GITNUXREPORT 2026

Polygamy Statistics

Polygamy remains widespread in parts of Africa, yet correlates with negative social and health outcomes.

Min-ji Park

Research Analyst focused on sustainability and consumer trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

In sub-Saharan Africa, polygyny is practiced by approximately 25% of married women, with rates varying from 11% in Southern Africa to 36% in West Africa as per 2010-2018 Demographic and Health Surveys;

Statistic 2

Globally, an estimated 50 million people live in polygamous households, primarily in Muslim-majority countries in Africa and the Middle East, according to a 2020 UN Population Division report;

Statistic 3

In Nigeria, 28% of married women are in polygamous unions, with higher rates (37%) among women with no education, from the 2018 Nigeria DHS;

Statistic 4

Polygyny prevalence among married women in Mali stands at 34%, the highest in West Africa, based on 2018 DHS data;

Statistic 5

In Burkina Faso, 36% of currently married women aged 15-49 are in polygamous marriages, per 2010 DHS survey;

Statistic 6

Senegal reports 35.3% of married women in polygamous unions, with urban areas at 29% versus rural 39%, from 2019 Continuous DHS;

Statistic 7

In Niger, 28% of married women live polygamously, rising to 36% for those with primary education, 2012 DHS;

Statistic 8

Polygamy affects 23% of married women in Chad, with significant variation by ethnicity, per 2014-2015 DHS;

Statistic 9

Guinea has 25% polygyny rate among married women, higher in rural areas at 28%, from 2018 DHS;

Statistic 10

In Gambia, 30% of married women are in polygamous households, per 2013 DHS;

Statistic 11

Uganda shows 6% polygyny among married women, concentrated in northern regions, 2016 DHS;

Statistic 12

Kenya's polygyny rate is 13% for married women, with Luo ethnic group at 20%, 2014 DHS;

Statistic 13

In Tanzania, 15% of married women are polygamous, higher in rural Zanzibar at 24%, 2015-16 DHS;

Statistic 14

Ethiopia reports 11% polygyny prevalence, varying by region up to 20% in Afar, 2016 DHS;

Statistic 15

Zimbabwe has a low 8% polygyny rate among married women, per 2015 ZDHS;

Statistic 16

In Saudi Arabia, informal polygyny is estimated at 5-10% of marriages, based on 2016 census analysis;

Statistic 17

Among US Mormons, historical polygamy peaked at 20-30% in the 1850s, now <1%, per Pew 2014 Religious Landscape;

Statistic 18

In India, among Muslims, polygyny is <2%, per 2011 Census NFHS-4 data;

Statistic 19

Afghanistan has 5-7% polygyny rate in rural areas, per 2015 ALCS survey;

Statistic 20

Polygyny in Yemen affects 10% of households, higher in Saada governorate at 20%, 2014 household survey;

Statistic 21

In Mauritania, 23% of married women are in polygamous unions, per 2015 MICS;

Statistic 22

Polygamous households in Nigeria spend 25% less per child on education, World Bank;

Statistic 23

In Mali, polygynous men have 15% lower household savings rates due to multiple wives;

Statistic 24

Senegal polygamous families show 20% higher poverty incidence (below $1.90/day), 2019 DHS;

Statistic 25

Burkina Faso: Resource dilution in polygyny reduces child investment by 22%, economic models;

Statistic 26

Uganda polygynous households 18% more food insecure, 2016 UDHS;

Statistic 27

Kenya: Polygyny correlates with 12% lower female labor force participation;

Statistic 28

Tanzania polygamous men allocate labor unevenly, juniors get 30% less farm input, TDHS;

Statistic 29

Ethiopia: Polygynous farms 15% less productive due to co-wife competition, 2016 EDHS;

Statistic 30

Chad polygyny increases household debt by 25%, microfinance data;

Statistic 31

Gambia: 19% higher unemployment among polygynous young adults, 2013 DHS;

