155 underage girls married early in Uzbekistan since the beginning of the year

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Early marriages in Uzbekistan surges sevenfold, love accounts for a quarter (video)

During the first nine months of 2025, a total of 155 girls aged 15–17 were married early in Uzbekistan. This was announced by Minister of Health Asilbek Khudoyorov in his interview with the “Uzbekistan 24” TV channel on October 14, following a videoconference chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on improving the mahalla system and ensuring efficiency at the local level.

“Our President expressed critical views on the issue of early marriages among young people, especially among girls. According to statistics, as of this period of the year, 155 cases of early marriage involving girls aged 15–17 have been identified in our country,” the minister said.

He noted that modern medicine has proven the high probability of children being born with disabilities as a result of early marriages and unions between close relatives.

The minister also mentioned that during the videoconference led by the President, cases of women becoming pregnant twice within one calendar year without proper birth spacing, as well as the birth of weak and unhealthy children, were highlighted.

According to the Minister of Health, extensive and effective public awareness campaigns will be launched to prevent such cases. If similar situations are repeated, they will be discussed and addressed at the mahalla level.

It is worth noting that during the same videoconference, it was reported that nearly 32,000 families had divorced since the beginning of the year, around 16,000 parents were evading alimony payments, and there were cases of parents abandoning their families and children with outstanding loan debts. The negative consequences of early and consanguineous marriages were noted as serious concerns that should alarm local authorities, mahalla representatives, elders, and society as a whole.