Many of the countries that permit polygamy have Muslim majorities, and the practice is rare in many of them
December 9, 2020 A weekly digest of the Center's latest research on religion and public life in the U.S. and around the world · Subscribe ↗
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 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. In other parts of the world, including swaths of the Middle East and Asia, polygamy is legal but not practiced widely. But in some countries – particularly in a segment of West and Central Africa known as the polygamy belt – the practice is frequently legal and widespread.
Religion often plays a role in how polygamy is governed and practiced within a single country, and many of the countries that permit polygamy have Muslim majorities. A new blog post has key findings about polygamy and religion around the world. Support Pew Research CenterIn times of uncertainty, good decisions demand good data. Please support Pew Research Center with a contribution on the Center’s behalf to our parent organization, The Pew Charitable Trusts. |
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