{"id": 1205139, "name": "Female genital mutilation prevalence (%)", "unit": "%", "createdAt": "2026-03-01T08:24:30.000Z", "updatedAt": "2026-05-19T08:03:33.000Z", "coverage": "", "timespan": "1990-2023", "datasetId": 7396, "shortUnit": "%", "columnOrder": 0, "shortName": "sh_sta_fgms_zs", "catalogPath": "grapher/worldbank_wdi/2026-02-27/wdi/wdi#sh_sta_fgms_zs", "descriptionFromProducer": "Percentage of women aged 15\u201349 who have gone through partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for cultural or other non-therapeutic reasons.\n\n### Statistical concept and methodology:\nMethodology: The indicator is calculated by the number of women ages 15-49 who have undergone FGM divided by the total number of women ages 15-49 in the population multiplied by 100. The primary sources for this indicator are the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) and the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS). The majority of the data are compiled by UNICEF, which coordinates with countries to gather the information.\nStatistical concept(s): Female genital mutilation (FGM) encompasses all practices that involve the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs, for non-medical reasons. Typically, this procedure is carried out on minors.\n\n### Development relevance:\nFGM is a harmful practice involving the cutting or removal of the external female genitalia. It does not have any health benefits but rather causes serious risks to women\u2019s physical and psychological health, including chronic infections, pain, menstrual problems, and complications during childbirth. FGM has been practiced mainly in the western, eastern, and north-eastern regions of Africa and some countries in the Middle East and Asia. It is reported that FGM is also found in western countries such as United Kingdom, United States, and Canada.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFGM is a violation of girls\u2019 and women\u2019s human rights, as well as a violation of women\u2019s rights to health, security, and physical integrity. However, its eradication is now becoming a global concern and has even been set as one the SDGs, specifically as SDG target 5.3.\n\n### Limitations and exceptions:\nThe data on FGM should be interpreted with caution for several reasons. Women may be reluctant to disclose undergoing FGM due to its sensitivity or illegal status, and some may be unaware of the procedure, especially if performed at an early age. The data is retrospective, not reflecting recent changes, with reports from girls aged 15 to 19 years referring to events 14 to 18 years earlier. Surveys like MICS and DHS only include FGM questions in countries where the practice is prevalent, meaning FGM may still exist in countries without data, including high-income countries with migrant populations and certain low- and middle-income countries. National-level estimates may be misleading as FGM is often practiced by specific ethnic groups in certain locations, thus not accurately representing the prevalence. Reference: A Generation to Protect: Monitoring violence exploitation and abuse of children within the SDG framework (UNICEF 2020). https://data.unicef.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/A-Generation-to-Protect-publication-English_2020.pdf\n\n### Other notes:\nThis is the Sustainable Development Goal indicator 5.3.2[https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/metadata/].", "type": "float", "dataChecksum": "351533763265580781", "metadataChecksum": "-722545365229939910", "datasetName": "World Development Indicators", "updatePeriodDays": 365, "datasetVersion": "2026-02-27", "nonRedistributable": false, "display": {"unit": "%", "shortUnit": "%"}, "schemaVersion": 2, "presentation": {}, "dimensions": {"years": {"values": [{"id": 2001}, {"id": 2006}, {"id": 2012}, {"id": 2014}, {"id": 1999}, {"id": 2003}, {"id": 2010}, {"id": 2021}, {"id": 2004}, {"id": 1995}, {"id": 2019}, {"id": 2015}, {"id": 2005}, {"id": 2016}, {"id": 2000}, {"id": 2008}, {"id": 2002}, {"id": 2013}, {"id": 2020}, {"id": 2018}, {"id": 1998}, {"id": 2009}, {"id": 2022}, {"id": 2017}, {"id": 1996}, {"id": 2011}, {"id": 2023}, {"id": 1990}, {"id": 1997}]}, "entities": {"values": [{"id": 32, "name": "Benin", "code": "BEN"}, {"id": 40, "name": "Burkina Faso", "code": "BFA"}, {"id": 43, "name": "Cameroon", "code": "CMR"}, {"id": 174, "name": "Central African Republic", "code": "CAF"}, {"id": 