Top 13 Countries Where Polygamy Marriage Is Legal In The World

The practice of marrying several individuals at once, usually a man to several women, is known as polygamy. Religious convictions or long-standing cultural traditions are usually the basis for polygamy. In most Muslim nations, it is generally permissible and limited to men who practice Islam.

Countries have different laws governing polygamy; some forbid it, some permit it, and yet others support it. In nations that accept or promote polygamy, polygyny is more common. In nations where only monogamous marriages are recognized by law, de facto polygamy is widespread. In situations like these, where polygamy is forbidden yet accepted, there is no legal acknowledgment for additional spouses beyond the first.

However, this custom is vanishing as a result of social and economic pressures. Many nations throughout the world allow polygamy. 

Countries Where Polygamy Marriage Is Legal In The World 2024

• Afghanistan
• Algeria
• Pakistan 
• Cameroon
• Nigeria
• Iran
• Qatar
• The United Arab Emirates
• Chad
• Bahrain
• Egypt
• Iraq
• Kenya

1. Afghanistan

 Men are permitted to have up to four wives in Afghanistan according to the Quran. A man's wives are all handled in the same way. This is why polygamy is accepted and commonly used in Afghanistan. But following the rules isn't always the case. Additionally, Afghans are allowed to have as many concubines or husbands as they like.

2. Algeria

 A man is permitted to have up to four wives in Algeria, where polygamy is accepted. However, these weddings are now more challenging due to recent modifications to the Algerian Family Code. Polygamy has therefore been comparatively rare. Nowadays, barely 3 percent of people engage in polygamy.

3. Pakistan

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A 1961 statute permits polygamy in that country. Muslim men in this nation are legally allowed to wed up to four wives. But before setting up a second marriage, he needs to get his first wife's consent legally.

4. Cameroon

Polygamy represents wealth and prestige to the men in Cameron. The majority of uses are in rural areas. Men in Cameroon are not limited in the number of spouses they can have, unlike men in other nations. Nonetheless, because to social and economic reasons, polygamy is decreasing.

5. Nigeria

 In the present era, Nigerian women are able to afford to share spouses. This is not shocking or new anymore. But the rate at which this behavior is spreading in Nigeria is concerning.

The average Nigerian man's conscience, especially for those raised in a cultural environment, remains unchanged regardless of their level of education. Regardless of his degree of exposure to the West, his degree of education, and his attire, among other factors, an average Nigerian man keeps his Nigerian identity when it comes to marriage.

6. Iran

 As per the present legal regulations, Muslim men are allowed to have a maximum of four wives, provided that they get a court order verifying the permission of the first spouse and their equal treatment.

For women who depend only on their husband's salary, splitting it with a second, third, or fourth wife can be financially disastrous. Iranian men are already permitted to accept an unlimited number of "temporary spouses" without telling their original wives, according to Shi'a Islam.

It is predetermined how long a temporary marriage will last, ranging from a few hours to several decades. Temporary spouses may face social marginalization, and their kids can struggle to get public services like education since it could be hard to prove paternity if the union isn't legally recognized.

7. Qatar

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 Getting married in Qatar is a rather straightforward process when you compare it to other procedures. All of this could, however, require a few trips to embassies, photocopying, finding certificates, and taking passport-sized photos.

In the past, related households encouraged their children to marry cousins or other family members in order to enhance their tribe. This was the traditional marriage custom in Qatar.

Occasionally, they were married into a different tribe in order to heal family divisions. Because families were aware of the partner's past, these kinds of unions were common. According to Sharia law, a Muslim man is free to have up to four wives as long as he can support them financially and treat them fairly.

But since few people can afford it, this custom has faded, and women are growing more self-assured and vocal and rejecting these restrictions. A Muslim woman can now stipulate in her marriage contract that her spouse cannot marry anyone else for the term of the agreement.

8. The United Arab Emirates

Polygamy is legal in the United Arab Emirates. The practice and legality of polygamy among Muslims differ greatly throughout the Islamic world. While rare or nonexistent in the majority of Muslim countries, polygamy is extremely common in several of them.

