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Countries Where Polygamy Is Legal 2024

Snapshot

  • In contrast to monogamy, polygamy refers to marriages among three or more people; only 2% of the global population lives in polygamous households.

  • Globally, the legality and acceptance of polygamy vary. It is illegal in the Americas and most of Europe, recognized for Muslims in parts of Asia, and outlawed yet tolerated due to loopholes in some African countries.

  • Polygamy's ethical and societal value is contested; some argue it creates stable families, while others see it as exploitative and reinforcing gender inequalities.

Polygamy is the term used to describe a marriage among at least three people. Polygamy contrasts with monogamy, which is a marriage between only two people. While monogamy is the standard approach to marriage in Europe and the Americas, polygamy is common in much of Africa and the Middle East, and is also seen in parts of Southeast Asia. Ultimately, however, according to Pew Research released in 2020, "only about 2% of the global population lives in polygamous households."

The morality and societal worth of polygamy are fiercely debated. Westerners who promote polygamy on religious grounds (typically fringe-sect Mormons) often maintain that households with more parental contributors can create richer and more stable family lives for their children. However, opponents argue that polygamy is exploitative and founded upon the mistaken belief that women are inherently less worthy than men—and that those who promote polygamy tend to be those most likely to benefit from perpetuating said belief.

Polygamy-related terms and definitions

Polygamy is the general, gender-neutral term for any marriage among three or more people. Polygyny is a specific term used to describe a marriage that includes one husband and at least two wives. This is by far the most common (and the most frequently legal) form of polygamy. Polyandry is a specific term used to describe marriages between one wife and at least two husbands.

Group marriage is a blanket term for marriages that include multiple husbands as well as multiple wives. Polyamory is the practice of having multiple romantic relationships, with all parties having full knowledge and granting full consent. The term is not related to marriage. Polygeny is the (outdated) theory that humankind's different races evolved from different sets of ancestors. This term is unrelated to polygamy but is occasionally confused with "polygyny", so it is included here for the sake of clarity.

Religious views on polygamy

Buddhism

Buddhists regard marriage as a secular affair rather than a sacrament. Each Buddhist country thus has its own stance on polygamy. For example, Thailand legally recognized polygamy in 1955, whereas Myanmar outlawed polygyny in 2015.

Christianity

In Christianity, the Roman Catholic Church condemns polygamy, as do most protestant churches. However, the Lutheran Church accepts some polygamists, and the Anglican Communion ruled in 1988 that polygamy was permissible in some circumstances.

Mormons

This subsect of Christianity is known for its historically atypical stance on polygamy. In the United States, the Utah-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Mormons practiced polygamy, which it called "plural marriage," from 1847 to 1890. The U.S. government made polygamy illegal in 1862, largely in response to the LDS Church. The church, realizing that support for polygamy was likely preventing Utah's statehood, outlawed the practice in 1890. The church president at the time, Wilford Woodruff wrote the Manifesto stating Mormons have disavowed the teaching and practice. Some small Mormon groups that split from the LDS Church still practice polygamy, as do a few members of society at large, but these unions are not legally registered or recognized.

Hinduism

Hindu law allows polygamy under some circumstances, and the application varies from one Hindu country to another. For example, traditional Hindu law allowed polygamy if the first wife could not bear a son. Additionally, Balinese Hinduism allows for sanctioned and unrestricted polygamy, but the marriage is regulated by adat or traditional customs.

Islam

Islam is the only major religion whose sacred texts arguably endorse polygamy. Verse 3 of Surah 4 An-Nisa (Women) declares that a man may marry up to four women under specific (and debated) circumstances. In observance of this text, many Muslim countries allow a man to have up to four wives. However, many also require the man to state whether he plans to be monogamous or polygamous as part of the marriage agreement with his first wife, and if she disallows it, he cannot marry another wife while married to her. Also, polyandry, in which a wife has multiple husbands, is still strictly prohibited.

