Child Marriage Surge Threatens Girls in Gaza

New York/ Jerusalem, 6 April 2026 – After more than two years of war, displacement and deprivation, youth in Gaza face emergency levels of depression and anxiety, while protection concerns for adolescent girls are spiking, with a sharp rise in child marriage and early pregnancy, according to new analysis by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Child marriage and early pregnancy

Before the war, child marriage in Palestine had fallen significantly, from 26 per cent in 2009 to 11 per cent in 2022. Yet, a UNFPA survey in 2024 points to growing pressure to marry girls under 18 and widespread concern across communities. More recent tracking of emergency court records further underscores this trend: at least 400 girls aged 14 to 16 were granted marriage permissions over just four months in 2025 (based on paper records reviewed by partner organisations). These figures likely represent only a fraction of the reality. With registration systems largely collapsed, many marriages are conducted informally and go unrecorded. At the same time, service providers report increasing cases of forced and early marriage across communities. Taken together, the evidence signals a clear and alarming shift: child marriage is rising again under the pressure of war.

“We are witnessing the dismantling of a generation’s future,” said Nestor Owomuhangi, UNFPA Country Representative for the State of Palestine. “Girls in Gaza are not choosing marriage – they are being driven into it by hunger, fear and displacement. A 15-year-old girl should be in a classroom, not facing the life-threatening risks of pregnancy in a world where health care has all but collapsed. Child marriage is not protection – it is a form of gender-based violence that robs girls of their childhood, their health and their future.”

As child marriage rises, so too does adolescent pregnancy. Adolescent birth rates have more than doubled compared to pre-war levels (Ministry of Health/UNFPA SRH Dashboard - 2025 Data). Adolescent girls face significantly higher risks of complications during pregnancy and childbirth, particularly as access to health care is severely constrained. Early marriage also exposes girls to increased risks of physical, emotional and sexual violence. In 2025, across the Occupied Palestinian territories, adolescent girls accounted for 12 per cent of all reported gender-based violence survivors, underscoring their heightened vulnerability. At the same time, girls are cut off from education, economic opportunities and support systems.

UNFPA analysis shows that child marriage in Gaza is increasingly driven by survival, not choice. Families facing extreme poverty and displacement are resorting to marriage as a coping mechanism, sometimes to access basic resources. Displacement and insecurity, including overcrowded shelters and fear of violence, are reinforcing marriage as a perceived form of protection among families. The collapse of education and loss of caregivers have further increased girls’ vulnerability. Under these conditions, pre-existing harmful social norms are being reinforced, with decisions about marriage increasingly made without girls’ consent.

A generation of young Palestinians at risk

Child marriage is one part of a broader protection crisis for an entire generation of young Palestinians. The psychological toll on young people in Gaza is profound. Four in ten youth report symptoms of depression, or moderate to severe anxiety, while 61 per cent show signs of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Years of occupation, war, displacement, movement restrictions, and lack of access to education or jobs have left 70% of youth feeling unsafe. Together, these pressures will have lasting consequences for young people’s health, well-being and future.

UNFPA Response

UNFPA has scaled up support through safe spaces for girls to prevent and respond to child marriage and early pregnancy. These safe spaces provide counselling, life skills and guidance on protection risks. UNFPA also provides cash assistance to vulnerable households, and distributes ‘dignity kits’ with essential supplies to help girls maintain safety and dignity when displaced. UNFPA also supports youth through health services and life-skills training. “Any investment in Gaza’s future must include investing in youth to support their recovery and open up pathways to education and jobs so they can allow hope to once again take hold,” said Mr. Owomuhangi. UNFPA is seeking US$20 million to scale up its support for adolescent girls and youth, as part of its $110 million humanitarian and recovery programme for Gaza, of which just $10 million has been received to date.

Media Contacts

• New York: Zina Alam; zialam@unfpa.org; media@unfpa.org
• Jerusalem: Mohammed Nasr; nasr@unfpa.org