What Is The Average Age Of Marriage In Egypt?

The average age at which an Egyptian gets married is 20 years old in the countryside and 22 in urban areas, bringing the average marriage age in the country to 21. Countries like Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Luxembourg, Ireland, and Croatia have an average marriage age of over 30. In Egypt, both foreigners and nationals are allowed to get married, and the minimum legal age for marriage is 18 years. However, underage girls continue to get married before age 15. Child marriage remains an issue in Egypt, with nearly 1 in every 20 girls (4%) between age 15 to 17 years and 1 in every 10 (11% adolescent) married before age 15.

The legal age of consent varies from 11 to 21 years old from country to country around the world. In some countries, there is no legal age of consent but all sexual relations are forbidden outside of marriage. The average age at first marriage in Egypt is 20.8 years, but this varies by several background characteristics. It is lower amongst women who live in rural areas (20.0 years versus 22.4 in urban areas) and those who live in Upper Egypt (19.9 years) compared to Lower Egypt (20.8).

In Egypt, the median age at first marriage amongst women aged 25 to 49 is 20.8 years, but this varies by several background characteristics. For men in Egypt, the median age at marriage has now fallen substantially from 28 for those born around 1970 to 26 for those born in the mid-1980s. Reforms have been implemented to address child marriage, with 17% of girls in Egypt being married before their 18th birthday and 2% married before the age of 15.

What age can you get engaged in Egypt?

In Egypt, you can get married at 18.

Marriage. In Egypt, marriage is a contract between two people of the right age. It is a contract between a man and a woman. To get married, both people must agree, the marriage must be announced, two witnesses must sign the contract, and the contract must be registered.

The marriage contract is a civil contract, so the parties can add conditions they think are necessary for their relationship. Some things must be agreed on for the contract to be valid. These include the dowry (the ‘Mahr’) and any others. Others are optional. This lets women protect their rights. These may include the wife’s right to divorce. This is automatically granted to the husband if not agreed otherwise. This lets the wife divorce her husband if he marries another woman. Other rights can be agreed on, like the right to work and the right to humane treatment.

What is the legal age in Egypt?

18 years old is the age of consent. 269. Anyone who indecently assaults a minor (under 18) without force or threat shall be punished with detention.

What is the age of dating in Egypt?

18 Table Countries and states Restricted by age difference Unrestricted Hetero Hetero Egypt—18 Equatorial Guinea—18 Eritrea—18 The age of consent in Africa varies by jurisdiction. Other things may also affect this. Six African countries (Benin, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Niger, and Madagascar) allow same-sex sexual relations at a higher age than opposite-sex ones. All other African countries either have the same age of consent for both acts or ban homosexual acts altogether. The highlighted age is the age at which you can have sex with someone who is also at or above that age. Other variables are mentioned when needed.

Can a man divorce his wife in Egypt?

Men initiate divorce because they’re wise. Islamic law considers the wise wife an exception, so you can’t generalize. Muslim Egyptian men can divorce their wives without going to court. Discrimination in Egypt’s divorce system starts before a woman files for divorce. It starts with marriage. Many Egyptian women are married without their consent. Egyptian marriage contracts may provide for certain rights and equal access to divorce, but many women are not informed of their right to negotiate such conditions. If a woman wants to end her marriage, she still can’t. Men can get divorced without going to court, but women have to go through a complicated, time-consuming, and expensive process to end their marriages. Women must choose between a long, fault-based divorce that lets them keep their money (if the government can make the man pay alimony and child support) or a quick divorce where the woman gives up her rights (khula).

Getting married. The Ma’zun didn’t ask if I wanted to add conditions to the marriage contract. I wasn’t there. My dad did. In Egypt, marriage is a contract between two people of legal age. The minimum age for marriage is 18 for men and 16 for women. Before marriage, the groom must pay the bride an advance on the dowry. The rest of the dowry (the deferred dowry or mu’akhar) is paid on divorce or death.

What age do Egyptian men marry?

List of countries by age at first marriage: Egypt: 31.028 Equatorial Guinea: 26.123.3 Eritrea: 29.124.9 Eswatini: 30.528.5 This list is based on recent surveys and doesn’t cover history. The currency of information varies by country. Most people marry before the average age of first marriage because the age distribution is skewed towards older ages. The median age is a more precise way of showing when most people marry. Most sources only report the average age at marriage.

Oceania Note: these countries report median age, not mean. All countries in italics have their data in the mean, not the median.

^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah Those surveyed were aged 25-29. ^ Median ages are rounded. ^ West Bank only. ^ a b Those surveyed were aged 25. ^ a b c Those surveyed were aged 20-49. ^ Those surveyed were aged 25-49.

