Spain has raised its age of consent for marriage to 16 years. It has increased from 14, which had been one of the lowest in the world.

Spaniards generally need to be 18 to marry but people as young as 14 can do so with permission from a judge or their family.

However marriages of minors are rare in Spain, according to the daily newspaper El Pais. It says that in the first half of 2010, 4 boys and 64 girls aged about 17 got married.

It is part of a wider reform to improve health and safety for children and adolescents. The reform was announced by Spanish Health Minister Ana Mato on Friday.

The new limit of 16 will be similar to other European countries the Health Minister Mato said.

It also plans to raise the age for consensual sex from what was the lowest in Europe at 13. The new age will be decided by Parliament.