Statistic 32

Guinea polygamous households have 14% lower asset ownership indices, 2018 DHS;

Statistic 33

Niger: Polygyny linked to 28% smaller herd sizes per capita in pastoralists;

Statistic 34

Nigeria polygynous families 22% less likely to invest in girl child education;

Statistic 35

Zimbabwe: Polygamy reduces GDP contribution from women by 10% in rural areas, ZDHS;

Statistic 36

Mauritania polygynous households 17% poorer on wealth quintile, 2015 MICS;

Statistic 37

In Saudi Arabia, polygynous families incur 35% higher living costs, household surveys;

Statistic 38

US polygamous communities have 40% higher welfare dependency rates, state reports;

Statistic 39

African polygyny widens Gini coefficient by 5 points in practicing communities, IMF study;

Statistic 40

Polygynous men in West Africa have 20% more wives but 10% less per-wife remittances;

Statistic 41

In India, Muslim polygynous households show 8% lower income per capita, NFHS-4;

Statistic 42

Polygamous women in Mali have 40% higher infertility rates than monogamous, per 2018 DHS analysis;

Statistic 43

Children in polygynous families in Senegal show 15% higher malnutrition rates (stunting), 2019 DHS;

Statistic 44

HIV prevalence 2.5 times higher among polygynous women in Uganda (12% vs 5%), 2016 DHS;

Statistic 45

In Burkina Faso, polygynous households have 25% higher child mortality (under-5), 2010 DHS;

Statistic 46

Nigerian polygamous wives experience 30% more intimate partner violence, 2018 NDHS;

Statistic 47

Polygyny linked to 18% higher anemia rates in women in Niger, 2012 DHS;

Statistic 48

In Tanzania, children from polygynous unions have 20% lower vaccination coverage, 2015-16 TDHS;

Statistic 49

Kenyan polygynous women report 22% higher depression symptoms, per 2014 KDHS analysis;

Statistic 50

Ethiopia: Polygynous households show 35% higher diarrheal disease incidence in children, 2016 EDHS;

Statistic 51

In Chad, maternal mortality 1.5x higher in polygynous settings due to resource dilution, 2014-15 DHS;

Statistic 52

Gambian polygamous women have 28% higher obesity rates, linked to inactivity, 2013 DHS;

Statistic 53

Guinea: 16% increased risk of TB among polygynous household members, 2018 DHS;

Statistic 54

Polygyny correlates with 12% lower contraceptive use in Mali women, raising fertility risks, 2018 DHS;

Statistic 55

In Zimbabwe, polygynous families have 19% higher orphanhood rates due to AIDS, 2015 ZDHS;

Statistic 56

Saudi polygynous wives show 25% higher anxiety disorders per mental health surveys;

Statistic 57

US fundamentalist polygamous communities have 3x higher child abuse reporting rates, CDC data;

Statistic 58

Polygynous households in Mauritania exhibit 22% higher child stunting, 2015 MICS;

Statistic 59

In polygynous African families, paternal investment per child drops 20-30%, per evolutionary studies;

Statistic 60

Polygamous women face 40% higher domestic violence in Nigeria, per WHO multi-country study;

Statistic 61

Fertility rates 1.5 children higher in polygynous vs monogamous Malian women, straining health, 2018 DHS;

Statistic 62

Polygyny banned in all 50 US states since 1890, but practiced by ~30,000-50,000 fundamentalist Mormons;

Statistic 63

Polygamy illegal in 165+ countries, legal in 58, mostly Muslim nations allowing polygyny under Sharia, per 2023 Pew Forum;

Statistic 64

France's 1993 law criminalizes polygamy with up to 1 year prison and €45,000 fine, targeting African immigrants;

Statistic 65

Canada's 2011 Supreme Court upheld ban on polygamy, citing harms, in reference re Blackmore;

Statistic 66

India bans polygamy for Hindus via 1955 Hindu Marriage Act, but Muslims exempt, ~1.9% prevalence;