Why do Brazilians marry early?

In Brazil, CEFMU is also driven by: Pregnancy in teenagers: Pregnancy is a main reason for CEFMU in Brazil. It is often because families want to protect their honor. Some girls are pressured by their mothers and grandmothers to marry if they have sex before marriage.

In 2006, 26% of Brazilian girls were married or in a union before their 18th birthday, and 6% were married or in a union before the age of 15. In Brazil, CEFMU can be formal marriages, informal unions, or cohabitation. The three are often the same. Child, Early, and Forced Marriage and Unions (CEFMU) are caused by gender inequality and the belief that girls are inferior to boys.

What age did Egyptians get married?

Once a young man was old enough, he could get married and start a family. Girls were probably ready for marriage after their first period. Males probably married at 16 to 20 because they had to support a family. It was not necessary to be a virgin to get married. Having sex before marriage was socially acceptable. Once married, couples were expected to be faithful to each other. Egyptians were supposed to be monogamous, and many records show that couples loved each other. They were sensual people and their religion was about having children. Two New Kingdom love poems show this sensuality. Your hand is in mine, I’m happy, and I love her. She’s the most beautiful girl I know. She’s like a star rising… with beautiful eyes for looking and sweet lips for kissing (after Lichtheim 1976: 182).

Marriage was just a social agreement about property. Religious and state doctrines didn’t affect marriage. Unlike other economic documents, marriages weren’t registered. Once a couple lived together, they were considered married. As the story of Setne says, I married Naneferkaptah that night. The pharaoh sent me a present of silver and gold. He slept with me that night and liked me. He slept with me again and again, and we loved each other (Lichtheim 1980: 128).

What age do girls get married in Egypt?

