UN Reports Child Marriage Occurs Every Three Seconds Worldwide

The United Nations stated that a girl under 18 marries somewhere in the world every three seconds.

In a Valentine's Day message, the organization described child marriage as a human rights violation that deprives girls of education, health and life opportunities. The UN called for stronger support for global campaigns to end the practice and protect girls from early marriage and its lifelong consequences.

UN figures indicate that one in five girls globally marries before turning 18, with an estimated 640 million women alive today who were married during childhood.

Child marriage remains common in Afghanistan, where economic hardship and social pressures have long contributed to early marriages in many communities, according to the report.

The United Nations Population Fund warns that early marriage increases risks of teenage pregnancy, maternal complications and exposure to domestic and sexual violence.

Observers say ending child marriage requires stronger access to education, economic support for families and international cooperation to protect girls and secure safer futures worldwide.