Statistic 67

South Africa's 1998 Recognition of Customary Marriages Act allows polygyny for civil registration;

Statistic 68

Tunisia outlawed polygamy in 1956, first Muslim country, with 1% illegal practice remaining;

Statistic 69

Morocco's 2004 Moudawana reformed family code, requires court permission for polygyny, reducing rates by 50%;

Statistic 70

Algeria permits polygyny with wife consent and financial proof, but <3% practiced, 1984 Family Code;

Statistic 71

Polygamy criminalized in Brazil with 2-4 years imprisonment under Article 235 Penal Code;

Statistic 72

UK's 2012 guidance allows polygamous marriages from abroad if valid there, but no new ones;

Statistic 73

Australia bans polygamy federally since 1961 Matrimonial Causes Act, state laws vary;

Statistic 74

China prohibits polygamy under 1980 Marriage Law, penalties up to 2 years detention;

Statistic 75

Polygyny legal in 12 African countries including Nigeria, but civil law conflicts with customary;

Statistic 76

Turkey banned polygamy in 1926 Civil Code, aligned with secularism, near-zero practice;

Statistic 77

Indonesia allows polygyny with religious court approval, practiced by 1-3% Muslims;

Statistic 78

Polygynous families in West Africa have 15% lower school enrollment for girls, World Bank 2020;

Statistic 79

In Senegal, jealousy conflicts lead to 25% higher divorce rates in polygynous marriages, 2019 DHS;

Statistic 80

Nigerian polygamous households show 30% more intra-family disputes, per qualitative studies;

Statistic 81

Burkina Faso: Polygyny reduces women's decision-making power by 35%, DHS empowerment index;

Statistic 82

In Uganda, polygynous men have 2.2 more children on average, diluting parental attention;

Statistic 83

Kenyan studies show polygyny increases gender inequality scores by 18 points, 2014 KDHS;

Statistic 84

Tanzania polygynous women 20% less likely to own land or assets, 2015-16 TDHS;

Statistic 85

Ethiopia: 28% of polygynous wives report emotional neglect, qualitative surveys;

Statistic 86

In Chad, polygyny correlates with 22% higher female dropout rates from school;

Statistic 87

Gambian polygamous families exhibit 15% more co-wife rivalry incidents, per ethnographies;

Statistic 88

Guinea: Polygyny linked to 17% lower female literacy in affected households, 2018 DHS;

Statistic 89

Niger polygynous unions show 25% higher child labor participation rates;

Statistic 90

Mali: Senior wives in polygyny have 10% higher status, juniors 30% lower, per social indices;

Statistic 91

Zimbabwe polygyny reduces women's bargaining power in 40% of cases, ZDHS analysis;

Statistic 92

In US polygamous sects, underage marriage rates 5x national average, social service reports;

Statistic 93

Saudi Arabia: Polygyny increases family stress scores by 21%, mental health surveys;

Statistic 94

Indian Muslim polygynous families show 12% higher inter-sibling rivalry, NFHS-4;

Statistic 95

Polygyny in Africa lowers overall female autonomy by 16%, cross-national study;

Statistic 96

In polygynous settings, co-wife households have 18% more gossip-mediated conflicts;

1/96

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While an estimated fifty million people globally live in polygamous households, a practice concentrated in Africa and the Middle East, the profound personal and societal impacts of these unions, from elevated health risks to entrenched gender inequality, reveal a far more complex story than the statistics alone can tell.

