judicial consent for marriage at the age of 14 for girls and 16 for boys. The Act also recognises customary marriage, which can allow for girls to marry as soon as they start menstruating. The Lukautim Pikinini 2015 (Child Welfare Act) criminalises the act of arranging a child marriage (any marriage below the age of 18), but the Marriage Act has not been amended to reflect this.
CAN MARRIED OR PREGNANT GIRLS GO TO SCHOOL?
No explicit law prevents or protects the right to education for married, pregnant, or parenting girls.
IS THE COUNTRY A FRAGILE OR CONFLICT-AFFECTED STATE?
Yes
IS THE COUNTRY ONE OF THE 50 MOST CLIMATE-VULNERABLE STATES?
Yes
IS IT ONE OF THE 50 COUNTRIES WITH THE HIGHEST RATES OF MULTIDIMENSIONAL POVERTY?
Yes
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