Polygamy is rare throughout most of the world. In the U.S., having spouselike relationships with more than one person under the same roof was criminalized in 1882. Today, people in the U.S. are rarely prosecuted for living with multiple romantic partners, but every state has laws against getting married while already being married to someone else.
In February, Utah passed a bill to reduce the penalties for adults who voluntarily live in polygamous relationships, making the practice an infraction, a low-level offense that is not punishable with jail time.
In other parts of the world, including swaths of the Middle East and Asia, polygamy is legal but not practiced widely. And in some countries particularly in a segment of West and Central Africa known as the polygamy belt the practice is frequently legal and widespread.
A Pew Research Center report about living arrangements in 130 countries and territories published in 2019 analyzed the number of people residing in polygamous households, as well as other types of households. Here are some key findings from that report, and from a separate study of customs and laws around the world.
Data on the prevalence of polygamous households was part of a Pew Research Center report on household composition by religion around the world. Not all people who practice polygamy live in polygamous households. Sometimes two or more wives of the same man each have their own homes. See the methodology for details on household type categories. Details on polygamy laws around the world can be found through the OECD Development Centre and the United Nations Human Rights office.
Only about 2% of the global population lives in polygamous households, and in the vast majority of countries, that share is under 0.5%. Polygamy is banned throughout much of the world, and the United Nations Human Rights Committee, which has said that polygamy violates the dignity of women, called for it to be definitely abolished wherever it continues to exist. But there often are limits to government administration of marriages. In many countries, marriages are governed by religious or customary law, which means that oversight is in the hands of clerics or community leaders.
Polygamy is most often found in sub-Saharan Africa, where 11% of the population lives in arrangements that include more than one spouse. Polygamy is widespread in a cluster of countries in West and Central Africa, including Burkina Faso, (36%), Mali (34%) and Nigeria (28%). In these countries, polygamy is legal, at least to some extent. Muslims in Africa are more likely than Christians to live in this type of arrangement (25% vs. 3%), but in some countries, the practice also is widespread among adherents of folk religions and people who do not identify with a religion. For example, in Burkina Faso, 45% of people who practice folk religions, 40% of Muslims and 24% of Christians live in polygamous households. Chad is the only country in this analysis where Christians (21%) are more likely than Muslims (10%) to live in this type of arrangement.
Many of the countries that permit polygamy have Muslim majorities, and the practice is rare in many of them. Fewer than 1% of Muslim men live with more than one spouse in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran and Egypt all countries where the practice is legal at least for Muslims. Polygamy is also legal in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and other neighboring countries, but these were not included in the study due to data limitations. Muslim supporters of polygamy often cite Quran verse 4:3, which instructs men to take as many wives as they can take care of, up to four, and they also point out that the Prophet Muhammad had multiple wives. Historians have noted that Islamic guidance on polygamy was issued amid wars in Arabia in the seventh century, when there were many widows and orphans requiring financial support, and that polygamy created a system for them to be cared for. To this day, polygamy is most common in places where people, and particularly men, tend to die young.
The Jewish Torah and Christian Old Testament refer to several instances of accepted plural marriages, including by Abraham, Jacob and David. However, the practice was disavowed by these groups in the Middle Ages, and polygamy generally has not been condoned by Jews or Christians in recent centuries. Still, polygamy sometimes was practiced by certain Christian sects, including by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called Mormons) in the U.S. until the late 1800s. Some Mormon splinter groups still practice polygamy.
Religion often plays a role in how polygamy is governed and practiced within a single country. In Nigeria, for example, polygamous marriage is not allowed at the federal level, but the prohibition only applies to civil marriages. Twelve northern, Muslim-majority states do recognize these unions as Islamic or customary marriages. In India, Muslim men are allowed to marry multiple women, while men of other groups are not. However, in countries where polygamy is common, it often is practiced by people of all faiths. Thats the case in Gambia, Niger, Mali, Chad and Burkina Faso, where at least one-in-ten people in every religious group measured live in households that include husbands with more than one spouse.
