Marriageable age: Map

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Marriageable age (or marriage age) is the age at which a person is allowed to marry, either as of right or subject to parental or other forms of consent. The age and other requirements vary between countries. The marriage age should not be confused with the age of majority or the age of consent. The marriage age in a country may be below the age of majority and the age of consent that applies in that country. Additionally, the age at which a person is legally permitted to engage in sexual activity may be below the marriage age.

By religion

Judaism: 13 or later for males, 3 for females. For males, the marriageable age in Judaism is tied to the age of majority; if, when he turns 13, a boy does not have pubic hair, or other sign of puberty, he cannot marry until he is 20 (and in some cases, not even until he is 35).

Islam: 9 for girls, 15 for boys.

By country

The following is an incomplete list of marriageable ages in various countries. The list is current, and does not treat the topic in history.

Africa

Algeria : 21 for males and 18 for females, lower with judicial permission if necessity or benefit is established.
Egypt : 18 for males and females (per the new child protection law).
Ethiopia : Legally 18 for both males and females. In practice, however, children in rural areas are married young. It is not uncommon to see girls as young as 6 years of age being married. It is also unusual for a girl to be 16 and yet unmarried.
Kenya : 16 for statutory marriages under the Marriage Act.
Libya : 20, lower with judicial permission on grounds of benefit or necessity and with wali's agreement.
Madagascar : 17 for males, 14 for females.MG : Droit francophone
Morocco : 18 (since the legal reform of 2004).
Senegal : 20.
Somalia : 18; 16 for females with guardian's consent. Court may grant exemption from minimum age requirements in case of necessity.
South Africa: 18. There are provisions made for respecting the marriage laws of traditional marriages, whereby a person might be married as young as 12 for females and 14 for males.
Sudan : Puberty, with requirement for willing consent of both parties.
Tanzania: 18 for males and 15 for females, 14 with court permission if specific circumstances make marriage appear desirable. Penal Code provides that persons of "African or Asiatic descent" may marry or permit marriage of a girl under 12 in accordance with their custom or religion if marriage is not intended to be consummated before she is 12.
Tunisia : 20 for males and 17 for females, lower with judicial special permission for pressing reasons and on the basis of a clear interest for both spouses.
Zimbabwe :The Marriages Act [Chapter 5:11]Under this legislation, a man may marry at the minimum age of 18 while a woman may marry at the minimum age of 16.

Asia

Afghanistan : 18 for males and 16 for females, more than half of marriages involve females under 16.
Azerbaijan : 18 for males, 17 for females. 17 or 16 correspondingly in special cases.
Bangladesh : 21 for males and 18 for females, lunar calendar; penal sanctions for contracting under-age marriages, though such unions are not considered invalid.
Brunei : No minimum marriage age specified.
China, People's Republic of : 22 for males, 20 for females.
China, Republic of (on Taiwan ): 20 as the age of majority generally. 18 for males, 16 for females with parental consent.
Hong Kong : 21, 16 with parental consent.
India : 21 for males and 18 for females. If any partner(s) engages in marriage at a younger age, (s)he can ask for the marriage to be declared void / annulled. A recent recommendation by the Law Commission aims to equalize the marriage age for males and females to 18, automatically declares marriages under 16 as "null and void", while marriages at the age of 16 or 17 are "voidable"
Indonesia : 21, 19 for males and 16 for females with parental consent. (Indonesia's Civil Law)
Iran : 18, 15 with parental consent.
Iraq : 18, 15 with judicial permission if fitness, physical capacity and guardian's consent (or unreasonable objection on part of guardian) are established. (May or may not have been revised after Saddam Hussein's fall.) Legal Profiles: Kuwait last accessed 25 March 2007
Israel : 18 for males and 17 for females.
Palestinian National Authority: 18, 18 with court consent
Japan : 20, 18 for males and 16 for females with parental consent.
Jordan : 16 for males and 15 for females, lunar calendar; court permission required for females under 18 to marry men older by 20 years or more. Legal Profiles: Jordan last accessed 25 March 2007
Kazakhstan : 18, in special cases 16 years with parental consent.
Kuwait : No minimum marriage age identified; capacity to marry requires parties to be of age (puberty) and of sound mind, however, no notarisation or registration of marriage permitted where female has not reached 15 years or male 17 years. Legal Profiles: Iraq last accessed 25 March 2007
Kyrgyzstan : 18
Lebanon : 18 for males and 17 for females; scope for judicial discretion on basis of physical maturity and wali's permission from 17 for males and 9 for females; real puberty or 15/9 with judicial permission for Shi'a; 18/17 or 16/15 with judicial permission for Druze. Profiles: Lebanon last accessed 25 March 2007
Malaysia : 21, 18 with parental consent, 16 for females with special marriage license.
Maldives : According to custom, the minimum age for marriage is 15; the Law on the Protection of the Rights of the Child discourages marriage before the age of 16 Legal Profiles: Maldives last accessed 25 March 2007
Pakistan : 18 for males, 16 for females both with parental consent.
Mongolia : 18 age for both male and female without parental consent.
Philippines : 18 for both male and female in general population. If any spouse is 18-20 years and the consent of "parental" authority is not met, marriage may be prevented or annuled by any party that demands it. On the other hand, Muslim marriages in the Philippines is based on the Shari'a: 15 yrs for males and as for females, the onset of puberty to age 15, whichever comes first. * Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines Additionally, for indigenous Philippine tribes, the age is set according to the respective tribe's laws.
Saudi Arabia : None currently, legislation for age 18 is being considered.
Singapore : 21, 18 with parental consent, below 18 with special marriage license.
South Korea : 20, 18 with parental consent.
Sri Lanka : The legal age for marriage in Sri Lanka is 18, for both males and females. However, Muslims can be excluded from this regulation because the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act of 1951 states that a girl must be 12 years of age or have a Quazi's permission to marry before contracting into marriage. This is applicable only for Muslims in Sri Lanka. Legal Profiles: Sri Lanka last accessed 25 March 2007
Syria : 18 for males and 17 for females; judicial discretion for males of 15 and females of 13; judge may withhold permission for marriage if court finds incompatibility in age between betrothed parties. Legal Profiles: Syria last accessed 25 March 2007
Thailand : 20, 17 with parental consent, 15 in special circumstances with court approval.
Turkey : 18, 17 with parental consent, 16 in special circumstances with court approval.
Uzbekistan 18 for males, 17 for females. 17 and 16 correspondingly in special conditions.
Vietnam : 20 for males, 18 for females.
Yemen : 17