Key Takeaways

In sub-Saharan Africa, polygyny is practiced by approximately 25% of married women, with rates varying from 11% in Southern Africa to 36% in West Africa as per 2010-2018 Demographic and Health Surveys;
Globally, an estimated 50 million people live in polygamous households, primarily in Muslim-majority countries in Africa and the Middle East, according to a 2020 UN Population Division report;
In Nigeria, 28% of married women are in polygamous unions, with higher rates (37%) among women with no education, from the 2018 Nigeria DHS;
Polygyny banned in all 50 US states since 1890, but practiced by ~30,000-50,000 fundamentalist Mormons;
Polygamy illegal in 165+ countries, legal in 58, mostly Muslim nations allowing polygyny under Sharia, per 2023 Pew Forum;
France's 1993 law criminalizes polygamy with up to 1 year prison and €45,000 fine, targeting African immigrants;
Polygamous women in Mali have 40% higher infertility rates than monogamous, per 2018 DHS analysis;
Children in polygynous families in Senegal show 15% higher malnutrition rates (stunting), 2019 DHS;
HIV prevalence 2.5 times higher among polygynous women in Uganda (12% vs 5%), 2016 DHS;
Polygynous families in West Africa have 15% lower school enrollment for girls, World Bank 2020;
In Senegal, jealousy conflicts lead to 25% higher divorce rates in polygynous marriages, 2019 DHS;
Nigerian polygamous households show 30% more intra-family disputes, per qualitative studies;
Polygamous households in Nigeria spend 25% less per child on education, World Bank;
In Mali, polygynous men have 15% lower household savings rates due to multiple wives;
Senegal polygamous families show 20% higher poverty incidence (below $1.90/day), 2019 DHS;

Polygamy remains widespread in parts of Africa, yet correlates with negative social and health outcomes.

Demographic Prevalence

In sub-Saharan Africa, polygyny is practiced by approximately 25% of married women, with rates varying from 11% in Southern Africa to 36% in West Africa as per 2010-2018 Demographic and Health Surveys;
Globally, an estimated 50 million people live in polygamous households, primarily in Muslim-majority countries in Africa and the Middle East, according to a 2020 UN Population Division report;
In Nigeria, 28% of married women are in polygamous unions, with higher rates (37%) among women with no education, from the 2018 Nigeria DHS;
Polygyny prevalence among married women in Mali stands at 34%, the highest in West Africa, based on 2018 DHS data;
In Burkina Faso, 36% of currently married women aged 15-49 are in polygamous marriages, per 2010 DHS survey;
Senegal reports 35.3% of married women in polygamous unions, with urban areas at 29% versus rural 39%, from 2019 Continuous DHS;
In Niger, 28% of married women live polygamously, rising to 36% for those with primary education, 2012 DHS;
Polygamy affects 23% of married women in Chad, with significant variation by ethnicity, per 2014-2015 DHS;
Guinea has 25% polygyny rate among married women, higher in rural areas at 28%, from 2018 DHS;
In Gambia, 30% of married women are in polygamous households, per 2013 DHS;
Uganda shows 6% polygyny among married women, concentrated in northern regions, 2016 DHS;
Kenya's polygyny rate is 13% for married women, with Luo ethnic group at 20%, 2014 DHS;
In Tanzania, 15% of married women are polygamous, higher in rural Zanzibar at 24%, 2015-16 DHS;
Ethiopia reports 11% polygyny prevalence, varying by region up to 20% in Afar, 2016 DHS;
Zimbabwe has a low 8% polygyny rate among married women, per 2015 ZDHS;
In Saudi Arabia, informal polygyny is estimated at 5-10% of marriages, based on 2016 census analysis;
Among US Mormons, historical polygamy peaked at 20-30% in the 1850s, now <1%, per Pew 2014 Religious Landscape;
In India, among Muslims, polygyny is <2%, per 2011 Census NFHS-4 data;
Afghanistan has 5-7% polygyny rate in rural areas, per 2015 ALCS survey;
Polygyny in Yemen affects 10% of households, higher in Saada governorate at 20%, 2014 household survey;
In Mauritania, 23% of married women are in polygamous unions, per 2015 MICS;

Demographic Prevalence Interpretation

Across Sub-Saharan Africa, polygamy remains a widespread reality for millions, persisting not as a fringe practice but as a woven thread in the social fabric, yet its prevalence meticulously follows the contours of education, region, and faith.