• Under the Persons and Family Law No. 126 of 2008, the minimum legal age of marriage is 18 years for both men and women. The minimum legal age of marriage is also highlighted under the Egyptian Child Law No. 126 of 2008. This 2008 amendment changed the legal marriage age from 14 to 18 years. Despite the legal change, and lack of criminal penalties, families are able to bypass the law and conclude child marriages through religious ceremonies and then wait till the bride turns 18 to have the marriage legally registered. *However, underage girls are frequently married in urfi, an unofficial customary form of marriage. *Data sources. African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights, African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, website, 2018, achpr.org/legalinstruments/detail?id=46 (accessed January 2020).
• African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights, Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, website, 2018, au.int/en/treaties/protocol-african-charter-human-and-peoples-rights-rights-women-africa (accessed January 2020).
• Association of the Egyptian Female Lawyers, Press Release Launching the Campaign “#1000 جمعية” (#1000 associations#) to call the President and the Egyptian Parliamentarians to Criminalize Early Marriage, 2021, aeflwomen.com/en/launching-the-campaign-1000-%d8%ac%d9%85%d8%b9%d9%8a%d8%a9-1000-associations-to-call-the-president-and-the-egyptian-parliamentarians-to-criminalize-early-marriage (accessed November 2021).
• Bassem, R., Emara, R., El Domy, S., El Hagry, Y, Curbing Child Marriage in Egypt, 2018, fount.aucegypt.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1064&context=studenttxt (accessed October 2021).
• Child Law, 2008, nccm-egypt.org/e7/e2498/e2691/infoboxContent2692/ChildLawno126english_eng.pdf (accessed March 2020).
• Egypt Independent, Child marriage in Egypt reaches 117,000 children: CAPMAS, website, 2018, egyptindependent.com/child-marriage-in-egypt-reaches-117000-children-capmas/ (accessed March 2020).
• Egypt Independent, Head of Egypts NCWR calls on Parliament to ratifies 21 as legal age of girls marriage,website, 2017, egyptindependent.com/head-egypts-ncwr-calls-parliament-ratifies-21-legal-age-girls-marriage/ (accessed March 2020).
• Human Rights Watch, Egypt: New penalties for Female Genital Mutilation, 2016, hrw.org/news/2016/09/09/egypt-new-penalties-female-genital-mutilation (accessed November 2021).
• Girls Not Brides, Child marriage in humanitarian settings, 2018, girlsnotbrides.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Child-marriage-in-humanitarian-settings (accessed January 2020).
• International Centre for Research on Women, More Power to Her – How empowering girls can end child marriage, 2014, icrw.org/publications/more-power-to-her-how-empowering-girls-can-end-child-marriage/ (accessed March 2020).
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, Joint statement on child, early and forced marriage, HRC 27, Agenda Item 3, website, 2014, fngeneve.um.dk/en/aboutus/statements/newsdisplaypage/?newsid=6371ad93-8fb0-4c35-b186-820fa996d379 (accessed March 2020).
• Ministry of Health and Population, Egypt Demographic and Health Survey, 2014, 2015, dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR302/FR302.pdf (accessed March 2020).
• Ministry of International Cooperation, Egypt National Review Report for Input to the 2016 HLPF, 2016, sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/10738egypt.pdf (accessed March 2020).
• National Council for Childhood and Motherhood, Ending Violence Against Children in Egypt National Strategic Framework, 2018, http://nccm.gov.eg/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/إستراتيجية-مناهضة-العنف.pdf (accessed March 2020).
• The Caravan, Egypt Takes Steps to Eradicate Child Marriage, website, 2017, auccaravan.com/?p=6636 (accessed March 2020).
• The Egyptian Association for Community Participation Enhancement, Second Shadow Report for the CEDAW Coalition, Egypt, 2009, wluml.org/sites/wluml.org/files/Shadow%20Report%20CEDAW%20EACPE.pdf (accessed March 2020).
• The Guardian, Senior Islamic cleric issues fatwa against child marriage, website, 2019, theguardian.com/global-development/2019/jun/21/senior-islamic-cleric-issues-fatwa-against-child-marriage (accessed March 2020).
• The National Council for Childhood & Motherhood Child Rights Observatory, Policy for Action: Ending Child Marriage, 2018, unicef.org/egypt/media/3586/file/Policy%20Brief%20Final%20(Child%20Marriage).pdf (accessed March 2020).
• UN CEDAW, Concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, 2010, p.7, tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=CEDAW/C/EGY/CO/7&Lang=En (accessed March 2020).
• UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 44 of the Convention, 2011, p.18, tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=CRC/C/EGY/CO/3-4&Lang=En (accessed March 2020).
• UN General Assembly, Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review: Egypt, 2014, p.22, ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/Pages/EGIndex.aspx (accessed March 2020).; UN General Assembly, Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review: Egypt, 2019, p. 23-25, ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/Pages/EGIndex.aspx (accessed March 2020).; UN Women, Multi-Country Analytical Study of Legislation, Policies, Interventions and Cultural Practices on Child Marriage in Africa, 2018, www2.unwomen.org/-/media/field%20office%20africa/attachments/publications/2019/multicountry%20analytical%20study%20of%20policies%20interventions%20%20cultural%20practices%20on%20child%20marriage%20in%20afr.pdf?la=en&vs=2727 (accessed November 2021).; UN Women, Women´s needs and gender equality in Egypt´s COVID-19 response, 2020, www2.unwomen.org/-/media/field%20office%20egypt/attachments/publications/2020/04/unwomen_brief_covid-19_egypt_response.pdf?la=en&vs=5554 (accessed November 2021).; UNICEF, Egypt MENA Gender Equality profile, Status of Girls and Women in the Middle East and North Africa, 2011, unicef.org/gender/files/Egypt-Gender-Eqaulity-Profile-2011.pdf (accessed March 2020).; UNICEF Egypt, In a journey of girl empowerment, website, 2020, unicef.org/egypt/stories/journey-girl-empowerment (accessed April 2020).; UNICEF global databases 2020, based on Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), and other national surveys. Population data from United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects 2019, Online Edition. Rev. 1.; UNICEF Middle East and North Africa Regional Office and International Centre for Research on Women, Child Marriage in the Middle East and North Africa, United Nations Childrens Fund, 2017, unicef.org/mena/media/1786/file/MENA-ChildMarriageInMENA-Report.pdf.pdf (accessed March 2020).; UNICEF Middle East and North Africa Regional Office, Egypt Country Brief UNICEF Regional Study on Child Marriage in the Middle East and North Africa, 2017, unicef.org/mena/media/1796/file/MENA-CMReport-EgyptBrief.pdf.pdf (accessed October 2021).; UNICEF, Policy for Action: Ending Child Marriage, 2018, unicef.org/egypt/sites/unicef.org.egypt/files/2018-06/Child%20Marriage%20Policy%20Brief%20EN%20FINAL.PDF (accessed October 2021).; UNICEF and The American University in Cairo, Policy Brief Curbing Child Marriage in Egypt, 2018, documents.aucegypt.edu/Docs/GAPP/Public%20Policy%20Hub%20Webpage/8-%20Curbing%20Child%20Marriage%20in%20Egypt%20Policy%20Brief%20-%20En.pdf (accessed October 2021).; UNICEF, The State of the Worlds Children 2021, 2021, unicef.org/media/108161/file/SOWC-2021-full-report-English.pdf (accessed October 2021).; United Nations, Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform, website, 2017, sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg5 (accessed March 2020).; United States State Department, Trafficking in Persons Report, 2015, 2009-2017.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/2015//index.htm (accessed March 2020).; World Bank and International Centre for Research on Women, Economic Impacts of Child Marriage: Global Synthesis Report, 2017, documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/530891498511398503/pdf/116829-WP-P151842-PUBLIC-EICM-Global-Conference-Edition-June-27.pdf (accessed March 2020).

