Brides too soon: The dangers of child marriage: 27,397 girls under age 18 are married every day. Poor women marry younger than their wealthier peers. Families often view marriage as a way to secure a girl’s future, especially in communities with limited economic opportunities for women. The truth is, though, marrying off a girl typically creates more problems for her than it solves. 1 in 4 women worldwide was a child bride, and 1 in 7 girls in the developing world is married before age 15. Girls married before age 18 are twice as likely to report domestic abuse, and pregnancy is the leading cause of death worldwide for girls ages 15-19. Despite the obstacles, education is an important element in preventing child marriages. Wherever they live, girls with higher levels of education are less likely to marry as children.