Assessment of Marriage Patterns and Their Demographic Implications in Sokoto State

Age at marriage is a critical demographic variable with profound implications for fertility, educational attainment, and health outcomes, and its documentation in Sokoto State fills an important evidence gap for northern Nigerian social statistics. This study assessed marriage patterns, including age at first marriage, type of marriage, and their demographic implications among residents in Sokoto North, Gwadabawa, and Bodinga Local Government Areas, Sokoto State. A descriptive survey was conducted among 300 ever-married women and 150 men aged 20 to 54. Data collected covered age at marriage, number of wives for polygamous men, decision-making in marriage choice, and perceived fertility and health consequences. The mean age at first marriage for women was 15.7 years, with 87.3 percent married before age 18. Polygamous marriage was reported by 44.0 percent of male respondents. Women married before age 15 showed significantly higher completed parity (mean 7.8 children) than those married after 18 (mean 5.1 children). Early marriage was strongly associated with non-completion of primary education (phi = 0.54, p < 0.001). Male respondents with higher education showed a lower preference for polygamy. The study concludes that marriage practices in Sokoto State sustain high fertility and limit female educational attainment. Recommendations include community sensitisation on the harms of early marriage, legal enforcement of the Child Rights Act, and economic incentive programmes for school continuation among girls in the North West zone. Keywords: marriage patterns, age at marriage, Sokoto State, fertility, polygamy