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Countries Where Polygamy Is Legal
Countries Where Polygamy Is Legal: compare 79 countries on 2 metrics.
Polygamy Legal Status
8 values across 79 entries
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79 countries
 Afghanistan | Legal | Polygyny legal up to four wives. |
 Algeria | Legal | Polygyny is legal; a man may have up to four wives., Recent legal changes have made polygamous marriages increasingly rare. |
 Angola | Illegal but socially accepted | Polygamous marriages are not legally recognized under civil or customary law, but the practice is socially accepted and prevalent. |
 Bahrain | Legal | Polygyny is legal; a man may have up to four wives., Only a small percentage of citizens practice polygamy, and the husband must declare the number of wives in the marriage contract with the Ministry of Justice. |
 Bangladesh | Legal | Polygyny is legal; a Muslim man may have up to four wives, with proper permissions., He must obtain permission from his existing wife/wives and approval from the Arbitration Council, which must deem the marriage "necessary and just."+1 |
 Benin | Illegal but socially accepted | Polygamous marriages are not recognized under civil or customary law., Marriages contracted before 2004 are still legally recognized.+1 |
 Bhutan | Permitted by custom but not legally recognized | Polygamy is allowed in Bhutan with the consent of future wives, but multiple spouses are not legally recognized under civil or customary law., Only one spouse is legally acknowledged for inheritance, divorce, and court purposes. Both polygamy and polyandry are declining. |
 Botswana | Permitted by custom but not legally recognized | Polygamy is not legally recognized under civil law., However, a man may marry one wife under customary law and potentially another under civil law, creating a legal loophole.+1 |
 Brunei | Legal for Muslims only | Under Brunei’s Islamic Family Law, a Muslim man may marry multiple wives with prior written permission from a Syariah judge. The judge considers financial capacity, fairness, and consent., Non-Muslim marriages are monogamous under civil law. |
 Burkina Faso | Legal | Under the Code of Persons and Family, spouses may opt for polygamy at the time of marriage with the consent of both parties., While monogamy is the default form of marriage, polygamy is legally recognized when chosen. |
 Burundi | Illegal but socially accepted | Polygamous marriages are not recognized under civil or customary law., Polygamy was officially abolished in 1993, but the practice persists and has reportedly increased due to recent conflicts and crises. |
 Cameroon | Legal | Polygyny is legally permitted with no specified limit on the number of wives., Polygamous marriages must be disclosed when registering the union.+1 |
 Cape Verde | Illegal but socially accepted | The law does not recognize polygamy, but informal polygamous relationships still occur in practice |
 Central African Republic | Legal | Polygyny is legally permitted, with a man allowed up to four wives., The man must declare at the time of his first marriage whether he intends to marry additional wives, as this decision affects his eligibility to marry further. |
 Chad | Legal | Polygamy is legally permitted and widely practiced across social classes., Chad allows multiple wives, and it is culturally common among both rural populations and elites. |
 Comoros | Legal | Polygyny is legally permitted under Comorian law., A man may marry multiple wives, and the practice is culturally accepted and relatively common, particularly under Islamic family law. |
 Djibouti | Legal | Polygyny is legally permitted, with a man allowed up to four wives., The practice is culturally established and has been present in Djiboutian society for centuries. |
 DR Congo | Illegal but socially accepted | Polygamous marriages are prohibited under law, but the practice continues as part of traditional culture. |
 Egypt | Legal | Polygyny is legally permitted under Egyptian law, though it is rare in practice., Less than 1% of Muslim men have multiple spouses. |
 Equatorial Guinea | Permitted by customary law, not legally recognized | Polygamous unions are prohibited under civil law but are recognized under customary law. Husbands are granted full rights while women have limited legal protections., Such unions remain common in practice. |
 Eswatini | Legal | Polygamous marriages are mostly performed and recognized under traditional Swazi law, while civil law is generally monogamous., The practice is legal but relatively rare, largely due to high bride prices. |
