People > Marriage, divorce and children > Marriageable age > Notes: Countries Compared

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COUNTRY	DESCRIPTION
Afghanistan	In some cases, even younger girls are forced to marry at the age of 8.
Albania	url= http://genderindex.org/country/albania |title=Gender Equality in Albania | Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) |publisher=Genderindex.org |date= |accessdate=2013-01-14}}</ref>
Algeria	Lower with judicial permission if necessity or benefit is established.
Angola	Parental consent, although this restriction is not enforced effectively and the traditional age of marriage in lower income groups often coincides with the onset of puberty.
Argentina	Lower with judicial consent only in exceptional cases.
Armenia	title=UN Committee on the Rights of the Child: Second Periodic Reports of States Parties Due in 2000, Armenia|url= http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,CRC,,ARM,,45377e75b,0.html|publisher=UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC)}} See section 48</ref>
Australia	16 with permission from a court and both parents (only granted in exceptional circumstances).
Austria	url= http://www.bmeia.gv.at/en/embassy/canberra/practical-advice/travelling-to-austria/marriage-in-austria.html |title=Austrian Foreign Ministry -> Embassy -> Canberra -> Marriage in Austria |publisher=Bmeia.gv.at |date= |accessdate=2013-01-14}}</ref>
Azerbaijan	17 or 16 correspondingly in special cases.
Bangladesh	Bangladeshi law provides for penal sanctions for the contraction of under-age marriages, though such unions are not considered invalid.
Belarus	url= http://www.ageofconsent.com/belarus.htm |title=Belarus |publisher=Age of Consent |date= |accessdate=2013-01-14}}</ref>
Belgium	Younger with parental and judicial consent, but permission is only granted in "extreme" situations such as pregnancy.
Brazil	16 with parental or guardian consent. The marriage of someone who is under 16 years can also be authorized, but only in cases of pregnancy, or to avoid the imposition of a criminal penalty (statutory rape).
Brunei	Cite error: There are <ref> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist}} template (see the help page ).
Bulgaria	16 with parental consent and permission of the local court but the other partner must be 18 or older.
Canada	Varies by province , but generally 18 years old, 16 years with parental consent, and 15 years with judicial consent.
Chile	16 with parental consent.
China	Cite error: There are <ref> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist}} template (see the help page ).
Colombia	If married under 18 and without parents' consent, the minor can lose from half to all his inheritance rights. However, the marriage will still be valid.
Croatia	16 with court permission.
Cyprus	author=cyprus-wedding.com |url= http://www.cyprus-wedding.com/Cyprus_marriage_rules.htm |title=Cyprus marriage rules and regulations - Cyprus wedding paperwork |publisher=Cyprus-wedding.com |date= |accessdate=2013-01-14}}</ref>
Czech Republic	16 with parental consent but the other partner must be 18 or older.
Denmark	15 with an exemption named "Kongebrev" (which is a "letter from the king [granting an exemption]"). Today, local authorities may give approval if the couple has their own home. A foreigner marrying a Dane does not receive residency permission, unless both spouses are at least 24 years old under the 24 year rule .
Egypt	The age was raised in 2008 from 16 to 18 for females.
Estonia	url= http://www.ageofconsent.com/estonia.htm |title=Estonia - Age of sexual consent |publisher=Ageofconsent.com |date= |accessdate=2013-01-14}}</ref>
Ethiopia	Cite error: There are <ref> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist}} template (see the help page ).
Fiji	Cite error: There are <ref> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist}} template (see the help page ).
Finland	Under 18 with the consent of the ministry of justice in extraordinary circumstances, in which case parents or other guardian must be heard, but actual parental consent is not required.
France	url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4838090.stm | work=BBC News | title=France raises marriage age limit | date=23 March 2006}}</ref> but the age condition may be waived with a special dispense granted by the authorities if at least one parent consents to the marriage (or one grandparent if both parents are dead or unable to give consent, or a family council if all parents and grandparents are dead or unable to give consent). After 18, parents (or grandparents) may still prevent the marriage by refusing their consent, but their opposition may be waived by the authorities, whereas before 18, their consent is absolutely needed.
Georgia	15 with parental consent.
Germany	16 with court permission and parental consent.
Greece	16 with consent from both parents and court permission.
Hong Kong	url= http://www.legislation.gov.hk/eng/home.htm |title=Department of Justice: Bilingual Laws Information System |publisher=Legislation.gov.hk |date= |accessdate=2013-01-14}}</ref>
Hungary	16 with parental consent.
Iceland	Under 18 with parental consent and permission of the Ministry of the Interior.
