Junior Rasmussen
Child marriage, defined by the United Nations as a marriage in which at least one party is under 18 years of age, is a pressing issue in the United States. While child marriage was legal in all 50 states until 2018, the situation is evolving with a growing number of states passing bans. Despite this, thousands of minors continue to be legally wed each year, with girls disproportionately affected and often facing severe consequences, including the threat of sexual abuse, loss of educational opportunities, early pregnancies, and psychological trauma.
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What You'll Learn
Child marriage laws in the US compared to other countries
Child marriage, defined by the United Nations as a marriage in which at least one party is under 18 years of age, is currently legal in the United States. The US is the only UN member state that has not ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states that the minimum age for marriage should be 18 years. Within the US, each state or territory sets its own marriage age laws. As of June 2025, four states have no statutory minimum age when all exemptions are considered. These states are California, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. As of July 2025, child marriage is legal in 34 states, and 16 states have banned underage marriages without exception.
In comparison, other countries have taken more stringent measures to prevent child marriage. For example, Afghanistan has a minimum marriage age of 15, but only with permission from a parent or judge; otherwise, the minimum age is 16. This law is more restrictive than those in some US states, where it is possible for minors to marry even if they are below the age of sexual consent in that state.
The prevalence of child marriage in the US has drawn criticism from advocates and organizations dedicated to protecting minors. Unchained At Last, a non-profit group working to end child marriage in the US, found that 86% of child marriages between 2000 and 2018 were between a minor and an adult. Furthermore, young females are more likely to be married than young males, with 55% of married 15- to 17-year-olds being female, according to the Pew Research Center.
The consequences of child marriage can be dire, including the threat of sexual abuse, loss of educational opportunities, early pregnancies, and psychological trauma. A 2010 study found that women who married before turning 18 in the US were 31% more likely to experience poverty later in life. Despite these concerns, lawmakers in some states continue to argue in favor of permitting child marriage, citing parental rights and religious liberty as reasons for their opposition to stricter laws.
While there have been efforts to address child marriage in the US, such as the introduction of the Child Marriage Prevention Bill in 2024, the practice remains legal in many parts of the country. As of 2024, only 13 out of 50 states have banned child marriage, leaving millions of girls and boys at risk and undermining progress toward gender equality and human rights.
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Minors' lack of legal rights to escape forced marriage
Child marriage is a serious human rights violation that disproportionately affects girls and women. It involves marriages where at least one party is under 18 and unions entered without full, free, and informed consent. The practice undermines the health, education, bodily autonomy, and overall quality of life of minors, perpetuating cycles of violence and poverty.
Minors often lack the legal rights and capacity to escape forced marriages. In the United States, minors may not have the legal standing to file for divorce, leaving them trapped in abusive and exploitative relationships. While some states have attempted to address this issue by automatically emancipating minors upon marriage, this emancipation comes too late, as the child has already endured the trauma of a forced marriage. Moreover, emancipated minors still face challenges accessing shelters and other support services, and they may lose financial support from their parents.
The legal system in the United States has been criticised for its ineffective response to child marriage. Until 2018, child marriage was legal in all 50 states, and as of 2023, only 16 states have passed bans. The age of consent laws and marriage age laws vary across states, creating inconsistencies and loopholes that enable child marriage. Additionally, immigration laws do not specify a minimum age to petition for a foreign spouse or fiancé(e), allowing for the trafficking of minors into the country under the guise of marriage.
The lack of legal rights for minors to escape forced marriage has severe consequences. Minors who attempt to leave home to escape forced marriages may be considered runaways and returned to their abusive situations against their will. The limited options available to them can lead to despair and even suicide attempts.
To address this issue, advocates are pushing for legislative interventions to outlaw child marriage and raise the minimum legal marriage age to 18. This would increase protection for minors, empower them to resist coercion, and ensure access to the full spectrum of legal rights when they marry.
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Child marriage as a human rights abuse
Child marriage is defined by the United Nations as a marriage in which at least one party is under 18 years of age. It is considered a human rights abuse and is addressed by international human rights laws and conventions. The practice is rooted in gender inequality and discrimination, and it disproportionately affects girls and women.
Child marriage undermines the health, education, and bodily autonomy of minors, often perpetuating cycles of violence and poverty. The threat of sexual abuse, early pregnancies, psychological trauma, and social isolation are all potential consequences of child marriage. It creates a "nightmare-ish legal trap" for minors, who may be unable to escape abusive situations or access domestic violence shelters. The lack of education resulting from child marriage makes it impossible to break the cycle of poverty, particularly for girls.
International human rights frameworks, such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, require state parties to reject harmful practices and ensure that marriage is consensual and entered into at the legal age of 18. Despite these conventions, child marriage remains prevalent in many parts of the world. For example, in the United States, child marriage was legal in all 50 states until 2018, and as of July 2025, it is still legal in 34 states.
