Thousands of girls in East Java marry young, deepening intergenerational poverty

East Java Province in Indonesia continues to grapple with a concerning rate of underage marriages, with 12,334 applications for marriage dispensations recorded in 2023. While this represents a decrease from the 15,095 cases in 2022, the numbers remain alarmingly high, with most involving girls under 19 years old. Social researchers identify this phenomenon as a primary driver of intractable structural poverty in the province.

Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of East Java reveals a strong correlation between high rates of early marriage and poor human development index (HDI) scores. Districts such as Sampang, Bangkalan, Bondowoso, and Situbondo, which have the highest incidence of early marriages, simultaneously rank lowest in the province's HDI. Academics suggest this correlation is not coincidental.

Despite a revision to the Marriage Law in 2019 that raised the minimum marriage age to 19 for women, the pathway through religious courts for marriage dispensations has become increasingly utilized. While provincial figures show a decline in dispensations from 17,151 in 2021 to 12,334 in 2023, the pattern in certain districts remains worrying. Data from the Ministry of Religious Affairs' SIMKAH system as of January 10, 2026, indicates 7,590 marriages involving couples under 19 in East Java in 2025, with 6,453 of these cases involving underage brides.

The Sampang Religious Court, led by Nur Afni Saimima, has been one of the busiest in East Java for marriage dispensations since early 2026. The high volume of applications presents a significant challenge in ensuring each case is thoroughly reviewed, as mandated by law, including verification of genuinely urgent circumstances. Records from the Supreme Court show that approximately 89% of marriage dispensation requests in East Java are granted by local religious courts. The most common reasons cited are pregnancy outside of marriage (48%), followed by family economic reasons (31%), and customary or family pressure (21%). These figures align with findings from the East Java Family Planning Coordinating Board (BKKBN), which notes that out-of-wedlock pregnancies are a dominant trigger for dispensations.

One of the most direct consequences of early marriage is the termination of educational access. A 2024 survey by the East Java Provincial Office for Women's Empowerment, Child Protection, and Population Control (DP3AK) found that 91% of women married before the age of 18 do not continue their formal education. More than half do not even complete junior high school. This lack of education severely limits women's access to decent employment, forcing them into complete dependence on their husbands without the necessary qualifications or skills.

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Around 89 percent of marriage dispensation applications in East Java are granted by the local religious courts.