NAMIBIA

In 2024, the President of Namibia signed the Marriage Act 2024, which replaces the Marriage Act of 1961, and repeals sections of other laws which enable child marriage. Once the law is in force, Namibia will have a legal age of marriage of 18 with parental consent, or 21 without consent, with no exceptions. However, as of April 2025, this act has not come into force.

Namibia's current laws are conflicting on the legal age of marriage. The 1996 Married Persons Equality Act amended the legal age from 21 to 18. However, the Child Care and Protection Act refers to the Marriage Act as the basis for the legal age of marriage, and this is set at 21. In any case, the Marriage Act 1961 and the Married Persons Equality Act both allow marriage under the legal age with the written permission of a minister or any staff member in the Public Service as authorised by the minister, with no absolute minimum age. Customary marriages occur in Namibia but the Constitution states that customary laws are only valid if they do not conflict with statutory laws.