 Ethiopia | Illegal but socially accepted | Polygamy has been formally abolished under Ethiopia’s Family and Criminal Code, but the practice continues among certain communities., Plygamy is especially common among Muslims and followers of traditional religions.+1 |
 Gabon | Legal | Polygamy is permitted under Gabonese law., Couples must declare at the time of marriage if they intend a polygamous relationship.+1 |
 Gambia | Legal | Polygamous unions are legally recognized in the Gambia and remain very prevalent., They are often viewed as a sign of prosperity, particularly among older generations.+1 |
 Ghana | Permitted by customary law, not legally recognized | Polygamous marriages are prohibited under civil law in Ghana, but customary law may permit the practice., Despite being officially illegal, polygamy continues socially, with an estimated 22% of women living in polygamous unions, particularly influenced by traditional and Isla… |
 Guinea | Legal (with restrictions) | Before marrying his first wife, husband must get her permission to marry more wives in the future. |
 Guinea-Bissau | Illegal but socially accepted | Under the civil code of Guinea‑Bissau, marriage is legally monogamous and does not permit polygamy., However, traditional and religious polygamous marriages remain widespread and commonly practiced in rural and Muslim communities |
 India | Legal for Muslims only | Polygyny legal up to four wives, but only for Muslims. |
 Indonesia | Legal for Muslims only | Muslim men in Indonesia may legally have up to four wives, provided they treat them equally and can financially support them., Polygamy is also practiced under certain customary laws by non-Muslim communities, such as the Balinese and Papuans.+1 |
 Iran | Legal | Under Iranian law, a man is permitted to have more than one wife at the same time, with up to four permanent wives allowed., While the practice is uncommon, polygyny remains legally permitted for men under Islamic family law. |
 Iraq | Legal | Polygamy is legally permitted in Iraq under the Personal Status Law, but a man must obtain judicial authorization to marry more than one wife., The judge considers whether the husband can financially support multiple wives and ensure fairness between them.+1 |
 Jordan | Legal | Polygamy is allowed under Jordan’s Personal Status Law for Muslim men., A man may marry up to four wives provided he proves financial ability and notifies existing wife/wives before contracting additional marriages. |
 Kenya | Legal | Polygyny is legally permitted in Kenya under the 2014 Marriage Act, which allows men to marry multiple wives., The practice is common among traditional communities and the Muslim population.+1 |
 Kuwait | Legal for Muslims only | Polygamy is permitted in Kuwait under Islamic family law., A Muslim man may have up to four wives provided he offers equal treatment and sustenance to all.+1 |
 Lebanon | Legal for Muslims only | Under Lebanon’s personal status laws, polygamy is permitted for Muslim men (both Sunni and Shia) in accordance with Sharia., Muslim men are therefore allowed to marry more than one wife.+1 |
 Lesotho | Permitted by customary law, not legally recognized | Polygamous unions are not recognized under civil law in Lesotho, but are permitted under customary law., Such unions grant spouses certain rights, including child custody and inheritance, despite lacking formal legal recognition. |
 Liberia | Permitted by customary law, not legally recognized | Polygamous unions are prohibited under Liberia’s civil code but permitted under customary law, which permits men to have up to four wives., Women in such unions have limited inheritance rights and legal protections under customary law. Polygamous marriages account for roughly… |
 Libya | Legal | Polygamous unions are legally permitted in Libya., Under current law, a man may marry multiple wives without the prior restrictions that previously required consent from the first wife or proof of financial capacity.+1 |
 Madagascar | Illegal but socially accepted | Polygamous marriages are prohibited under Madagascar’s civil law and constitute bigamy if contracted., However, polygamy still occurs in practice due to customary and social traditions |
 Malawi | Permitted by customary law, not legally recognized | Polygamous unions are not recognized under Malawi’s civil law, but customary law grants spouses rights such as inheritance and child custody., Approximately 20% of women live in polygamous relationships. |
 Malaysia | Legal for Muslims only | Muslim men may have up to four wives with written permission from the state Syariah Court, which ensures fairness and the husband’s ability to support all wives., Polygamy is prohibited for non-Muslims under federal law. |
