In Uzbekistan, the authorities intend to encourage citizens to marry at a more mature age. Currently, more than one-third of marriages in this most populous country in Central Asia are contracted by individuals who have reached adulthood. Tashkent offers various benefits to couples who marry after the age of 21 — an age considered socially and economically mature for starting a family. In addition to encouragement, there are also penalties, as noted by Azattyk Asia.
“EARLY MARRIAGE TOOK AWAY A LOT FROM ME”
Marhabo, a resident of Tashkent, married at 17. She acknowledges that this step was her own decision, not a result of family pressure.
“I married my cousin, whom I loved. We had our wedding in August after I graduated from the 11th grade in May, and by September, I started studying at the university. Even though my family was against early marriage, I didn’t listen to them. Now I understand that they were right, but it was too late. My mother-in-law, who was actually my cousin's aunt, demanded that I fulfill all household duties. It was difficult, especially when studying took up so much time. After ten months of marriage, I gave birth to a daughter, which complicated my life, and I had to take an academic leave,” Marhabo shares in an interview with Azattyk Asia.
Now she is 52 years old. She actively speaks out against early marriages and always tells her daughter that it is better to marry at a mature age.
“I have always told my daughter that even if she falls in love with someone, I will not allow her to marry as early as I did. I lost a lot due to early marriage. I couldn’t enjoy student life like others, and I constantly had to ask my parents for money. The constant stress and early motherhood affected my health,” Marhabo adds.
At the end of 2025, Uzbekistan proposed to tighten penalties for de facto marriages with minors and to prohibit unions between relatives up to the fourth degree.
Early marriages, in which one or both parties have not reached adulthood, have long been a common occurrence in Uzbekistan. However, in the last 15 years, the situation has begun to change. According to official statistics, the number of early marriages contracted in the country has decreased from more than 8,000 in 2010 to 68 in 2023. In the first nine months of 2025, 155 marriages were registered where girls were aged 15-17.
In 2024, the non-governmental organization Equality Now included Uzbekistan in the list of countries with a problem of early marriages, noting that although the overall number of such unions has decreased to 3.4 percent, in the eastern regions this figure remains at 11 percent.
“The problem is mainly observed in several districts, such as the Chirakchin district in the Kashkadarya region and the city of Margilan in the Fergana region, where traditional patriarchal views still prevail,” explains Sayyora Khojaeva, director of the Institute of Democracy and Human Rights.
Discussing the situation with early marriages in Uzbekistan, experts emphasize that social pressure is a key factor.
“Early marriages negatively affect health and education. Research shows that the risk of complications during childbirth for girls aged 15-19 is twice as high as for the adult population. However, this problem is not only about personal decisions but also about the social environment in which these girls grow up,” comments activist Muazzam Ibrakhimova from the non-governmental organization "Mehrjon," which focuses on the rights of mothers and children.
ECONOMIC INCENTIVES AND LEGAL TOOLS
Human rights organizations are calling on the Uzbek authorities to implement material incentive strategies to prevent early marriages and ensure that girls have the opportunity to continue their education.
Recently, the Uzbek leadership decided to take steps to promote marriages at a more conscious age, including economic support and legal mechanisms.
On March 3, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree stating that starting in 2027, young families entering marriage for the first time, with both parties being at least 21 years old, will receive additional benefits. Subsidies and grants for professional activities will increase by 50% from current norms. The bride and groom will be able to avoid paying the state fee for marriage registration if they enter into a marriage contract.
Additionally, the authorities announced the launch of training programs for newlyweds. It is reported that by 2030, all couples entering marriage will undergo free courses titled “Preparation for a Happy Family Life Without Domestic Violence” at specialized centers.
Until 2019, women could marry at 17. Then a law was introduced establishing an equal marriage age for men and women — 18 years. This led to a sharp decrease in the number of 17-year-old brides in 2020 by 97% — to 88 nationwide.
The laws still provide for valid reasons to lower the age by one year, such as pregnancy or childbirth. To register a marriage involving minors, one must apply to local authorities. Now the authorities plan to establish a comprehensive list of grounds for lowering the marriage age, as stated by Nodira Hakimova, deputy head of the presidential administration for judicial reforms.
“Reasons such as ‘grandma wants it’ or ‘the groom needs to take the bride out of the country’ will no longer be grounds for marrying minors,” she emphasized.
There is also an article in Uzbekistan's Code of Administrative Offenses concerning violations of marriage age legislation. It provides for liability for men who marry minors, their parents, and those who conduct religious ceremonies, and will now also extend to those who facilitate such marriages.
The state also intends to introduce liability for concealing facts of early marriages and pregnancies of underage girls.
OBVIOUS REASONS FOR CHANGE
The reasons why the authorities of Uzbekistan are considering changes in legislation are clear.
According to statistics, about 40% of all marriages are contracted between young people aged 18-19, who typically lack financial independence and education. Many newlyweds live under one roof with elderly relatives, which often leads to conflicts and domestic violence.
The authorities aim to reduce the number of immature marriages and decrease the number of divorces, which, according to official data, account for about 30% of all divorces among couples under 30 years old.
Traditional views remain strong in densely populated and rural areas, where decisions about marriages are made by relatives.
“I married early and experienced all the difficulties. After the divorce, I raised two children alone and did not want the same fate for my only daughter,” says 45-year-old Gulnosa from Bukhara.
However, family circumstances forced her to marry her daughter immediately after she reached adulthood.
“The father of my children lives in Russia and does not participate in their lives, and I have been working in Turkey for more than ten years. I couldn’t take the children with me, so I left them with relatives and constantly sent money. As soon as my daughter turned 16, my relatives began insisting that I marry her off. They said they couldn’t control her and that she might bring shame to the family. If I could live and work in my homeland, I would have sent her to study. But when a good family from our village made a proposal, I agreed because my family didn’t want her to stay under their supervision,” the woman recounts.
In Uzbekistan, as in other Central Asian countries, the minimum marriage age for men and women is 18 years. In exceptional cases, such as if a girl is pregnant, the marriage age can be lowered to 17 years.
“MONEY ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM”
Sayyora Khojaeva, director of the Institute of Democracy and Human Rights, supports the authorities' initiative to encourage later marriages but emphasizes that financial measures alone are not enough to solve this problem.
“I tried to find information on international practices of financial incentives for marriage but found none. This indicates a lack of interest from both the state and the leadership in addressing the issue. Research by the World Health Organization shows that girls in Central Asia reach adulthood at about 19 years, while boys do so at 21 years. Financial measures can certainly attract young people, but they are insufficient for changing the legal culture. It is necessary to strengthen the legal culture through education,” says Khojaeva.
The psychologist Muazzam Ibrakhimova shares a similar view.
“Money alone cannot prevent early marriages. If a girl is given the opportunity to receive an education and build a career, she will not rush into marriage. In a society with opportunities, the number of early marriages will naturally decrease. The most effective measure is to ensure continuous education for girls. Research shows that where girls receive pre-university training, the number of early marriages decreases,” notes the expert.
The state is already taking some measures. Starting next academic year, female students who left their studies to give birth will be given a chance to return to university to continue their education. Conditions will be created for those raising children so that they can master the study material.
Marhabo from Tashkent supports the government's actions. She believes that a girl should be emotionally mature and financially independent at the time of marriage.
“I have always told my daughter: first get an education, find a job, and create a financial foundation, and then think about marriage. I am glad that my daughter listened to me,” concludes Marhabo.
The post In Uzbekistan, authorities have decided to encourage mature marriages contrary to traditions first appeared on K-News.
