Within the Sudanese Neur tribe, women who cannot have children are sometimes married off as a 'husband' to other women - who are in turn impregnated by 'secret boyfriends'. The barren woman is from then recognised as the legitimate father of the respective child. The idea behind this is that the father of these women will still be able to add to their family line.

Are civil partnerships permitted?

No

legal age of consent

18

polygamy legal status

Legal

Sudan ranks 9th in the countries with the highest child marriage rates.


In the developing world, one in seven girls is married before her 15th birthday and some child brides are as young as eight or nine.

Married by 15

9%

Married by 18

52%

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