 Maldives | Legal | Polygyny is legally permitted, with men allowed up to four wives., Polygamy must be approved by the Registrar of Marriage based on financial ability.+1 |
 Mali | Legal | Polygamy is explicitly legal in Mali under the Personal and Family Code., Marriage may be contracted under monogamy or polygamy.+1 |
 Mauritania | Legal for Muslims only | Polygyny is allowed under Mauritania’s Personal Status Code and Sharia law., A man may have up to four wives but must obtain consent from existing wife/wives.+1 |
 Mauritius | Illegal but socially accepted | Polygamous unions are not legally recognized in Mauritius, though the practice is not criminalized. |
 Mayotte | Illegal | Polygamous unions were legal in Mayotte until 2009, but are now prohibited following integration as a French department, with full legal enforcement by 2011. |
 Morocco | Legal | Polygyny is legally permitted, but a husband must obtain written permission from his current wife and meet financial requirements to marry additional wives., Violations can result in fines. |
 Mozambique | Illegal but socially accepted | Polygamous unions are not legally recognized., Nonetheless, the practice is widespread and culturally entrenched.+1 |
 Namibia | Permitted by customary law, not legally recognized | Polygamous unions are recognized under customary law, granting rights such as inheritance and child custody, but are not formally recognized under civil law. |
 Niger | Permitted by customary law, not legally recognized | Polygamous unions are recognized under customary law, though not under civil law., More than one third of women in Niger are in such unions. |
 Nigeria | Permitted by customary law, not legally recognized | Polygamous unions are not recognized under Nigeria’s civil law, but 12 northern states governed by Sharia law legally allow men to marry multiple wives., About 28% of the population lives in polygamous marriages. |
 Oman | Legal | Polygamy (polygyny) is permitted under Oman’s Personal Status Law., A man may have up to four wives. |
 Pakistan | Legal for Muslims only | Muslim men may have up to four wives under Pakistani law., Non-Muslims (e.g., Hindus) are prohibited from practicing polygamy.+2 |
 Palestine | Legal for Muslims only | Polygyny is permitted under Islamic law in the Gaza Strip and West Bank., A man must treat co-wives equitably, provide separate dwellings, and declare his social status in the marriage contract.+1 |
 Philippines | Illegal but socially accepted | Polygamous marriages are not legally recognized in the Philippines under the Family Code, which mandates monogamy., However, polygamy is practiced in some indigenous Muslim communities in Mindanao and other areas, despite being prohibited by national law. |
 Qatar | Legal for Muslims only | Polygamy is permitted under Qatar’s Islamic family law, allowing a Muslim man to marry up to four wives provided he treats them equitably and can financially support them., Non-Muslim marriages are monogamous under civil law. |
 Republic of the Congo | Legal | Polygamous unions are legally recognized in the Republic of the Congo., Women must consent before marriage if they are comfortable with their husband taking additional wives.+1 |
 Rwanda | Illegal but socially accepted | Polygamous unions are prohibited under civil and customary law in Rwanda., The practice persists marginally in rural areas and among older generations, but such unions have no legal recognition. |
 Sao Tome and Principe | Illegal but socially accepted | Polygamous unions are not recognized under civil law, but some sources note that customary or local practices still occur. |
 Saudi Arabia | Legal for Muslims only | Polygyny is legally permitted under Saudi Arabia’s interpretation of Islamic law., A man may have up to four wives, provided he treats them equitably and can support them financially. |
 Senegal | Legal | Polygyny is legally permitted under the Family Code.| A man may have up to four wives and can choose monogamy, limited polygamy, or full polygamy at the time of marriage. |
 Seychelles | Illegal but socially accepted | Polygamous unions are not legally recognized., Contracting another marriage while one is still valid is prohibited and can be punished as bigamy, but informal or unregistered polygamous relationships may still occur in practice. |
 Sierra Leone | Permitted by customary law, not legally recognized | Polygamy is prohibited under the civil penal code, but allowed under customary law, which permits men to have multiple wives., Prevalence is higher in rural areas, with about 30% of women and 14% of men in polygamous unions as of 2019. |
