In the ceremony of his ministry held for the World Population Day on July 11, 2013, minister of Planning and Cooperative Development Ali Al Shukri said that Iraq ranked the first country in child marriage among others in the region.


He also stated that increasing the population is a world-wide issue, in this context child-bride is a world-wide issue and it exists in Iraq, the main reason behind it is the population growth.


“Iraq has the highest rate of child marriage with the percentage of 11%” He added.


The Iraqi official also stated that they need the international community’s cooperation, raise marriage age and limit the age of birth.