Although it is equally frequent among non-Muslims, polygamy is more prevalent among Muslims in West Africa and in a number of orthodox Arabian nations, like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Islam permits men to have up to four spouses, whereas women are not permitted to have more than one marriage.

9. Chad

 Compared to other African Christians or Muslims, around half of Chad's Christians practice polygamy. In Chad, more than one-third of married women are involved in polygamy. 

With 11% of the population, the Saras are the largest ethnic group in the nation and are mostly dependent on agriculture. Chad is home to over 200 different language and ethnic groupings. Arabic and French are the two official languages. Islam and Christianity are the two most popular religions. 39% of women live in polygamous marriages, making it a popular practice. This is legal, as polygamy is automatically allowed until partners explicitly state that they find it intolerable after marriage.

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In order to preach the genuine Gospel to everyone, including Muslims, the International Christian Polygamy Society needs money in order to travel to nations like Chad. Polygamy has never included adultery and never will.

10. Bahrain

In Bahrain, polygamy is permissible under specific circumstances. Muslim men are allowed to have up to four wives, but they must obtain permission from the court and demonstrate that they can treat each one fairly. The second wife must also consent, and the husband's financial situation and reasons for wanting a second wife will be considered by the court.

Non-Muslims are not allowed to get married in polygamy and are governed by their status rules. Although polygamy is allowed in Bahrain, the majority of marriages are monogamous, and it is not a common practice.

11. Egypt

 It is lawful for a man to have several wives, but he must first get permission from his present wife or spouses before taking on new brides. In addition, he needs to demonstrate to a judge that he has the resources to sustain several women and their kids. Although polygamy has declined recently as a result of shifting social mores and economic circumstances, it is still more common in rural areas and among traditional tribes.

While some proponents of women's rights view polygamy as an oppressive custom that damages both women and children, others counter that, in some cases, it can offer women both emotional and financial assistance. In general, polygamy is still a contentious topic in Egypt, and there is ongoing discussion about its legitimacy.

12. Iraq

Under certain conditions, polygamy is permitted in Iraq. Under certain restrictions, such as demonstrating the capacity to evenly support several spouses monetarily, polygamy is permitted by the Iraqi constitution. This regulation derives from Islamic law, which allows men to have many wives.

Nonetheless, some Iraqis think that polygamy violates women's rights and might result in abuse and exploitation. To better protect women's rights and stop discrimination against them, there has been a campaign to amend Iraq's marriage laws in recent years.

Nevertheless, with specific restrictions, polygamy is still accepted as a legitimate practice in Iraq.

13. Kenya

In Kenya, polygamy is accepted. The Marriage Act of 2014, on the other hand, tightened laws governing civil unions by mandating that a man get the express written approval of his current wife or spouses before being married to another woman. Even though polygamy is recognized by law, there is still debate about it in Kenya because some people believe it erodes women's rights and promotes gender inequity.

Some see it as a custom that ought to be preserved and honored. To guarantee that women are not disadvantaged and that their rights are upheld, appeals have been made in recent years for the rules pertaining to polygamy to be changed. But this is a complicated and difficult subject because of deeply rooted cultural traditions and shifting social attitudes.

With the exception of the Solomon Islands, polygamous unions are not accepted in Europe or Oceania. Only Muslims are permitted to get married in Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, India, and other countries that recognize polygamous unions. While it is prohibited in Australia, several indigenous communities still practice polygamy. In some regions of Indonesia, such as Bali, Papua, and West Papua, polygamy is permitted.

In Balinese Hinduism, polygamy is accepted, and Balinese and Papuans have been practicing it for many years. Despite calls for the criminalization of polygamy and polygamous marriages in Indonesia in 2008, no legislative changes were made.

In a number of African nations, polygamy is outlawed by civil law; but, it is permitted by customary law, which permits long-established social practices. Because of this ambiguous loophole, two types of marriages are created: "civil" marriages and "customary" or "religious" marriages. This allows nations like Sierra Leone, Malawi, and Liberia to accept and even encourage polygamous marriages without having to declare them to be legal.