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NIGERIA
NIGERIA
PREVALENCE OF MARRIAGE BY AGE 15
FEMALE
12%
MALE
N/A
PREVALENCE OF MARRIAGE BY AGE 18
30%
2%
Year of data:
2021
Source:
MICS 2021
Year of data:
2021
Source:
MICS 2021
LEGAL AGE OF MARRIAGE
18
18
LOWEST PERMITTED AGE OF MARRIAGE DUE TO EXCEPTIONS IN THE LAW
No minimum age
No minimum age
Law(s) which govern marriage and/or child marriage:
Child Rights Act 2003
ABOUT THE LAW AND ANY EXCEPTIONS
Although national law makes no exceptions to the legal age of marriage (18), 12 states have not incorporated this into internal legislation. In most of these states, Sharia law applies; in some states the minimum age of marriage is set at 12 years old. In addition, Nigeria's child sexual abuse laws have gaps, and marital sex with a girl who has attained puberty is not classified as rape.
CAN MARRIED OR PREGNANT GIRLS GO TO SCHOOL?
The Child Rights Act protects the right of girls to return to school after childbirth, but the act has not been implemented in 12 states.
IS THE COUNTRY A FRAGILE OR CONFLICT-AFFECTED STATE?
Yes
IS THE COUNTRY ONE OF THE 50 MOST CLIMATE-VULNERABLE STATES?
No
IS IT ONE OF THE 50 COUNTRIES WITH THE HIGHEST RATES OF MULTIDIMENSIONAL POVERTY?
Yes
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