Rabat – A new report published in the Official Bulletin revealed that Moroccan courts received 16,790 requests for child marriage in 2024, with girls making up the overwhelming majority of cases.
According to the data, 16,501 requests (about 98%) involved girls, while 254 involved boys. The report also shows that over 64% of requests were approved by judges, despite the legal marriage age in Morocco being 18.
While the total number of child marriage requests dropped slightly compared to 2023, from around 20,000 to 16,790, the approval rate remains high. This shows that the practice continues to be widely tolerated in many parts of the country, with loopholes keeping the practice alive.
Most of these marriages involved minors aged 16 and 17, with only a small number of cases concerning girls younger than 15. Rural areas remain disproportionately affected, representing around 78% of all requests, compared to just 22% in urban regions.
Educational status also plays a role, the report indicates. Over 90% of child marriage requests were made by minors who were not in school, showing a clear link between education dropout and early marriage.
Women’s rights advocates have long argued that Morocco’s current family law, which allows judges to approve exceptions to the legal marriage age, leaves a loophole that perpetuates child marriage. They are calling for reforms to close this gap and better protect girls’ rights.
These numbers show that despite progress, Moroccan laws still allow young girls to lose their childhood under the guise of “legal exceptions,” many argue.
The figures come as Morocco is discussing a major reform of its Family Code, known as the Moudawana, with child marriage remaining one of the most debated issues.
In December last year, the Higher Council of Ulemas approved several provisions that the committee tasked with reviewing the family code presented. These include setting the marriage age at 18 for both boys and girls, with the only exception being minors aged 17, but under specific, strictly controlled conditions.
