Yet one of the most persistent obstacles to realizing this vision is the prevalence of child marriage and its negative impact on Africa’s productive capacities. Child marriage is among the most underestimated structural constraints on Africa’s capacity to harness its demographic dividend. Translating evidence into effective policies will require a shift in approach — a one where ending child marriage is seen as a core component of Africa’s economic strategy. Ending child marriage practice will not, on its own, ensure that Africa will reach its development goals. Recognizing that ending child marriage is an economic as much as social imperative would be an important step forward.

Source: The North Africa Journal January 18, 2026 15:41 UTC