Europe

Albania : 18
Armenia : 18 for males and 17 for females.
Austria : 18, 16 with court consent (partner must be 18 or older).
Belgium : 18, 16 with parental consent.
Bulgaria : 18, 16 with parental consent.
Croatia : 18, 16 with parental consent.
Cyprus : 16.
Czech republic : 18, 16 for females in case of pregnancy (court consent required).
Denmark : 18, 16 with special letter of approval from the Queen and parental consent.
Estonia : 18, 15 with parental or court consent.
Finland : 18, under 18 with the consent of the ministry of justice in extraordinary circumstances, in which case parents or other guardian must be heard, but actual parental consent is not required.
France : 18
Germany : 18, 16 with court consent (partner must be 18 or older).
Hungary : 18, 16 with parental consent.
Iceland : 18, the Ministry of Justice may permit the marriage of younger persons.
Ireland : 18, 16 with parental consent, below 16 with both parental and High Court consent.
Italy : 18, 16 with court consent.
Latvia : 18, 16 with court and/or parental permission.
Lithuania : 18, 16 with court permission.
Netherlands : 18, 16 with parental consent.
Norway : 18, 16 with consent from parents (guardian) and permission from the County Governor. The County Governor may only give permission when there are 'special reasons for contracting a marriage'.
Poland : 18, 16 with court permission (females only).
Portugal : 18, 16 with parental consent (if not possible, the court can provide the consent).
Romania : 18 for males, 16 for females, 15 with permission from the district's administrative board.
Russia : 18, 16 for males or 14 for females with consent of a parent or guardian (depends on region), unlimited in special circumstances.
Serbia : 18. 16 with court consent.
Slovakia : 18, 16 with court consent.
Slovenia : 18, 16 with parental consent.
Spain : 18, 16 with parental consent.
Sweden : 18, younger with permission from the county administrative board. The county administrative board may only give permission when there are 'special reasons' but although the custodians of the underage should be heard if possible, the consent of the custodians is not required.
Switzerland : 18
Ukraine : 18 for males, 17 for females, 16 with parental consent.
United Kingdom
- England and Wales: 16 with parental consent, 18 otherwise.
- Scotland : 16
- Northern Ireland : 16 with parental consent, 18 otherwise
- Jersey : 16 with parental consent, 18 otherwise.

