47% of young Indian Women between the ages of 20 and 24 were married by 18

A 2011 data sheet called `The World's Women and Girls', released by the Washington-based Population Reference Bureau, shows that 47% of women in India between the ages of 20 and 24 were married by 18. This is higher than the average for South Central Asia (45%), of which India is a part. The average for Africa as a continent works out to 34%. Most African countries fare better than India.

Shameful statistics :

Region------------------% of women ages 20-24 married by age 18 :

South Central Asia (of which India is a part)---45
Africa------------------------ --------------------------34
Sub-Saharan Africa----------------------------------38
Northern Africa--------------------------------------17
Western Africa---------------------------------------42
Eastern Africa----------------------------------------41
Middle Africa----------------------------------------42
Southern Africa---------------------------------------6
Central America-------------------------------------27
Caribbean---------------------------------------------30
South America---------------------------------------23
Western Asia-----------------------------------------18
South East Asia--------------------------------------18

Country------------------% of women ages 20-24 married by age 18 :
Mongolia-------------------9
Sri Lanka------------------12
Azerbaijan----------------12
Egypt-----------------------17
Peru------------------------19
Palestinian Territory----19
Thailand-------------------20
Solomon Islands---------22
Pakistan-------------------24
Brazil----------------------24
Ghana---------------------25
Mexico--------------------25
Kenya--------------------26
Yemen------------------32
Zimbabwe--------------34
Sudan-------------------34
Guatemala-------------35
Nigeria-----------------39
Afghanistan-----------43
India--------------------47
Burkina Faso----------48
Nepal-------------------51
Bangladesh------------66
Mali---------------------71