Teenage mothers have an average of five children before their fortieth birthday

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Women who become mothers at a young age have an average of almost five children before the age of 40. That while women worldwide are actually having fewer children. This is according to a study by the United Nations.

Teen pregnancies are especially high in developing countries, the study shows. The United Nations is concerned about the results of the investigation and about women’s rights in general. In developing countries, nearly a third of girls become mothers for the first time when they are just a teenager. Half of them were even younger than 17 years old. Forty percent of this group already had three children before their 20th birthday.

Child marriages are also on the rise, causing the education level of girls to fall. This gives them less access to information about safe and desirable sex. “The world is failing to protect girls,” says Natalia Kanem, director of the UN Population Fund. This fund calls on governments, aid organizations and families to better protect girls through special policies and economic support.

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