GERMAN STATE RECORDS 358 CHILD MARRIAGE CASES, INCLUDING GIRLS AS YOUNG AS 11

By NaijaParrot October 12, 2026 

 GERMANY — 

Authorities in the German state of Baden-Württemberg have documented 358 cases involving child marriages since 2012, including cases in which girls as young as 11 were married to older males. The figures have renewed concerns about child protection, forced marriage and the legal handling of marriages involving minors. According to a report published by German newspaper WELT on October 12, the figures emerged from the state government’s response to questions raised by lawmakers. Of the 358 documented cases, only eight marriages had been legally annulled, while the remaining 350 were recorded under other forms of case closure.

One of the cases involved an 11-year-old Iraqi girl who was married to a 17-year-old Iraqi boy in 2020. The marriage was subsequently annulled. Another case involved a 14-year-old Afghan girl who was married to a 30-year-old Afghan man. That marriage was also annulled, according to the report. The records also included marriages involving 12-year-old girls and adult men. Among the cases documented were a 12-year-old Afghan girl married to an 18-year-old man in 2020, a 12-year-old Syrian girl married to a 28-year-old Syrian man in 2022, and a 12-year-old Afghan girl married to a 21-year-old Afghan man in 2023.

 The report stated that Baden-Württemberg recorded eight legally annulled child marriages between 2018 and 2024. The remaining 350 cases, covering the period from 2015 to 2026, were classified as other forms of closure rather than legally annulled marriages. Authorities identified several possible reasons why cases were closed without annulment. These included a minor reaching adulthood before a court decision became final, the death of a spouse, a decision not to annul a marriage, or a subsequent marriage abroad. Therefore, the figure of 350 does not mean that all those marriages were approved by authorities or remain legally valid under every applicable circumstance. 

 Germany generally sets the minimum legal age for marriage at 18. The country’s legal framework has also undergone changes concerning marriages involving minors entered into abroad. In 2024, Germany adopted new rules aimed at strengthening protections for minors affected by such marriages. The cases have raised questions about how authorities identify vulnerable children, protect those at risk of forced marriage and handle marriages entered into when one or both partners were underage. 

 The report also highlighted figures from Yasemin, a counselling service funded by the state that assists people affected by forced marriage. The service recorded 271 counselling cases in 2025. In 80 cases, individuals were reportedly at risk of forced marriage, including 33 minors. Four of those at risk were younger than 12, while five were 12 years old and two were 13. These figures concern people who sought counselling over the threat of forced marriage; they should not be interpreted as confirmed cases of completed child marriages.  

Although the figures have attracted attention under the broader subject of child marriage in Germany, the total of 358 refers specifically to Baden-Württemberg, not the whole country. The data also covers different case outcomes and does not establish that all the marriages involved coercion. However, the reported ages in several cases raise serious child-protection concerns.  

The figures highlight the challenges authorities face in dealing with marriages involving minors, particularly when the marriages were entered into abroad and legal proceedings do not result in annulment. The cases also underscore the importance of protecting children from forced marriage and ensuring that vulnerable minors have access to legal assistance, counselling and appropriate support. 

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