PROSPERED Dataset: Minimum Age for Marriage

This dataset captures the minimum age at which boys and girls can legally marry. It also identifies whether exceptions can be made to minimum age laws. The database is coded for girls and for boys separately, so it is possible to analyze gender. Scope: For the minimum age and minimum age with parental consent variables, longitudinal data is available for every year between 1995 and 2012 for the 121 countries that have been surveyed by either the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) or the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) at least once between those dates. Variables on other exceptions to minimum age of marriage are not available for the years 1995 to 1998. *Additional variables on age of marriage in customary law can be obtained for the years 1999-2012 upon request