India	url= http://india.gov.in/howdo/howdoi.php?service=3 |title=Obtain Marriage Certificate - How do I: National Portal of India |publisher=India.gov.in |date= |accessdate=2013-01-14}}</ref> If any partner(s) engages in marriage at a younger age, (s)he can ask for the marriage to be declared void. A recent recommendation by the Law Commission aims to equalize the marriage age for males and females to 18. Official policy automatically declares marriages under 16 as "null and void", while marriages at the age of 16 or 17 are "voidable". In 2012, high court has declared that Muslim women can marry at 15. Additionally, the report declares that "In spite of these legal provisions, child marriage is still widely practiced and a marriage solemnized in contravention of these provisions is not void even under the new PCMA, 1929, the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 and also under the Muslim Law."
Indonesia	url= http://www.law.emory.edu/ifl/legal/indonesia.htm |title=Indonesia |publisher=Law.emory.edu |date=1997-02-12 |accessdate=2013-01-14}}</ref>
Iran	Cite error: There are <ref> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist}} template (see the help page ).
Iraq	15 with judicial permission if fitness, physical capacity and guardian's consent (or unreasonable objection on part of guardian) are established. (These rules may have been revised after Saddam Hussein 's fall.)
Ireland	url= http://dublin.usembassy.gov/service/other-citizen-services/other-citizen-services/marriage-in-ireland.html |title=Marriage In Ireland | Embassy of the United States Dublin, Ireland |publisher=Dublin.usembassy.gov |date=2012-09-26 |accessdate=2013-01-14}}</ref>
Israel	Cite error: There are <ref> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist}} template (see the help page ).
Italy	16 with court consent.
Japan	url= http://tokyo.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-7114a.html |title=American Citizen Services | Embassy of the United States Tokyo, Japan |publisher=Tokyo.usembassy.gov |date=2012-10-17 |accessdate=2013-01-14}}</ref>
Jordan	Court permission is required for females under 18 to marry men older by 20 years or more.
Kazakhstan	16 with parental consent.
Kenya	Cite error: There are <ref> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist}} template (see the help page ).
Kuwait	url= http://www.law.emory.edu/ifl/legal/kuwait.htm |title=Kuwait, State of |publisher=Law.emory.edu |date=1962-11-11 |accessdate=2013-01-14}}</ref>
Kyrgyzstan	Cite error: There are <ref> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist}} template (see the help page ).
Latvia	16 with court and/or parental permission.
Lebanon	15, or 9 with judicial permission for Shi'a. 18 or 17 and 16 or 15 with judicial permission for Druze.
Libya	But lower with judicial permission on grounds of benefit or necessity and with wali's agreement.
Lithuania	url= http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:yvIqWHiISFgJ:www.interpol.int/Public/Children/SexualAbuse/NationalLaws/CsaLithuania.pdf lithuania age of consent interpol&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESi0C0o0KxrchPH7-cgnwLw8l9STSGqek6FgmlZbX1FW219q-nhlrRA4pHiMnbOZlQD4Ci-z8_TPuz3JGI5j3QeqE73RMNsoRtKjdtK-qJ9OxiQh8kGTRKil4Aoc80DOVrh4BX0X&sig=AHIEtbRwMRy1vEGSvVjsc2QmIUNUFc_l2A |title=Powered by Google Docs |publisher=Docs.google.com |date= |accessdate=2013-01-14}}</ref>
Madagascar	Cite error: There are <ref> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist}} template (see the help page ).
Malaysia	18 with parental consent. Muslim girls under 16 can marry with the permission of sharia authorities.
Maldives	According to custom, the minimum age for marriage is 15. The Law on the Protection of the Rights of the Child discourages marriage before the age of 16.
Mali	(Proposed by the Malian Family Code )
Malta	17 with parental consent.
Mauritania	Despite legislation defining marriageable age, judges can use their discretionary powers to marry even minors.
Mexico	title=C\u00d3DIGO Civil Federal|url= http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/ref/ccf.htm|accessdate=9 April 2012}}</ref>
Mongolia	url= http://genderindex.org/country/mongolia |title=Gender Equality in Mongolia | Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) |publisher=Genderindex.org |date= |accessdate=2013-01-14}}</ref>
Morocco	(This is not always followed in rural areas and many judges do not uphold this law and let women younger than 18 marry.) Cite error: There are <ref> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist}} template (see the help page ).
Nauru	Cite error: There are <ref> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist}} template (see the help page ).
Nepal	18 for males and 16 for females with parental permission.
Netherlands	Under 18 with parental consent; in case of pregnancy or with personal permission from the Minister of Justice.
New Zealand	16 with parental consent.
Niger	Cite error: There are <ref> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist}} template (see the help page ).
Nigeria	Cite error: There are <ref> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist}} template (see the help page ).
Norway	url= http://www.lovdata.no/all/hl-19910704-047.html#1 |title=LOV 1991-07-04 nr 47: Lov om ekteskap |publisher=Lovdata.no |date= |accessdate=2008-10-27}}</ref>
Pakistan	Cite error: There are <ref> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist}} template (see the help page ).
