As the earth bakes in drought across parts of Niger, Africa, a wedding boom is underway.
But it's no cause for celebration.
Niger has ranked highest out of 26 countries for percentages of child brides versus high school enrolments, in a list compiled by aid group CARE.
An extraordinary 76 per cent of girls in Niger are married before age 18 and only 10 per cent are enrolled in secondary school.
"Less rain often means more drought brides, as families pursue early marriage as a survival strategy, seeking one less mouth to feed and bride price money to buy food," the CARE Vows of Poverty report says.
The report estimates 39,000 girls world wide are forced into marriage each day - the equivalent of a new child marriage every two seconds.
"Girls should not be forced to walk down the aisle in greater numbers than into secondary school classrooms," CARE Australia chief executive Julia Newton-Howes said.
Denying girls an education relegates them to a life of poverty, she said.
A girl's income earning potential increases by 20 per cent for every school year she completes beyond grade four.
*For more information visit care.org.au
TOP 10 COUNTRIES FOR CHILD BRIDES VERSUS HIGH SCHOOL ENROLMENTS
1. Niger - 76 per cent of girls married before 18 and 10 per cent enrolled at high school.
2. Chad - 68 per cent of girls married before 18 and five per cent of girls enrolled at high school.
3. Central African Republic - 68 per cent of girls married before 18 and 10 per cent of girls enrolled at high school.
4. South Sudan - 52 per cent of girls married before 18 and one per cent of girls enrolled at high school.
5. Somalia - 45 per cent of girls married before 18 and five per cent enrolled in high school.
6. Burkina Faso - 52 per cent of girls married before 18 and 20 per cent of girls enrolled at high school.
7. Mozambique - 48 per cent of girls married before 18 and 18 per cent of girls enrolled at high school.
8. Ethiopia - 41 per cent of girls married before 18 and 11 per cent of girls enrolled in high school.
9. Guinea - 52 per cent of girls married before 18 and 23 per cent of girls enrolled at high school.
10. Angola 36 per cent of girls married before 18 and 12 per cent of girls enrolled.