 Singapore | Legal for Muslims only | Civil marriages (for non-Muslims or mixed-faith couples) are monogamous., Muslim marriages allow a man to have up to four wives, provided he meets financial requirements and obtains consent from existing wives.+1 |
 Solomon Islands | Illegal but socially accepted | Polygamous marriages are not legally recognized under civil or customary law., Contracting a second marriage while one is still valid is a criminal offence.+1 |
 Somalia | Legal for Muslims only | Polygyny is legally permitted in Somalia under Islamic and family law, allowing a man to have up to four wives., Courts may require authorisation for additional marriages, and customary/religious practices strongly influence marital arrangements. |
 South Africa | Permitted by customary law, legally recognized | Polygamy is allowed under the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act., Only marriages under customary law are recognized as polygamous, while civil and same-sex marriages are monogamous only. |
 South Sudan | Legal | Polygamous unions are permitted and widely practiced in South Sudan., Customary and Islamic traditions allow a man to have multiple wives, and polygamy is common in many communities. |
 Sri Lanka | Permitted by customary law, not legally recognized | Polygamous unions are not legally recognized under Sri Lanka’s civil law., However, they are allowed for Muslims under the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA).+1 |
 Sudan | Legal for Muslims only | Under Sudan’s 1991 Personal Status Law, polygyny is legally permitted for Muslim men and a man may have up to four wives., The law is based on Islamic/Shari’a principles and applies to Muslims specifically, as marriage law in Sudan follows Muslim Personal Law for most family … |
 Syria | Legal (with restrictions) | Polygamy is legal for Muslims under Syria’s personal status law (up to four wives), but Kurdish-controlled regions (Rojava) have banned it., Non-Muslims follow their own religious laws, which generally forbid polygamy. |
 Tanzania | Legal for Muslims only | Under Tanzania’s Law of Marriage Act, a marriage contracted in Islamic form or according to rites recognized by customary law is presumed to be polygamous or potentially polygamous, meaning men may have more than one wife under those systems., Christian marriages must remain … |
 Togo | Legal for Muslims only | Under Togo’s Personal and Family Code, spouses must declare at the wedding whether the marriage will be monogamous or polygamous., Polygamy is explicitly allowed in Muslim marriages, restricted to two wives by law, and expressly forbidden in Christian marriages.+1 |
 Uganda | Legal | Men can marry multiple wives without needing permission from existing wives., About 8.3% of women and 7.1% of men were in polygamous unions as of 2014. |
 United Arab Emirates | Legal for Muslims only | Polygamy in the UAE is legally permitted only for Muslim men, who may have up to four wives under Sharia law., Non-Muslims must follow civil or their own religious laws, which do not allow polygamy.+1 |
 Western Sahara | Legal for Muslims only | Polygamy is recognized under Sharia (Islamic) family law, allowing a man to have multiple wives., Civil or non‑Muslim marriages are strictly monogamous, and only marriages under Sharia are legally recognized if polygamous. |
 Yemen | Legal for Muslims only | Polygamy is permitted under Islamic law, allowing a man to have up to four wives provided he treats them equally., Prevalence has declined over time—from 7% of married women in 1999 to 2% in 2020—with higher rates in rural or mountainous areas and among less-educated women. |
 Zambia | Permitted by customary law, not legally recognized | Polygamy is only allowed under customary marriages, not under statutory marriages (Marriage Act), where taking another wife is considered bigamy., Consent of the first wife is required in many customary systems, but rules vary by tribe.+1 |
 Zimbabwe | Permitted by customary law, not legally recognized | Civil law (Marriage Act) allows only monogamous marriages., Polygamy is legally recognized only under customary marriages (African Marriages Act), with most unions unregistered.+1 |
Quick answers
- Where does this countries where polygamy is legal data come from?
- Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: Legality of polygamy - Wiki; Polygamy is rare around the world and mostly confined to a few regions - Pew Research Center; All the Countries Where Polygamy is Legal - Indy100; Polygamy Remains Common and Mostly Legal in West Africa - OECD.