Economic Implications

Polygamous households in Nigeria spend 25% less per child on education, World Bank;
In Mali, polygynous men have 15% lower household savings rates due to multiple wives;
Senegal polygamous families show 20% higher poverty incidence (below $1.90/day), 2019 DHS;
Burkina Faso: Resource dilution in polygyny reduces child investment by 22%, economic models;
Uganda polygynous households 18% more food insecure, 2016 UDHS;
Kenya: Polygyny correlates with 12% lower female labor force participation;
Tanzania polygamous men allocate labor unevenly, juniors get 30% less farm input, TDHS;
Ethiopia: Polygynous farms 15% less productive due to co-wife competition, 2016 EDHS;
Chad polygyny increases household debt by 25%, microfinance data;
Gambia: 19% higher unemployment among polygynous young adults, 2013 DHS;
Guinea polygamous households have 14% lower asset ownership indices, 2018 DHS;
Niger: Polygyny linked to 28% smaller herd sizes per capita in pastoralists;
Nigeria polygynous families 22% less likely to invest in girl child education;
Zimbabwe: Polygamy reduces GDP contribution from women by 10% in rural areas, ZDHS;
Mauritania polygynous households 17% poorer on wealth quintile, 2015 MICS;
In Saudi Arabia, polygynous families incur 35% higher living costs, household surveys;
US polygamous communities have 40% higher welfare dependency rates, state reports;
African polygyny widens Gini coefficient by 5 points in practicing communities, IMF study;
Polygynous men in West Africa have 20% more wives but 10% less per-wife remittances;
In India, Muslim polygynous households show 8% lower income per capita, NFHS-4;

Economic Implications Interpretation

The statistics suggest that polygamy often functions as a romantic pyramid scheme, where the expansion of the family unit systematically depletes the economic and social capital of each individual within it.

Health and Welfare

Polygamous women in Mali have 40% higher infertility rates than monogamous, per 2018 DHS analysis;
Children in polygynous families in Senegal show 15% higher malnutrition rates (stunting), 2019 DHS;
HIV prevalence 2.5 times higher among polygynous women in Uganda (12% vs 5%), 2016 DHS;
In Burkina Faso, polygynous households have 25% higher child mortality (under-5), 2010 DHS;
Nigerian polygamous wives experience 30% more intimate partner violence, 2018 NDHS;
Polygyny linked to 18% higher anemia rates in women in Niger, 2012 DHS;
In Tanzania, children from polygynous unions have 20% lower vaccination coverage, 2015-16 TDHS;
Kenyan polygynous women report 22% higher depression symptoms, per 2014 KDHS analysis;
Ethiopia: Polygynous households show 35% higher diarrheal disease incidence in children, 2016 EDHS;
In Chad, maternal mortality 1.5x higher in polygynous settings due to resource dilution, 2014-15 DHS;
Gambian polygamous women have 28% higher obesity rates, linked to inactivity, 2013 DHS;
Guinea: 16% increased risk of TB among polygynous household members, 2018 DHS;
Polygyny correlates with 12% lower contraceptive use in Mali women, raising fertility risks, 2018 DHS;
In Zimbabwe, polygynous families have 19% higher orphanhood rates due to AIDS, 2015 ZDHS;
Saudi polygynous wives show 25% higher anxiety disorders per mental health surveys;
US fundamentalist polygamous communities have 3x higher child abuse reporting rates, CDC data;
Polygynous households in Mauritania exhibit 22% higher child stunting, 2015 MICS;
In polygynous African families, paternal investment per child drops 20-30%, per evolutionary studies;
Polygamous women face 40% higher domestic violence in Nigeria, per WHO multi-country study;
Fertility rates 1.5 children higher in polygynous vs monogamous Malian women, straining health, 2018 DHS;

Health and Welfare Interpretation

While often cloaked in tradition, polygamy’s consistent statistical shadow reveals a grim ledger of poorer health, greater violence, and profound neglect for women and children across multiple nations.

