NEW YORK, February 6, 2026
Nearly 4.5 Million Girls Face Risk of Female Genital Mutilation in 2026 Alone
Table of Contents
More than 230 million girls and women worldwide currently live with the lifelong consequences of this harmful practice.
- An estimated 4.5 million girls, many under the age of five, are at risk of undergoing female genital mutilation (FGM) in 2026.
- Progress against FGM is accelerating, with half of all gains since 1990 achieved in the last decade.
- Investing in ending FGM yields a tenfold return, with a US$2.8 billion investment potentially preventing 20 million cases.
- Funding cuts and growing opposition threaten to reverse decades of progress toward eliminating FGM by 2030.
The world is facing a stark reality: an estimated 4.5 million girls are at risk of undergoing female genital mutilation (FGM) this year, many before their fifth birthday. This deeply entrenched practice leaves more than 230 million girls and women globally living with its devastating physical and psychological consequences. FGM is a brutal violation of human rights, and there is absolutely no justification for it.
A Turning Tide, But Progress Is Fragile
Despite the grim statistics, there’s a glimmer of hope. Interventions over the last three decades are demonstrably working, with nearly two-thirds of people in affected countries now supporting its elimination. After decades of slow change, progress is accelerating; half of all gains in combating FGM since 1990 have occurred in the last ten years, reducing the number of girls subjected to the practice from one in two to one in three.
Effective strategies include health education, engaging religious and community leaders, parents, and health workers, and utilizing both traditional and social media. Investing in community-led movements – including grassroots and youth networks – and strengthening education through formal and community-based approaches are also crucial. Amplifying prevention messages through trusted opinion leaders, like health workers, is essential. Crucially, survivors must have access to comprehensive, context-tailored health care, psychosocial support, and legal assistance.
The Economic Argument for Eradication
The benefits of ending FGM extend beyond humanitarian concerns. Every dollar invested in prevention yields a tenfold return. A US$2.8 billion investment could prevent 20 million cases and generate US$28 billion in investment returns. This isn’t just about doing what’s right; it’s about smart economics.
A Looming Threat to Hard-Won Gains
However, as the world approaches the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal target for eliminating FGM, progress is increasingly at risk. Declining global investment in health, education, and child protection programs is already hindering prevention efforts and support for survivors. A growing and dangerous pushback against efforts to end FGM, fueled by the false claim that the practice is acceptable when performed by doctors or health workers, further complicates the situation. Without sustained and predictable funding, community outreach programs may be scaled back, frontline services weakened, and decades of progress reversed, placing millions more girls in danger.
Today, a renewed commitment is needed from local and global public and private partners, alongside survivors themselves, to finally end female genital mutilation once and for all.
