Progress

Over 70 million girls and women aged 15–49 years in Africa and in Yemen have undergone FGM/C. Sixty per cent of them live in sub-Saharan Africa, while 40 per cent live in the Middle East and North Africa.  This estimate is based on data for 29 countries, i.e. 28 in Africa plus Yemen. These 29 countries are those in which the prevalence of FGM/C is equal to or above 1 per cent according to nationally representative household surveys data. FGM/C is believed not to be widely practised in other countries, although it can also be customary among small minorities and immigrants’ communities everywhere. These numbers do not include girls below the age of 15, for which no estimates are presently available. Therefore, the expected total number of women and girls circumcised in the world is likely to be even bigger.

More than 90 per cent of women aged 15–49 years have been cut in Djibouti, Sierra Leone, Egypt, Guinea and Somalia. Prevalence of FGM/C among women aged 15–49 years varies widely, from 98 per cent in Somalia, to 1 per cent in Cameroon, Uganda and Zambia.

                            National prevalence of FGM/C for women aged 15–49 years

Prevalence of FGM/C varies more by ethnicity than by any other social or demographic variable. Data show that the range of FGM/C prevalence varies significantly among ethnic groups. Table 1 shows such variations in 16 countries with available data using the ethnic group with the highest prevalence and the ethnic group with the lowest prevalence in each country.

                         Prevalence of FGM/C for women aged 15–49 years by ethnicity

Overall, the prevalence of FGM/C has declined. However, the pace of reduction varies across countries. Younger women are less likely to have undergone any form of FGM/C than women in the older age groups (Graph 1) and fewer daughters are circumcised compared to mothers (Graph 2). Prevalence rates among daughters provide an enhanced understanding of FGM/C level among the youngest generations. Prevalence rates vary from 69 per cent in Mali to 1 per cent in Cameroon, Ghana, Niger and Togo. However, an important variable to consider when analysing daughters’ prevalence levels is the fact that many of these girls can be circumcised in the future, if for example, they are not yet of age to be circumcised. In countries where most of the girls are cut below the age of 1, the gaps between prevalence for mothers and daughters are likely to be indicative of a decrease in the levels of the practice, while in countries where most of the girls are cut at a later stage (such as for instance during puberty), the real extent of the decline is likely to be smaller than the current gaps since some girls are likely to be cut in the future, i.e. as soon as they reach the prevalent age at circumcision. These gaps between prevalence for mothers and daughters need therefore to be read with caution, by taking into consideration the impact of the age.

                        Prevalence of FGM/C among women aged 15–49 years by age group

                              Prevalence among women aged 15–49 years and their daughters

Support for the continuation of the practice is not universal even in countries with high prevalence of FGM/C, and more and more women oppose the practice. Big disparities exist between prevalence and support for FGM/C. Some of the most dramatic disparities can be observed in some of the countries with the highest prevalence (Graph 3). Level of support for the practice is decreasing in almost all countries with available data (Graph 4).

Support for the continuation of the practice is not universal even in countries with high prevalence of FGM/C Indicator
Percentage of women aged 15–49 years who were cut and percentage of women aged 15–49 years who believe the practice should continue, in countries where prevalence of FGM/C are above 70 per cent

Data for 12 countries show that, overall, fewer and fewer women support FGM/C Indicator
Percentage of women aged 15–49 years who believe the practice should continue, in countries with available trend data

However, changes in the attitudes do not always bring changes in the practice. In some countries, lower levels of support among mothers are correlated with higher prevalence among daughters. This can indicate the fact that the decision concerning FGM/C often revolves around the senior females of the household. Moreover, while women may truly oppose FGM/C, they may be unable to stop it by themselves due to the complex set of beliefs and social constraints that surround the practice.

Percentage of women aged 15–49 years with at least one daughter circumcised, and percentage of women 15–49 years who support the practice, in countries where the level of support is lower than the prevalence of FGM/C among daughters 

Many girls are at risk of being circumcised in the near future. An important variable to consider when analysing daughters’ prevalence levels is mothers’ intention to cut, if for example, their daughter is not yet of age to be circumcised. A high proportion of daughters who have not yet been cut are at risk of being circumcised in the future.

Percentage of women aged 15–49 years with at least one daughter circumcised, and percentage of women aged 15–49 years who have no daughter circumcised but intend to have her/them circumcised in the future