Polygamy usually takes the form of polygyny when a man marries multiple women. Polyandry, which refers to wives having more than one husband, is even rarer than polygamy and mostly documented among small and relatively isolated communities around the world. While polygamy laws are usually skewed in favor of allowing men but not women to take multiple spouses, many countries laws also speak to the rights of women. In Burkina Faso, for example, where polygamy is common, spouses must agree that a marriage will be polygamous at its outset for the husband to be allowed to take another wife in the future. In Djibouti, a judge records the existing wives opinions on any new marriages and investigates the husbands socioeconomic situation before approving a marriage contract with an additional wife.
One-in-five U.S. adults believe that polygamy is morally acceptable, a recent Gallup poll found. This share has almost tripled (from 7%) since the question was first asked in 2003, but is still among the least accepted behaviors Gallup asks about. Self-described liberals are much more likely than conservatives to see polygamy as morally acceptable (34% vs. 9%). A Pew Research Center survey published in 2013 found that Muslims around the world are divided about polygamy: While majorities in several sub-Saharan African countries and pluralities in parts of the Middle East describe polygamy as morally acceptable, Muslims living in Central Asia as well as Southern and Eastern Europe tend to say that polygamy is immoral.
Here is the original post:
Polygamy is rare around the world and mostly confined to a few regions - Pew Research Center
- Why 'Sister Wives' Star Kody Brown Thought Polygamy Was 'Unfair' - PEOPLE - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- Mr Seed's Marriage in Trouble Over His Sentiments About Polygamy: "Insensitive" - Tuko.co.ke - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- Exclusive: Mr Seed clarifies controversial statement on polygamy after wife's outburst - Nairobi News - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- Sister Wives: Kody & Robyn Brown Will Probably Get A Divorce (Their Problems Are Getting Worse) - Screen Rant - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- Miriam Lord: Polygamy and throuples in the Dil chamber? Doesn't sound like a durable relationship - The Irish Times - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- Kody Brown's 'Confidence Is Coming Back' as He Looks Forward to 'a Lot More Understanding' in Family (Exclusive) - Yahoo Canada Shine On - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- Referendum to expand definition of family will not include protections for polygamy or throuples - http://gcn.ie/ - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- Sister Wives star Christine Browns new husbands niece and her 2 children tragically murdered in Mex... - The US Sun - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- Polygamy: The case of Mufti Muhammad Sadiq Sahib - The Weekly Al Hakam - December 7th, 2023 [December 7th, 2023]
- The acceptance of polygamy and the slippery slope - The Christian Post - December 7th, 2023 [December 7th, 2023]
- Sister Wives Fan Theory Proves Why Robyn & Kody's Marriage Doesn't Work Without His Exes - Screen Rant - December 7th, 2023 [December 7th, 2023]
- Sister Wives: How Kody Brown & Robyn's Relationship Led To The Family's Downfall - Screen Rant - December 7th, 2023 [December 7th, 2023]
- COMMENT | Why is it so hard to stamp out misogyny and sexism? - Malaysiakini - December 7th, 2023 [December 7th, 2023]
- What Entails the Call to theological and pastoral discernment on the ... - ACI Africa - November 4th, 2023 [November 4th, 2023]
- Is it time to rethink monogamy? | Nation - Nation - November 4th, 2023 [November 4th, 2023]
- Karen Nyamu should answer why Edday relocated to US not me ... - K24 TV - November 4th, 2023 [November 4th, 2023]
- Cardinal Cupich on the synod, women deacons, giving bishops job ... - America: The Jesuit Review - November 4th, 2023 [November 4th, 2023]