North America

Canada : Varies by province, but generally 18 years old, 16 years with parental consent, 14 years with judicial consent.
Mexico : 18, 16 with parental or legal consent, 14 for pregnant females with legal consent.
Puerto Rico: 21, 18 with parental consent.
United States : Usually 18. Most states, however, allow marriage at a younger age with parental and/or judicial consent. Some states allow marriage at a still younger age if the female is pregnant. There are a few states (Nebraska, 19; Mississippi, 21) that have a higher age.
- Alabama : 18, 16 with parental consent. (statute).
- Alaska : 18, 16 with parental consent.
- Arizona : no statutory minimum, under 18 with parental consent, under 16 with approval of a superior court judge and parental consent. (statute)
- Arkansas : 18, 16 for females and 17 for males with parental consent.
- California : no statutory minimum, those under 18 must receive approval of a superior court judge, or parental consent.
- Colorado : 18, 16 with parental consent, no minimum with judicial approval.
- Connecticut : 18, 16 with parental consent.
- District of Columbia : 18, 16 with parental consent.
- Delaware : 18, 16 for females with parental consent, 17 for males with parental consent.
- Florida : 18, 16 with parental consent.
- Georgia : 18, 15 with parental consent, 16 without parental consent if pregnant.
- Hawaii : 18, 15 with parental consent.
- Idaho : 18, 16 with parental consent.
- Illinois : 18, 16 with parental consent.
- Indiana : 18, 17 with parental consent, 15 in the case of pregnancy with both parental and judicial consent.
- Iowa : 18, 16 with parental consent.
- Kansas : 18, 16 with parental consent.
- Kentucky : 18, 16 with parental consent.
- Louisiana : 18, 16 with parental consent.
- Maine : 18, 16 with parental consent.
- Massachusetts : 18 for first marriage, 16 with parental and judicial consent GLAD: How to Get Married Last accessed September 2 2006.
- Maryland : 18, 16 with parental consent.
- Michigan : 18, 16 with parental consent, 15 and under with parental consent and probate judge approval.
- Minnesota : 18, 16 with parental consent.
- Mississippi : 21, 17 for males, 15 for females, with parental consent. (statute)
- Missouri : 18, 15 with parental consent.
- Montana : 18, 16 with parental consent.
- Nebraska : 19, 17 with parental consent.
- Nevada : 18, 16 with parental consent.
- New Hampshire : 18, 14 for males and 13 for females, in cases of "special cause" with parental consent and court permission.
- New Jersey : 18, 16 with parental consent.
- New Mexico : 18, 16 with parental consent.
- New York : 18, 16 with parental consent, 14 with parental and judicial consent. .
- North Carolina : 18, 16 with parental consent, unlimited in case of pregnancy or birth of child with parental consent.
- North Dakota : 18, 16 with parental consent.
- Ohio : 18 for males, 16 for females, less with parental consent.
- Oklahoma : 18, 16 with parental consent.
- Oregon : 18, 17 with parental consent. The consenting parent or guardian must accompany the applicant when applying for the marriage license.
- Pennsylvania : 18, 16 with parental consent, 14 in case of pregnancy and with the approval of a Judge of the Orphans Court.
- Rhode Island : 18, 16 for females with parental consent.
- South Carolina : 18, 16 with parental consent.
- South Dakota : 18, 16 with parental consent.
- Tennessee : 18, 16 with parental consent.
- Texas : 18, 16 with parental consent. 14 with judicial consent or if person under 18 had previously married and divorced.
- Utah : 18 for first marriage, 16 with parental consent, 15 with court approval.
- Vermont : 18, 16 with parental consent.
- Virginia : 18, 16 with parental consent.
- Washington : 18, 17 with parental consent. May be waived by superior court judge. (statute)
- West Virginia : 18, 16 with parental consent, under 16 (unspecified limit) with parental and judicial consent
- Wisconsin : 18, 16 with parental consent.
- Wyoming : 18, 16 with parental consent.

Oceania

Australia: 18, 16 with permission from a court and both parents (only granted in exceptional circumstances) - Commonwealth Marriage Act 1961 s.10-21.
New Zealand : 18, 16 with parental consent.

South America

Argentina : 21, 16 for females and 18 for males with parental consent, lower with judicial consent only in exceptional cases.
Brazil : 18, 16 with consent of both parents, or of the legal tutor, if the minor is under the guardianship of a tutor; if one of the parents has been judicially removed from the discharge of parental authority, only the consent of the other parent is required; if both parents, married or not, are invested with parental authority (as is normally the case), and they disagree over the granting of consent, then any of them may petition a court to decide the matter. The minor can also petition a court to overrule the parents decision to deny consent, but the minor must prove that the refusal of consent is unreasonable. In exceptional circumnstances, the marriage of someone who is under 16 years can also be authorized, but only by a court, and only in cases of pregnancy, or to avoid the imposition of a criminal penalty (e.g. a case in which a couple of teenages over the age of 14 have consensual sex, and the parents, usually of the female, initiate proceedings to have the male prosecuted for the crime of corruption of minors. In Brazil if someone engages in sex with a minor below the age of 14 years, then there is an absolute legal presumption of violence - statutory rape - but if someone engages in consensual sex with a minor between 14 and 18 years, there is a lesser crime - corruption of minors. Someone who is prosecuted for that lesser crime can avoid the penalty if the young couple agree to marry. Often, mainly in rural parts of the country, that marriage will provide enough satisfaction for the parents of the girl and for the local society. Then, for cultural reasons, civil law still allows for that scenario in which one avoids prosecution by agreeing to marry). There is no age limit for the exceptional scenario of a court authorizing a girl who is pregnant to marry.
Chile : 18, 16 with parental consent.
Paraguay : 14 for females and 16 for males. Article 39, clause "b", of the Paraguayan Civil Code reads: “The legal incapacity of minors will cease: ...(b) for gentlemen of 16 and for women of 14 years completed, through marriage, with the limitations established in this Code”.
Peru : 18.
Venezuela : 18, 14 for females and 16 for males with parental consent.
Ecuador : 18 for males and 18 for females