The United Nations estimates that about 700 million girls worldwide are married before reaching adulthood, and this number is projected to grow to 950 million by 2030 if the practice continues at the current rate. Child marriage is a violation of human rights, compromising the development and potential of both girls and boys. UNICEF and other organizations work to raise awareness and prevent early marriages through workshops and advocacy, while also providing support to survivors.
The practice of child marriage has severe and lifelong impacts on children, denying them the opportunity to live up to their full potential. It is a violation of human rights that requires urgent attention and action from governments and societies alike to protect minors and ensure their well-being.
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Child marriage laws in individual US states
Child marriage is defined by the United Nations as a marriage in which at least one party is under 18 years of age. The United States is the only UN member state that has not ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which sets the minimum marriage age at 18.
Until 2018, child marriage was legal in all 50 US states. Since then, several states have passed bans, and advocates continue to push for an end to the practice. However, as of July 2025, child marriage remains legal in 34 states, and 4 states have no statutory minimum age when exemptions are considered. These states are California, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
California
In California, the general marriage age is 18. However, children can be married with parental consent and judicial approval, with no minimum age limit.
Connecticut
Connecticut has banned child marriage, setting the minimum age at 18 with no exceptions.
Delaware
Delaware was the first state to ban child marriage in 2018, setting the minimum age at 18 and eliminating all exceptions.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts has also banned child marriage, with the minimum age set at 18.
Minnesota
Minnesota has passed legislation banning child marriage, with the minimum age for marriage set at 18.
New Jersey
New Jersey banned child marriage in 2018, establishing 18 as the minimum age for marriage.
New York
In New York, the minimum age for marriage is 18, and the state has banned marriage for minors.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania passed a law in 2020 banning child marriage, and the minimum age for marriage is now 18.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island has banned marriage for minors, setting the minimum age at 18.
Tennessee
In Tennessee, there was an effort by Republicans to eliminate any limits on marriage entirely. However, it is unclear if this effort was successful.
Vermont
Vermont is one of the latest states to end child marriage, with a law passed in 2023 setting the minimum age at 18.
Virginia
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin signed a law in April 2024 banning marriage under the age of 18, without any exceptions.
Washington
In March 2024, Washington state banned marriage under the age of 18, eliminating any previous exceptions.
West Virginia
In West Virginia, a minimum marriage age of 16 was set in 2023, with parental consent and if the intended spouse is more than four years older.
Wyoming
Wyoming established a minimum marriage age of 16 in 2023, requiring parental consent and judicial approval.
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The number of children and teens legally wed in the US each year
Child marriage is a prevalent issue in the United States, with thousands of minors being legally wed each year. Between 2000 and 2018, almost 300,000 minors under the age of 18 were married, with the majority being girls aged 16 or 17. The problem is exacerbated by inconsistent laws across states, with some states having no minimum age requirement for marriage. As of 2025, child marriage is still legal in 34 states, and only 16 states have banned underage marriages without exception.
The prevalence of child marriage in the US has serious consequences for the minors involved. Young girls are particularly vulnerable, as they are more likely to be married than young boys. In the majority of cases, these girls are wed to adult men who are on average four years older. This power dynamic can easily lead to forced marriages and abuse, with minors having limited legal rights to escape. The lack of a standardized minimum age for marriage across all states further complicates the issue, allowing for legal loopholes that enable child marriages to continue.
In recent years, there has been some progress in addressing this issue. Since 2018, 10 to 16 states have passed bans on child marriage, and advocates continue to push for legislative changes to end this practice. Nonprofit organizations like Unchained at Last have been actively working to help women and girls escape forced marriages. However, the lack of a federal mandate means that progress varies across states, and child marriages continue to occur.
The impact of child marriage on minors cannot be overstated. It not only robs them of their childhood but also exposes them to potential abuse, psychological trauma, and loss of educational and economic opportunities. The legal system in the US has been criticized for failing to protect minors from forced marriages, with laws in some states enabling exploitation under the guise of marriage. It is crucial that legislative intervention is sought to end this practice and protect the rights and well-being of children and teens.
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Frequently asked questions
Child marriage was legal in all 50 states until 2018. Since then, 10 to 16 states have passed bans, and advocates continue to push lawmakers to end the practice. As of July 2025, child marriage is still legal in 34 states.
Child marriages can have several negative consequences, including the threat of sexual abuse, loss of educational opportunities, early pregnancies, and psychological trauma. Minors in these marriages often lack the legal capacity to escape from unwanted weddings or abusive spouses.
The minimum age for marriage varies across states in the US. In some states, there is no statutory minimum age when all exemptions are considered. However, critics argue that the laws in the US compare unfavorably to those in other countries, with some states having no minimum marriage age at all.
