Marriage under 18 is not illegal, although Somalias constitution prohibits it and the country is signed up to several international treaties promising to tackle it. In July 2014, the government signed a charter committing to end child marriage by 2020.

How old do you have to be to marry in Somalia?

There is no law mandating a minimum age for marriage in Somalia. A bill introduced in parliament this month by a presidential ally caused a storm of criticism from lawmakers when they realised it would legalise marriage at puberty - as early as 10 for some girls.

What countries is child marriage legal?

In Iraq, Jamaica and Uruguay, children can marry with parental permission. In about one fifth of countries (38), there are different minimum ages for men and women, and almost always the girl is younger. For example, in Bangladesh, women must be 18 and men must be 21 to marry.

How many wives can you have in Somalia?

four wives Polygamy may be practised in some areas of Somalia, whereby a man may have up to four wives. However, a man is only allowed to take multiple wives if he can afford to provide for each of them properly (such as providing them their own individual living quarters and kitchen).