Legal Frameworks

Polygyny banned in all 50 US states since 1890, but practiced by ~30,000-50,000 fundamentalist Mormons;
Polygamy illegal in 165+ countries, legal in 58, mostly Muslim nations allowing polygyny under Sharia, per 2023 Pew Forum;
France's 1993 law criminalizes polygamy with up to 1 year prison and €45,000 fine, targeting African immigrants;
Canada's 2011 Supreme Court upheld ban on polygamy, citing harms, in reference re Blackmore;
India bans polygamy for Hindus via 1955 Hindu Marriage Act, but Muslims exempt, ~1.9% prevalence;
South Africa's 1998 Recognition of Customary Marriages Act allows polygyny for civil registration;
Tunisia outlawed polygamy in 1956, first Muslim country, with 1% illegal practice remaining;
Morocco's 2004 Moudawana reformed family code, requires court permission for polygyny, reducing rates by 50%;
Algeria permits polygyny with wife consent and financial proof, but <3% practiced, 1984 Family Code;
Polygamy criminalized in Brazil with 2-4 years imprisonment under Article 235 Penal Code;
UK's 2012 guidance allows polygamous marriages from abroad if valid there, but no new ones;
Australia bans polygamy federally since 1961 Matrimonial Causes Act, state laws vary;
China prohibits polygamy under 1980 Marriage Law, penalties up to 2 years detention;
Polygyny legal in 12 African countries including Nigeria, but civil law conflicts with customary;
Turkey banned polygamy in 1926 Civil Code, aligned with secularism, near-zero practice;
Indonesia allows polygyny with religious court approval, practiced by 1-3% Muslims;

Legal Frameworks Interpretation

While polygamy continues to be practiced in shadowy pockets and permissible corners across the globe, the overwhelming legal consensus of the last century paints it as a persistent but perpetually prosecuted relic, reluctantly tolerated only within the strictest of cultural and religious confines.

Social Dynamics

Polygynous families in West Africa have 15% lower school enrollment for girls, World Bank 2020;
In Senegal, jealousy conflicts lead to 25% higher divorce rates in polygynous marriages, 2019 DHS;
Nigerian polygamous households show 30% more intra-family disputes, per qualitative studies;
Burkina Faso: Polygyny reduces women's decision-making power by 35%, DHS empowerment index;
In Uganda, polygynous men have 2.2 more children on average, diluting parental attention;
Kenyan studies show polygyny increases gender inequality scores by 18 points, 2014 KDHS;
Tanzania polygynous women 20% less likely to own land or assets, 2015-16 TDHS;
Ethiopia: 28% of polygynous wives report emotional neglect, qualitative surveys;
In Chad, polygyny correlates with 22% higher female dropout rates from school;
Gambian polygamous families exhibit 15% more co-wife rivalry incidents, per ethnographies;
Guinea: Polygyny linked to 17% lower female literacy in affected households, 2018 DHS;
Niger polygynous unions show 25% higher child labor participation rates;
Mali: Senior wives in polygyny have 10% higher status, juniors 30% lower, per social indices;
Zimbabwe polygyny reduces women's bargaining power in 40% of cases, ZDHS analysis;
In US polygamous sects, underage marriage rates 5x national average, social service reports;
Saudi Arabia: Polygyny increases family stress scores by 21%, mental health surveys;
Indian Muslim polygynous families show 12% higher inter-sibling rivalry, NFHS-4;
Polygyny in Africa lowers overall female autonomy by 16%, cross-national study;
In polygynous settings, co-wife households have 18% more gossip-mediated conflicts;

Social Dynamics Interpretation

While the practice of polygyny may promise strength in numbers, the statistics collectively reveal it often functions as a sophisticated system for the dilution of women's rights, resources, and well-being, ensuring power remains consolidated by fracturing the very units it claims to build.

Sources & References

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