Child marriage in Belize is a pervasive issue, trapping both young girls and boys in a cycle of poverty and inequality. However, although the rates of child marriage remain high, organizations and the government have committed to addressing the issue.

Key Child Marriage Statistics in Belize

In Belize, child marriage is more prevalent among girls, with 34% of girls marrying or entering a union before they turn 18 and 6% before they turn 15. However, Belize also has one of the highest rates of boy marriage in the world, with 22% of them marrying before the age of 18 and 5% before 15.

One of the key drivers of this high rate of child marriage is the education level. According to Girls Not Brides, 16% of the girls who had received no education were married before they turned 18. Additionally, 26% of girls who were married between the ages of 15 and 19 did not complete their education beyond the primary level.

Poverty is also a key driver of child marriage. About 11% of the girls who were married before their 18th birthday came from some of the most impoverished households in Belize, compared to 3% from the richest households.

Initiatives 

The government is committed to combating child marriage in Belize. In 2024, it submitted a voluntary national review into the elimination of gender-based violence, of which child marriage is part. Furthermore, in 2020, the government developed the Road Map to End Child Marriage and Early Unions in Belize. It focuses on taking action in the health, education, child protection and economic development sectors as a holistic approach to combating child marriage in Belize.

Organizations such as the Spotlight Initiative have also been crucial in combating child marriage. This initiative, started by the United Nations (U.N.), is working to tackle gender inequality and violence in Belize by establishing mobile women’s centers. These centers provide crucial services to women, such as “sexual and reproductive health services, legal advice, psychosocial support and information on gender-based violence.”

Therefore, the women who visit these centers are not only more aware and educated about their choices, but also less vulnerable to gender-based violence such as child marriage. Because the centers are free, the underserved and most vulnerable women in Belize can now access services they previously could not afford.

Looking Forward

While the initiatives put forward by the government and the U.N. are a crucial step in combating child marriage in Belize, poverty, lack of education and ingrained patriarchal notions about the status of women and girls are key drivers of child marriage. 

– Victoria Adrados

Victoria Adrados is based in London and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr