Climate Change and Child Marriages in Developing Countries

A French newspaper, Le Parisien, reported that climate change may be increasing the rate of child marriages in developing nations. The newspaper highlighted cases involving girls as young as 12 and suggested that natural disasters are driving poor families to marry off their daughters at younger ages.

Le Parisien’s article, “She was only 12: Climate change, a new accelerator of child marriage,” discusses how weather-related disasters are linked to early marriages in countries like Bangladesh and Kenya. The newspaper stated, “Climate disasters are worsening child marriages by destroying incomes and homes, pushing some families to marry off their daughters at increasingly younger ages.”

Tina Descovich, CEO and co-founder of Moms for Liberty, criticized this report. She described attributing child marriage to climate change as a diversion from the real issue, emphasizing the need for strong families and personal accountability to protect children.

The article referenced a 2026 report by Plan International, examining the impact of climate-related disasters on child marriage. The report surveyed 5,000 girls and young women in Bangladesh, Kenya, Peru, Senegal, and Zimbabwe. It found that 36% observed an increase in child marriages following climate disasters, and 11% had personally experienced child marriage.

Le Parisien shared specific cases like a Bangladeshi girl who was married off just after being harassed in a cyclone shelter. Another case involved Runa, a 15-year-old girl whose marriage was arranged after a cyclone destroyed her family’s livelihood. Though initially helpless, Runa eventually returned to school with aid from organizations.

Child marriage is prevalent in Bangladesh, where UNICEF’s 2025 survey shows that 47.2% of women aged 20 to 24 were married before 18. The organization cites poverty, gender norms, and climate disasters as contributing factors.

Bangladesh’s Child Marriage Restraint Act, passed in 2017, generally forbids marriages for girls under 18 but allows exceptions with parental consent and court approval under special circumstances.

Plan International suggests that economic stress due to climate disasters leads families to see their daughters as financial burdens. Tanushree Soni, a representative, explained that financial strain is a main catalyst for child marriages.

While the research finds a relationship between climate disasters and child marriage, it does not conclusively establish climate change as the direct cause. Such findings highlight the complexity of issues surrounding child marriage and the need for focused interventions.