Papua New Guinea	Cite error: There are <ref> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist}} template (see the help page ).
Paraguay	Article 39, clause "b", of the Paraguayan Civil Code reads: \u201cThe legal incapacity of minors will cease: ...(b) for gentlemen of 16 and for women of 14 years completed, through marriage, with the limitations established in this Code\u201d .
Philippines	url= http://www.chanrobles.com/executiveorderno209.htm |title=Family Code of the Philippines |publisher=Gov.ph |date= |accessdate=2008-10-27}}</ref> On the other hand, Muslim marriages in the Philippines is based on the sharia : 15 years for males and as for females, the onset of puberty to age 15, whichever comes first.
Poland	16 for women with judicial approval.
Portugal	16 with parental consent (or if this is unattainable, the court can provide the consent).
Puerto Rico	(Younger parties may obtain license in case of pregnancy or birth of child), and 18 with parental consent.
Romania	url= http://www.e-juridic.ro/index.php?pag=a&id=130&s=Codul familiei&aid=1047 |title=Codul familiei - Incheierea casatoriei |publisher=E-juridic.ro |date= |accessdate=2008-10-27}}</ref>
Russia	author=helplinelaw |url= http://www.helplinelaw.com/article/russia/120 |title=Russia Marriage Procedure In Russia, Lawyers, Law Firms Lawyer, Injury, Attorney in Russia |publisher=Helplinelaw.com |date= |accessdate=2013-01-14}}</ref>
Senegal	Cite error: There are <ref> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist}} template (see the help page ).
Serbia	16 with court consent.
Singapore	18 with parental consent; below 18 with special marriage license.
Slovakia	url= http://family.jrank.org/pages/1587/Slovakia-Marriage.html |title=Slovakia - Marriage - Cohabitation, Family, Rights, and Law - JRank Articles |publisher=Family.jrank.org |date= |accessdate=2013-01-14}}</ref>
Slovenia	15 with parental consent.
Somalia	For females with guardian's consent. Court may grant exemption from minimum age requirements in case of necessity.
South Africa	For a marriage under the Marriage Act, 1961 , parental consent is required for the marriage of a party under the age of majority , which was formerly 21 but is now 18. The special consent of the Minister of Home Affairs is also required for the marriage of a girl under the age of 15 or a boy under the age of 18.
South Korea	With parental consent
South Sudan	With the consent of both parties, under the South Sudan Child Act 2008.
Spain	16 with parental consent.
Sri Lanka	However, the parties must have a Quazi's permission to marry before contracting into marriage if they are Muslims.
Sudan	With requirement for willing consent of both parties.
Sweden	Under 18 with permission from the county administrative board (LST). The county administrative board may only give permission when there are 'special reasons' but although the custodians of the underage should be heard if possible, the consent of the custodians is not required. Although the law specifies no lower age limit to enter into marriage, the policy of the LST is to not grant any permission to a person under 15 years of age.
Switzerland	url= http://www.admin.ch/ch/e/rs/210/a94.html |title=SR 210 Art. 94 A. Capacity to marry (Swiss Civil Code) |publisher=Admin.ch |date= |accessdate=2013-01-14}}</ref>
Syria	judicial discretion for males of 15 and females of 13; judge may withhold permission for marriage if court finds incompatibility in age between betrothed parties.
Tanzania	15 with court permission if specific circumstances make marriage appear desirable. The Penal Code provides that persons of "African or Asiatic descent" may marry or permit marriage of a girl under 12 in accordance with their custom or religion if marriage is not intended to be consummated before she is 12.
Thailand	url= http://www.siam-legal.com/Thailand_Service/thailand-marriage-laws.php |title=Marriage Registration in Thailand | Siam Legal International |publisher=Siam-legal.com |date= |accessdate=2013-01-14}}</ref>
Tunisia	Lower with judicial special permission for pressing reasons and with a clear interest for both spouses.
Turkey	17 with parental consent, 16 in special circumstances with court approval.
United Kingdom	England and Wales : 16 with parental consent.
United States	Generally 18, but varies by state. Most states allow minors to marry with judicial and/or parental consent. Main article: Age of marriage in United States of America
Uzbekistan	17 and 16 correspondingly in special conditions.
Venezuela	15 for females and 16 for males with parental consent.
Yemen	In practice, "Yemeni law allows girls of any age to wed, but it forbids sex with them until the indefinite time they are 'suitable for sexual intercourse'." Following the widely publicised divorce of a 10 year-old girl in 2008, and a 6 year old married, there have been public and parliamentary efforts to raise the age to 17 or 18.
Zimbabwe	The Marriages Act [Chapter 5:11]. Under this legislation, a man may marry at the minimum age of 18 while a woman may marry at the minimum age of 16.

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