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Child marriage laws

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The repository of child marriage laws of the Gender Equality Observatory for Latin America and the Caribbean gathers more than 30 normative bodies and legal rulings, classified by country, from 31 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, in addition to the legislation of Spain and Portugal on this issue.

These laws are classified into: those of countries that absolutely prohibit marriage before the age of 18; those that allow marriage from the age of 16 through judicial authorization or legal representatives; and finally, those that allow it before the age of 16 for qualified reasons.

Child marriage is currently prohibited in 9 countries in Latin America and 2 in the Caribbean. The last country to legislate this prohibition was the Dominican Republic in January 2021.

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  • 1901
    Guyana

    Chapter 45:01, Marriage Act

    Section 31(1) states that where either of the parties, not being a widower or widow, or a divorced person, is under the age of eighteen years, no marriage shall take place between them until the consent of the appropiate person or persons has been obtained. However, section 32(2) states that if a female under the age of sixteen years becomes pregnant or is delivered of a child, she may apply by petition to a Judge of the High Court, for permission to be married.  
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