- 'Sister Wives' Season 18 Episode 11 Recap: A Cringey Anniversary ... - The Ashley's Reality Roundup - November 4th, 2023 [November 4th, 2023]
- Letter: Like James Huntsman, I cannot accept the doctrine of polygamy - Salt Lake Tribune - October 31st, 2023 [October 31st, 2023]
- Orem's Pioneer History Comes to Life City of Orem - City of Orem - October 31st, 2023 [October 31st, 2023]
- From draft to final text: 10 ways the synod report changed - The Pillar - October 31st, 2023 [October 31st, 2023]
- Mitt Romney, We Hardly Knew Ye - The Federalist - October 31st, 2023 [October 31st, 2023]
- Living in polygamy: Local author looks back on growing up in ... - Wyoming Tribune - July 21st, 2023 [July 21st, 2023]
- Sister Wives: Robyn Brown's All About Monogamy Now (Was She ... - Screen Rant - July 21st, 2023 [July 21st, 2023]
- First, make all polygamy illegal | India News - Times of India - Times of India - July 21st, 2023 [July 21st, 2023]
- Polygamy going down among Muslims, says GoI supported ... - THE INDIAN AWAAZ - July 21st, 2023 [July 21st, 2023]
- Article XVIII of the BF&M: The Family - The Pathway - July 21st, 2023 [July 21st, 2023]
- Apologetics that (Might) Matter - By Common Consent - July 21st, 2023 [July 21st, 2023]
- It's not just Muslims who have multiple wives in India. But practice ... - ThePrint - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Performance review: The Poison of Polygamy, La Boite Theatre - ArtsHub - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Jake Shields wants polygamy to be legal in the US after several attacks on the transgender community - Sportskeeda - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Rajasthan Man Marries Two Sisters, Here's The Reason Behind It - SheThePeople - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- India News LIVE | Assam forms 4-member panel to examine possibility of law to end polygamy - Republic World - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- A Muslim woman responds to Prof Wasey's article on inheritance ... - Awaz The Voice - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Musa Mselekus son on polygamy and wanting more than four wives - TimesLIVE - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- KNUT Boss Urges Men to Consider 3 Wives in Polygamous ... - Tuko.co.ke - April 30th, 2023 [April 30th, 2023]
- Sister Wives Christine Brown shows off slimmed-down figure in sexy V-neck top after engagement to David W... - The US Sun - April 30th, 2023 [April 30th, 2023]
- Brazilian man spends Rs 80 lakh for bed to share with 6 wives: What is polyamory? - Firstpost - April 30th, 2023 [April 30th, 2023]
- Same-Sex Marriage Case : Sexual Autonomy Argument May Be Used To Defend Incest, Argues Solicitor General; ... - Live Law - Indian Legal News - April 30th, 2023 [April 30th, 2023]
- Population anxiety in Pakistan - The Express Tribune - April 30th, 2023 [April 30th, 2023]
- Indore: City youths give thumbs up to same-sex marriage - Free Press Journal - April 30th, 2023 [April 30th, 2023]
- Sister Wives Kody Brown Has Been Outspoken About His Thoughts on Polygamy and Monogamy: Quotes - inTouch Weekly - March 31st, 2023 [March 31st, 2023]
- Pros And Cons Of Polygamy (29 Things You Should Know About Polygamy) - March 4th, 2023 [March 4th, 2023]
- Rev Father Kelvin Ugwu knocks women wishing to be Ned Nwokos next wife after condemning polygamy - WITHIN NIGERIA GIST - January 27th, 2023 [January 27th, 2023]
- Top judge who upheld Canada's polygamy law announces he will be retiring - Vancouver Sun - January 10th, 2023 [January 10th, 2023]
- Polygamy: Yul Edochie publicly apologises to first wife - December 26th, 2022 [December 26th, 2022]
- Utah polygamist sect accused of indoctrination, rape and child marriage ... - December 26th, 2022 [December 26th, 2022]
- Difference Between Monogamy and Polygamy - December 21st, 2022 [December 21st, 2022]
- Take out the polygamy and the Browns of Sister Wives are just another messed up family - Toronto Star - December 16th, 2022 [December 16th, 2022]