Muslim acceptance of polygyny is illustrated by the fact that polygamy is most common in the Middle East and North/Central Africa, the regions of the world that are home to the highest concentrations of Muslims, and illegal in most other regions. Furthermore, several countries recognize polygamous marriages between Muslims, but not between practitioners of other religions.

Judaism

Many prominent Jewish leaders, including Abraham, David, and Jacob, are described in the Torah as having polygamous marriages. However, like all but a few contemporary Christians (whose Old Testament mirrors the Torah), modern Jews have disavowed the practice.

Legality and recognition of polygamy around the world

The legal status of polygamy varies from country to country, with each nation outlawing, accepting, or encouraging polygamy. In those countries that accept or encourage polygamy, polygyny is most common. In countries where only monogamous marriage is legally valid, de facto polygamy is typically allowed as long as adultery is not illegal. In regions such as these, in which polygamy is outlawed but tolerated, additional spouses after the first are not legally recognized.

Polygamy is illegal and criminalized in every country in North and South America, including all 50 U.S. states. However, in February 2020, the Utah House and Senate reduced the punishment for consensual polygamy, which had previously been classified as a felony, to roughly equivalent to a traffic ticket.

With the exception of the Solomon Islands, polygamous marriages are not recognized in Europe and Oceania. In India, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore, the governments recognize polygamous marriages, but only for Muslims. In Australia, polygamous marriage is outlawed, but polygamous relationships are common within some indigenous Australian communities. In Indonesia, polygamy is legal in some areas, such as in Bali, Papua, and West Papua. Balinese Hinduism allows for polygamy, which has been practiced for centuries by the Balinese and Papuans. Protests to outlaw polygamy and polygamous marriages occurred in 2008 in Indonesia but did not result in legislative changes.

In some African countries, polygamy is illegal under civil law but still allowed through customary law, in which acts that have traditionally been accepted by a particular culture are considered legally permissible. This arguably confusing loophole results in two types of marriages: "civil" marriages and "customary" or "religious" marriages, and enables countries such as Liberia, Malawi, and Sierra Leone to allow and even support polygamous marriages without officially recognizing them.

Another unusual loophole is that many Muslim countries will recognize polygamous marriages as long as the husband, before marrying his first wife, informs her that he intends to add additional future wives and she consents. If the first wife does not consent, the husband is not allowed to marry any additional wives as long as he is married to her.

Some countries that have outlawed polygamy may still recognize polygamous marriages from other countries. For example, Sweden recognizes polygamous marriages performed abroad. Switzerland outlawed polygamy, but polygamous marriages conducted in another country are handled on a case-by-case basis. Australia recognizes polygamous marriages formed in other countries only under certain circumstances.

Source

As of August 2023, Pew Research Center offers the most up-to-date information on worldwide polygamy based on 2010-2018 census and survey data. The PRC article also references sources published as recently as 2020.