173, "name": "Chad", "code": "TCD"}, {"id": 143, "name": "Cote d'Ivoire", "code": "CIV"}, {"id": 154, "name": "Djibouti", "code": "DJI"}, {"id": 65, "name": "Egypt", "code": "EGY"}, {"id": 157, "name": "Eritrea", "code": "ERI"}, {"id": 158, "name": "Ethiopia", "code": "ETH"}, {"id": 151, "name": "Gambia", "code": "GMB"}, {"id": 150, "name": "Ghana", "code": "GHA"}, {"id": 147, "name": "Guinea", "code": "GIN"}, {"id": 94, "name": "Guinea-Bissau", "code": "GNB"}, {"id": 134, "name": "Iraq", "code": "IRQ"}, {"id": 129, "name": "Kenya", "code": "KEN"}, {"id": 121, "name": "Liberia", "code": "LBR"}, {"id": 211, "name": "Maldives", "code": "MDV"}, {"id": 115, "name": "Mali", "code": "MLI"}, {"id": 114, "name": "Mauritania", "code": "MRT"}, {"id": 104, "name": "Niger", "code": "NER"}, {"id": 103, "name": "Nigeria", "code": "NGA"}, {"id": 89, "name": "Senegal", "code": "SEN"}, {"id": 87, "name": "Sierra Leone", "code": "SLE"}, {"id": 82, "name": "Somalia", "code": "SOM"}, {"id": 79, "name": "Sudan", "code": "SDN"}, {"id": 64, "name": "Tanzania", "code": "TZA"}, {"id": 74, "name": "Togo", "code": "TGO"}, {"id": 68, "name": "Uganda", "code": "UGA"}, {"id": 61, "name": "Yemen", "code": "YEM"}]}}, "origins": [{"id": 13638, "title": "World Development Indicators", "description": "The World Development Indicators (WDI) database, published by the World Bank, is a comprehensive collection of global development data, providing key economic, social, and environmental statistics. It includes over 1,500 indicators covering more than 200 countries and territories, with data spanning several decades.WDI serves as a vital resource for policymakers, researchers, businesses, and analysts seeking to understand global trends and make data-driven decisions. The database covers a wide range of topics, including economic growth, education, health, poverty, trade, energy, infrastructure, governance, and environmental sustainability.The indicators are sourced from reputable national and international agencies, ensuring high-quality, consistent, and comparable data. Users can access the database through interactive online tools, API services, and downloadable datasets, facilitating detailed analysis and visualization.WDI is also used for tracking progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other global development initiatives. By providing accessible and reliable statistics, it helps to inform policy discussions and strategies globally.Whether for academic research, policy planning, or economic analysis, the World Development Indicators database is an essential tool for understanding and addressing global development challenges.", "producer": "UNICEF, Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), via World Bank", "citationFull": "UNICEF DATA, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), uri: https://sdmx.data.unicef.org/overview.html, note: Indicator code from the original source: PT_F_15-49_FGM; \tIndicator name from the original source: Percentage of girls and women (aged 15-49 years) who have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM), type: API, date accessed: 2023-12-07;\nDemographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) and other surverys, DHS Program (ICF), uri: https://sdmx.data.unicef.org/overview.html, note: Indicator code from the original source: PT_F_15-49_FGM; \tIndicator name from the original source: Percentage of girls and women (aged 15-49 years) who have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM), publisher: The DHS Program (ICF), type: API, date accessed: 2023-12-07;\nDHS API, DHS Program (ICF), uri: https://api.dhsprogram.com/#/index.html, note: Indicator code from the original source: PT_F_15-49_FGM; \tIndicator name from the original source: Percentage of girls and women (aged 15-49 years) who have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM), date accessed: 2023-12-07. Indicator SH.STA.FGMS.ZS (https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.STA.FGMS.ZS). World Development Indicators - World Bank (2026). Accessed on 2026-02-27.", "versionProducer": "125", "urlMain": "https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.STA.FGMS.ZS", "urlDownload": "https://databankfiles.worldbank.org/public/ddpext_download/WDI_CSV.zip", "dateAccessed": "2026-02-27", "datePublished": "2026-01-28", "license": {"url": "https://datacatalog.worldbank.org/search/dataset/0037712/World-Development-Indicators", "name": "CC BY 4.0"}}]}