- Tony Perkins slams New York courts pro-polygamy ruling | Politics News - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- Polygamist leader had at least 20 wives, mostly minors, documents say - NPR - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- Polyandry in Tibet - Wikipedia - November 1st, 2022 [November 1st, 2022]
- Why is polygamy in the Vaticans synod document? - The Pillar - November 1st, 2022 [November 1st, 2022]
- "Chubby and Slim, Nice": Loving Man Wows His 2 Wives, Gifts Them New Cars on the Same Day in Cute Video - Legit.ng - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- Heartbroken Womans Husband Goes on Weekend Business Trip, Comes Back Wanting a Polygamist Marriage - Briefly - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- Sister Wives Season 17 Is a Triumph of Documentary Filmmaking - Gawker - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- Triple talaq to hijabHow Hindutva reversed gains made by Muslim womens movements - ThePrint - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- "Sign the divorce paper" Netizens fire Yul Edochie as he begins another project with Judy Austin - Kemi Filani News - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- Escape from Polygamy (TV Movie 2013) - IMDb - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- What The Bible Really Says About Polygamy | The Daily Wire - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Judge allows public school with ties to polygamy to keep its board, for now - FOX 13 News Utah - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- 'The Colony' revisits the 2019 cartel murder of 9 women, children in Mexico - KNPR - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Like some other religions, LDS Church seems obsessed with sex. - Salt Lake Tribune - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Sharia Court Holds That Divorce Is The Only Circumstance In Which A Muslim Man, Who Contracted A Marriage Under The Marriage Act Can Practice Polygamy... - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- What Is Polygamy? A Polygamist Debunks the Allure of Marrying More Than One Partner - Esquire - July 25th, 2022 [July 25th, 2022]
- Siege warfare, polygamy and sacrilege: meet history's most outrageous king, Demetrius the Besieger - The Conversation - July 25th, 2022 [July 25th, 2022]
- Ivorian Parliament to Review Polygamy in a Blow for Womens Equality - IDN InDepthNews | Analysis That Matters - July 25th, 2022 [July 25th, 2022]
- Minimum age for women to marry increased to 18 in Kedah, one year jail for polygamy without permission - The Star Online - July 25th, 2022 [July 25th, 2022]
- 'Mseleku is the face of heartbreak': Tweeps react to 'Mnakwethu' episode - TimesLIVE - July 25th, 2022 [July 25th, 2022]
- Utah's Pioneer Day celebrates Mormons' trek west but there's a lot more to the history of Latter-day Saints and migration - The Edwardsville... - July 25th, 2022 [July 25th, 2022]
- How I survived depression after my husband took a second wife May Edochie - Daily Post Nigeria - July 25th, 2022 [July 25th, 2022]
- New book, 'The Colony,' takes readers into a realm they never could have imagined - Mesquite Local News - July 13th, 2022 [July 13th, 2022]
- Challenging the conventional way of loving - Hindustan Times - July 13th, 2022 [July 13th, 2022]
- 'What We Do in the Shadows' Season 4's most uncanny twist is a total delight - Inverse - July 13th, 2022 [July 13th, 2022]
- Legality of polygamy - Wikipedia - July 11th, 2022 [July 11th, 2022]
- Legality of polygamy in the United States - Wikipedia - July 11th, 2022 [July 11th, 2022]
- Letter to the Editor: Rep. Lauren Boebert's comments about church and state are wrong - Summit Daily - July 11th, 2022 [July 11th, 2022]
- Elon Musk jokes after twin reveal: I'm 'doing my best to help the underpopulation crisis' - Marca English - July 11th, 2022 [July 11th, 2022]
- The Resurging Spectacle of the LDS Church in Film and TV - Study Breaks - July 11th, 2022 [July 11th, 2022]
- Drake Makes Tristan Thompson Best Man in Polygamy-Themed 'Falling Back' Vid - June 29th, 2022 [June 29th, 2022]