What age can you marry in Egypt?

• Under the Persons and Family Law No. 126 of 2008, the minimum legal age of marriage is 18 years for both men and women. The minimum legal age of marriage is also highlighted under the Egyptian Child Law No. 126 of 2008. This 2008 amendment changed the legal marriage age from 14 to 18 years. Despite the legal change, and lack of criminal penalties, families are able to bypass the law and conclude child marriages through religious ceremonies and then wait till the bride turns 18 to have the marriage legally registered. *However, underage girls are frequently married in urfi, an unofficial customary form of marriage. *Data sources. African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights, African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, website, 2018, achpr.org/legalinstruments/detail?id=46 (accessed January 2020).
• African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights, Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, website, 2018, au.int/en/treaties/protocol-african-charter-human-and-peoples-rights-rights-women-africa (accessed January 2020).
• Association of the Egyptian Female Lawyers, Press Release Launching the Campaign “#1000 جمعية” (#1000 associations#) to call the President and the Egyptian Parliamentarians to Criminalize Early Marriage, 2021, aeflwomen.com/en/launching-the-campaign-1000-%d8%ac%d9%85%d8%b9%d9%8a%d8%a9-1000-associations-to-call-the-president-and-the-egyptian-parliamentarians-to-criminalize-early-marriage (accessed November 2021).
• Bassem, R., Emara, R., El Domy, S., El Hagry, Y, Curbing Child Marriage in Egypt, 2018, fount.aucegypt.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1064&context=studenttxt (accessed October 2021).
• Child Law, 2008, nccm-egypt.org/e7/e2498/e2691/infoboxContent2692/ChildLawno126english_eng.pdf (accessed March 2020).
• Egypt Independent, Child marriage in Egypt reaches 117,000 children: CAPMAS, website, 2018, egyptindependent.com/child-marriage-in-egypt-reaches-117000-children-capmas/ (accessed March 2020).
• Egypt Independent, Head of Egypts NCWR calls on Parliament to ratifies 21 as legal age of girls marriage,website, 2017, egyptindependent.com/head-egypts-ncwr-calls-parliament-ratifies-21-legal-age-girls-marriage/ (accessed March 2020).
• Human Rights Watch, Egypt: New penalties for Female Genital Mutilation, 2016, hrw.org/news/2016/09/09/egypt-new-penalties-female-genital-mutilation (accessed November 2021).
• Girls Not Brides, Child marriage in humanitarian settings, 2018, girlsnotbrides.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Child-marriage-in-humanitarian-settings (accessed January 2020).
• International Centre for Research on Women, More Power to Her – How empowering girls can end child marriage, 2014, icrw.org/publications/more-power-to-her-how-empowering-girls-can-end-child-marriage/ (accessed March 2020).
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, Joint statement on child, early and forced marriage, HRC 27, Agenda Item 3, website, 2014, fngeneve.um.dk/en/aboutus/statements/newsdisplaypage/?newsid=6371ad93-8fb0-4c35-b186-820fa996d379 (accessed March 2020).
• Ministry of Health and Population, Egypt Demographic and Health Survey, 2014, 2015, dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR302/FR302.pdf (accessed March 2020).
• Ministry of International Cooperation, Egypt National Review Report for Input to the 2016 HLPF, 2016, sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/10738egypt.pdf (accessed March 2020).
• National Council for Childhood and Motherhood, Ending Violence Against Children in Egypt National Strategic Framework, 2018, http://nccm.gov.eg/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/إستراتيجية-مناهضة-العنف.pdf (accessed March 2020).
• The Caravan, Egypt Takes Steps to Eradicate Child Marriage, website, 2017, auccaravan.com/?p=6636 (accessed March 2020).
• The Egyptian Association for Community Participation Enhancement, Second Shadow Report for the CEDAW Coalition, Egypt, 2009, wluml.org/sites/wluml.org/files/Shadow%20Report%20CEDAW%20EACPE.pdf (accessed March 2020).
• The Guardian, Senior Islamic cleric issues fatwa against child marriage, website, 2019, theguardian.com/global-development/2019/jun/21/senior-islamic-cleric-issues-fatwa-against-child-marriage (accessed March 2020).
• The National Council for Childhood & Motherhood Child Rights Observatory, Policy for Action: Ending Child Marriage, 2018, unicef.org/egypt/media/3586/file/Policy%20Brief%20Final%20(Child%20Marriage).pdf (accessed March 2020).
