Climate Change Linked to Rising Child Marriages in Developing Countries

A report by the French newspaper Le Parisien claims that climate change is increasing the rate of child marriages in developing countries. According to this report, environmental disasters are compelling impoverished families to marry off their daughters at younger ages. The article, titled ‘She was only 12: Climate change, a new accelerator of child marriage,’ highlights cases in Bangladesh and Kenya where weather-related disasters have led to early marriages.

The newspaper argues that in countries like Bangladesh and Kenya, climate disasters are worsening child marriage rates by destroying incomes and homes. Families are thus pressured into marrying their daughters at increasingly younger ages. Moms for Liberty CEO and co-founder Tina Descovich criticized this perspective. She believes that attributing child marriages to climate change shifts accountability away from those responsible for exploiting children. According to Descovich, it diverts attention from the need for strong families and parental responsibility.

The article notes that Plan International’s 2026 report supports these claims. In their research, they surveyed 5,000 girls and young women across Bangladesh, Kenya, Peru, Senegal, and Zimbabwe. In these surveys, 36% observed an increase in child marriages following climate-related disasters, while 11% had personally experienced it.

The newspaper detailed the plight of a 12-year-old girl in Bangladesh married after facing harassment in a cyclone shelter. Her child died soon after birth, causing severe health issues for her. Another case involved Runa, a 15-year-old Bangladeshi girl. Her mother arranged her marriage after a cyclone wrecked their livelihood. Despite her initial reluctance, she returned to school with help from aid groups.

Child marriage remains prevalent in Bangladesh. UNICEF’s 2025 survey revealed that 47.2% of women aged 20 to 24 were married before 18, though the rate has decreased since 2019. UNICEF attributes child marriage to poverty, persistent gender norms, harmful traditions, educational barriers, and climate-related disasters.

The 2017 Child Marriage Restraint Act in Bangladesh generally prohibits marriage for girls under 18, but exceptions exist with parental consent and court approval. Plan International states that climate-related disasters put extra financial pressure on families, especially those reliant on agriculture and livestock. Tanushree Soni from Plan International highlighted financial stress as a key trigger.

Research underscores an observed link between weather-related disasters and child marriages. However, the survey findings do not make a direct connection between human-caused climate change and the specific marriages described.