Download Table Data

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Country
Details
Afghanistan
Polygyny legal for up to four wives
Algeria
Polygyny legal for up to four wives, but increasingly rare
Angola
Technically illegal, but still practiced
Bahrain
Polygyny legal for up to four wives, but rare.
Bangladesh
Legal and recognized, but often heavily taxed
Bhutan
Legal (including polyandry via customary law) but not civilly recognized. Increasingly rare
Botswana
Illegal under civil law, allowed under customary law
Brazil
Technically illegal, but decriminalized. Marriage-like união estável ("stable union") ceremonies bet...
Brunei
Legal and recognized
Burkina Faso
Technically illegal, but still practiced
Burundi
Technically illegal, but still practiced
Cambodia
Technically illegal, but still practiced
Cameroon
Polygyny legal, no limit on number of wives.
Central African Republic
Polygyny legal for up to four wives, but increasingly rare. Before marrying first wife, husband must...
Chad
Legal and common, even among Christians
Djibouti
Polygyny legal for up to four wives
DR Congo
Technically illegal, but still practiced
Egypt
Legal and recognized
Equatorial Guinea
Technically illegal, but still practiced
Eswatini
Legal and recognized. but rare
Gabon
Legal in both forms, but only practiced by men. Couples must declare any polygamous intent before fi...
Gambia
Polygyny legal for up to four wives; common
Ghana
Technically illegal, but still practiced
Guinea
Polygyny legal for up to four wives, but before marrying first wife, husband must get her permission...
India
Polygyny legal up to four wives, but only for Muslims.
Indonesia
Legal, but rules vary by province
Iran
Legal and recognized
Iraq
Legal and recognized (except for Kurdistan)
Israel
Technically illegal, but still practiced
Jordan
Legal and recognized
Kazakhstan
Technically illegal, but still practiced
Kenya
Polygyny legal for up to four wives
Kuwait
Legal and recognized
Laos
Technically illegal, but still practiced
Lebanon
Polygyny legal up to four wives, but only for Muslims.
Lesotho
Illegal under civil law, allowed under customary law
Liberia
Illegal under civil law, allowed under customary law
Libya
Polygyny legal up to four wives, but only for Muslims. Uncommon.
Madagascar
Technically illegal, but still practiced
Malawi
Illegal under civil law, allowed under customary law
Malaysia
Polygyny legal up to four wives, but only for Muslims. Requires court permission
Maldives
Legal and recognized, provided the husband can demonstrate financial ability to support multiple wiv...
Mali
Polygyny legal for up to four wives. Before marrying first wife, husband must get her permission to ...
Mauritania
Polygyny legal for up to four wives, but husband must get his existing wife's/wives' consent before ...
Mauritius
Technically illegal, but still practiced
Morocco
Legal, but husband must be able to support additional wives financially and must have written permis...
Mozambique
Technically illegal, but still practiced
Namibia
Illegal under civil law, allowed under customary law
Nepal
Technically illegal, but still practiced
Niger
Illegal under civil law, allowed under customary law
Nigeria
Polygyny legal for up to four wives in Sharia Muslim states only
Oman
Legal and recognized
Pakistan
Polygyny legal up to four wives, but only for Muslims. Men must prove ability to financially support...
Palestine
Polygyny legal up to four wives. First wife can forbid polygamy in marriage contract.
Philippines
Polygyny legal up to four wives, but only for Muslims.
Qatar
Legal and recognized
Republic of the Congo
Polygyny legal, but before marrying first wife, husband must get her permission to marry more wives ...
Russia
Technically illegal, but tolerated in Muslim regions (for example: Chechnya, Ingushetia, Dagestan).
Rwanda
Technically illegal, but still practiced
Sao Tome and Principe
Legal and recognized
Saudi Arabia
Legal and recognized
Senegal
Legal and recognized
Sierra Leone
Illegal under civil law, allowed under customary law
Singapore
Polygyny legal up to four wives, but only for Muslims.
Solomon Islands
Legal and recognized
Somalia
Legal and recognized
South Africa
Illegal under civil law, allowed under customary law [polygyny only]. Court permission required.
South Sudan
Legal and recognized
Sri Lanka
Legal and recognized, including polyandry
Sudan
Legal and recognized
Syria
Legal (except for Kurdistan)
Tanzania
Legal and recognized
Thailand
Technically illegal, but still practiced
Timor Leste
Technically illegal, but still practiced
Togo
Legal and recognized
Uganda
Legal and recognized
United Arab Emirates
Polygyny legal for up to four wives.
Yemen
Polygyny legal for up to four wives.
Zambia
Recognized under customary law. In some tribes, before marrying first wife, husband must get her per...
Zimbabwe
Illegal under civil law, allowed under customary law
showing: 80 rows

Which countries have legal polygamy?

Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, the Philippines, Qatar, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen all have legal polygamy.

How many countries have polygamy?

Polygamy is fully legal in 47 countries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources