In Canada, the minimum age of marriage is governed by both federal and provincial law. The federal Civil Marriage Act that was amended in 2015 to prohibit marriage under age 16 in any circumstances. Provincial minimum age of marriage legislation applies as long as it is more protective than the federal legislation. 

Consistent with WORLD’s commitment to advancing universal coverage, this analysis captures the minimum guaranteed level of legal protection available and does not include protections that are available in some localities, but not nationally. The legislated minimum age of marriage is 18 because that is the lowest age of majority across provinces.  Similarly, the minimum age with parental consent is 16 because some provinces still have laws on the books that allow marriage at ages younger than 16, so the more protective federal legislation applies.
