Across cultures, countries, and regions, 12 million girls marry before the age of 18 every year. Niger has the highest prevalence rate of child marriage in the world and the 14th highest absolute number of child brides – 676,000. 76% of girls in Niger are married before their 18th birthday. (https://www.girlsnotbrides.org/where-does-it-happen/atlas/#/)

Child marriage is driven by gender inequality and the belief that women and girls are somehow inferior to men and boys. In Niger, it is also driven by: poverty, family honor, social status, and gender norms.

Girls are not physically ready to give birth which is one of the reasons why child marriage is an issue. When combined with the lack of power, information, and access to services, young married females face higher rates of maternal mortality and morbidity compared to grown women.

Girls younger than 15 are five times more likely to die in childbirth than women in their 20s, and pregnancy is the leading cause of death worldwide for women ages 15 to 19. The chart shows the maternal mortality rate for young women ages 15 to 19, compared to women ages 20 to 34 in select countries.

https://www.icrw.org/files/images/Child-Marriage-Fact-Sheet-Health.pdf