Countries Where Polygamy Is Legal 2025

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Polygamy Legal Status

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Country
Polygamy Legal Status
Additional Details on Legality of Polygamy
South AfricaIllegal under civil law, allowed under customary lawPolygyny allowed under customary law. Court permission required.
NigerIllegal under civil law, allowed under customary law
MalawiIllegal under civil law, allowed under customary law
ZimbabweIllegal under civil law, allowed under customary law
Sierra LeoneIllegal under civil law, allowed under customary law
LiberiaIllegal under civil law, allowed under customary law
NamibiaIllegal under civil law, allowed under customary law
BotswanaIllegal under civil law, allowed under customary law
LesothoIllegal under civil law, allowed under customary law
EgyptLegal and recognizedVery rare
IranLegal and recognized
TanzaniaLegal and recognized
SudanLegal and recognized
UgandaLegal and recognized
IraqLegal and recognized
Saudi ArabiaLegal and recognized
MaliLegal and recognized
Sri LankaLegal and recognizedLegal and recognized, including polyandry.
ChadLegal and recognizedCommon, even among Christians.
SomaliaLegal and recognized
SenegalLegal and recognized
South SudanLegal and recognized
JordanLegal and recognized
TogoLegal and recognized
LibyaLegal and recognized
OmanLegal and recognized
KuwaitLegal and recognized
QatarLegal and recognized
GambiaLegal and recognized
Guinea-BissauLegal and recognized
EswatiniLegal and recognizedVery rare
ComorosLegal and recognized
Solomon IslandsLegal and recognized
Western SaharaLegal and recognized
BruneiLegal and recognized
Sao Tome and PrincipeLegal and recognized
IndonesiaLegal with stipulationsLegal up to four wives, but rules vary by province.
BangladeshLegal with stipulationsLegal and recognized. Husband can marry up to four wives at the same time but must have permission from existing wives
PhilippinesLegal with stipulationsLegal for Muslims, but for "exceptional cases" where a man could provide for his wives with equal companionship.
MoroccoLegal with stipulationsLegal, but husband must be able to support additional wives financially and must have written permission from first wife.
SyriaLegal with stipulationsLegal nationally, but illegal in Kurdistan.
ZambiaLegal with stipulationsRecognized under customary law. In some tribes, before marrying first wife, husband must get her permission to marry more wives in the future.
GuineaLegal with stipulationsBefore marrying first wife, husband must get her permission to marry more wives in the future.
LebanonLegal with stipulationsLegal for Muslims.
GabonLegal with stipulationsLegal in both forms, but only practiced by men. Couples must declare any polygamous intent before first marriage, but men are allowed to change their answer later.
BhutanLegal with stipulationsLegal (including polyandry via customary law) but not civilly recognized. Increasingly rare.
MaldivesLegal with stipulationsLegal and recognized, provided the husband can demonstrate financial ability to support multiple wives.
IndiaPolygyny onlyPolygyny legal up to four wives, but only for Muslims.
PakistanPolygyny onlyPolygyny legal up to four wives, but only for Muslims. Men must prove ability to financially support multiple wives, existing wives can forbid polygamy in marriage contract.
NigeriaPolygyny onlyPolygyny legal for up to four wives in Sharia Muslim states only.
KenyaPolygyny onlyPolygyny legal up to four wives.
AlgeriaPolygyny onlyPolygyny legal for up to four wives, but increasingly rare.
AfghanistanPolygyny onlyPolygyny legal up to four wives.
YemenPolygyny onlyPolygyny legal up to four wives.
MalaysiaPolygyny onlyPolygyny legal up to four wives, but only for Muslims. Requires court permission.
CameroonPolygyny onlyPolygyny legal, no limit on number of wives.
United Arab EmiratesPolygyny onlyPolygyny legal up to four wives.
Republic of the CongoPolygyny onlyPolygyny legal, but before marrying first wife, husband must get her permission to marry more wives in the future.
SingaporePolygyny onlyPolygyny legal up to four wives, but only for Muslims.
PalestinePolygyny onlyPolygyny legal up to four wives. First wife can forbid polygamy in marriage contract.
Central African RepublicPolygyny onlyPolygyny legal for up to four wives, but increasingly rare. Before marrying first wife, husband must get her permission to marry more wives in the future.
MauritaniaPolygyny onlyPolygyny legal up to four wives. Husband must get permission from current wives before marrying another one.
BahrainPolygyny onlyPolygyny is legal, but rare.
DjiboutiPolygyny onlyPolygyny legal up to four wives.
EthiopiaTechnically illegal, but still practiced
DR CongoTechnically illegal, but still practiced
AngolaTechnically illegal, but still practiced
MozambiqueTechnically illegal, but still practiced
GhanaTechnically illegal, but still practiced
MadagascarTechnically illegal, but still practiced
Burkina FasoTechnically illegal, but still practiced
BeninTechnically illegal, but still practiced
RwandaTechnically illegal, but still practiced
BurundiTechnically illegal, but still practiced
Equatorial GuineaTechnically illegal, but still practiced
MauritiusTechnically illegal, but still practiced
Cape VerdeTechnically illegal, but still practiced
MayotteTechnically illegal, but still practiced
SeychellesTechnically illegal, but still practiced
  • Polygamy has three sub-forms:
  • Polygyny: Men may have two or more wives
  • Polyandry: Women may have two or more husbands
  • Polygynandry: Group marriage between multiple wives and multiple husbands.
  • In some cases, one form of polygamy (typically polygyny) is legal while others are not.