According to recent data released in April 2026, nearly 30% of Cuban girls aged 15 to 19 are married or in a partnership with men who are at least ten years their senior. This information was highlighted during the launch of the Joint Program for the Prevention of Teenage Pregnancy in Cuba.
A report by the state-run Prensa Latina highlights that these relationships continue despite the 2022 Family Code, which prohibits marriage before the age of 18.
The 2022 National Fertility Survey by the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI) indicates that 14.6% of teenage girls in this age group with partners are with someone at least ten years older. This percentage rises to 19% among women aged 20 to 24.
An analysis by Alas Tensas magazine, using data from the Women's Studies Center, shows that the age gap is even more pronounced in rural areas. About one in four women in these age groups live with a partner at least ten years older.
The same study found that 21.3% of Cuban women aged 20 to 24 had married or entered a union before turning 18, and 3.3% did so before the age of 15.
Yamila González Ferrer, a jurist involved in drafting the Family Code, warns of the close link between early marriage and teenage motherhood, noting that early marriage often leads to increased sexual activity and a lack of protection.
This connection is evident in the teenage pregnancy rates in Cuba. Although the birth rate decreased from 48.5 births per 1,000 girls aged 15 to 19 in 2021 to 43.2 in 2025, the eastern provinces still register the most alarming figures.
Granma province reports 56.5 births per 1,000 adolescents in this age group, followed by Holguín with 53.3 and Guantánamo with 50.9.
For girls aged 10 to 14, fertility rates have remained almost unchanged, staying between 1.3 and 1.4 per 1,000 girls.
In 2024, there were 327 births among girls under 15 in Cuba, within a total of 11,962 births to mothers under the age of 20.
Matilde de la Caridad Molina Cintra, a psychologist and demographer at the University of Havana's Center for Demographic Studies, described this trend as the "largest disconnection in Cuban fertility," emphasizing that these young girls lack awareness of the responsibilities of motherhood. She stressed that they are still children.
Studies also point to a generational pattern. Juan Carlos Alfonso Fraga, deputy head of ONEI, acknowledged a generational echo of teenage fertility, with patterns repeating from grandmothers to mothers and then daughters. He noted that neither sexual education nor general education is effectively addressing this issue.
The 2026 Semi-Annual Report from the Alas Tensas Observatory documented five victims under 18 among the 49 femicides reported between January and August, with ages ranging from seven to 17. This underscores the additional risks faced by young girls in unequal relationships.
In response, the government issued Resolution 174/2025 from the Ministry of Public Health to regulate comprehensive care for teenage pregnancies. In April, a program aimed at preventing early fertility was launched in ten municipalities across Camagüey, Las Tunas, Holguín, and Granma, funded with one million euros by the European Union.
Despite these initiatives, the deputy head of ONEI admitted that "more comprehensive policy implementation is required," while the UNFPA aims to reduce the percentage of women aged 20 to 24 who married or entered a union before 18 to 15% by 2030 in Cuba.
Key Insights into Teenage Marriage and Pregnancy in Cuba
Why are teenage marriages still prevalent in Cuba despite legal restrictions?
Teenage marriages continue due to cultural and social factors that override legal restrictions, alongside a lack of effective enforcement of laws prohibiting such unions.
What regions in Cuba have the highest teenage pregnancy rates?
The eastern provinces, including Granma, Holguín, and Guantánamo, report the highest teenage pregnancy rates in Cuba.
How does early marriage influence teenage pregnancy?
Early marriage often leads to increased sexual activity and insufficient protection, which significantly contribute to higher rates of teenage pregnancy.
What measures has the Cuban government taken to address teenage pregnancy?
The Cuban government has implemented Resolution 174/2025 to regulate comprehensive care for teenage pregnancies and launched a prevention program funded by the European Union.