• UN CEDAW, Concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, 2010, p.7, tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=CEDAW/C/EGY/CO/7&Lang=En (accessed March 2020).
• UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 44 of the Convention, 2011, p.18, tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=CRC/C/EGY/CO/3-4&Lang=En (accessed March 2020).
• UN General Assembly, Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review: Egypt, 2014, p.22, ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/Pages/EGIndex.aspx (accessed March 2020).; UN General Assembly, Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review: Egypt, 2019, p. 23-25, ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/Pages/EGIndex.aspx (accessed March 2020).; UN Women, Multi-Country Analytical Study of Legislation, Policies, Interventions and Cultural Practices on Child Marriage in Africa, 2018, www2.unwomen.org/-/media/field%20office%20africa/attachments/publications/2019/multicountry%20analytical%20study%20of%20policies%20interventions%20%20cultural%20practices%20on%20child%20marriage%20in%20afr.pdf?la=en&vs=2727 (accessed November 2021).; UN Women, Women´s needs and gender equality in Egypt´s COVID-19 response, 2020, www2.unwomen.org/-/media/field%20office%20egypt/attachments/publications/2020/04/unwomen_brief_covid-19_egypt_response.pdf?la=en&vs=5554 (accessed November 2021).; UNICEF, Egypt MENA Gender Equality profile, Status of Girls and Women in the Middle East and North Africa, 2011, unicef.org/gender/files/Egypt-Gender-Eqaulity-Profile-2011.pdf (accessed March 2020).; UNICEF Egypt, In a journey of girl empowerment, website, 2020, unicef.org/egypt/stories/journey-girl-empowerment (accessed April 2020).; UNICEF global databases 2020, based on Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), and other national surveys. Population data from United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects 2019, Online Edition. Rev. 1.; UNICEF Middle East and North Africa Regional Office and International Centre for Research on Women, Child Marriage in the Middle East and North Africa, United Nations Childrens Fund, 2017, unicef.org/mena/media/1786/file/MENA-ChildMarriageInMENA-Report.pdf.pdf (accessed March 2020).; UNICEF Middle East and North Africa Regional Office, Egypt Country Brief UNICEF Regional Study on Child Marriage in the Middle East and North Africa, 2017, unicef.org/mena/media/1796/file/MENA-CMReport-EgyptBrief.pdf.pdf (accessed October 2021).; UNICEF, Policy for Action: Ending Child Marriage, 2018, unicef.org/egypt/sites/unicef.org.egypt/files/2018-06/Child%20Marriage%20Policy%20Brief%20EN%20FINAL.PDF (accessed October 2021).; UNICEF and The American University in Cairo, Policy Brief Curbing Child Marriage in Egypt, 2018, documents.aucegypt.edu/Docs/GAPP/Public%20Policy%20Hub%20Webpage/8-%20Curbing%20Child%20Marriage%20in%20Egypt%20Policy%20Brief%20-%20En.pdf (accessed October 2021).; UNICEF, The State of the Worlds Children 2021, 2021, unicef.org/media/108161/file/SOWC-2021-full-report-English.pdf (accessed October 2021).; United Nations, Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform, website, 2017, sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg5 (accessed March 2020).; United States State Department, Trafficking in Persons Report, 2015, 2009-2017.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/2015//index.htm (accessed March 2020).; World Bank and International Centre for Research on Women, Economic Impacts of Child Marriage: Global Synthesis Report, 2017, documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/530891498511398503/pdf/116829-WP-P151842-PUBLIC-EICM-Global-Conference-Edition-June-27.pdf (accessed March 2020).

What is the average age of marriage in Brazil?

In Brazil, 6.2 people legally married for every thousand people of marriageable age in 2019. The average age difference between men and women getting married was nearly three years: men married at 31 and women at 28. The number of divorces dropped 0.5% between 2018 and 2019. The divorce rate fell from 2.6% to 2.5%.

What is the average age to get married in Egypt?

The average age for women in Egypt to get married is 20.8 years old, but this varies by background. 6. It is lower in rural areas (20.0 years) and Upper Egypt (19.9 years) than in Lower Egypt (20.8).

What is the divorce rate in Egypt?

Twenty-five out of every hundred new marriages end in divorce. The highest rate of divorce is among people aged 20 to 30. Divorces increased by 14.7% in 2021 compared to 2020, according to previous CAPMAS reports.