19 Facts About Polygyny

Polygyny is more widespread in Africa than in any other continent.

Polygyny is most common in a region known as the "polygamy belt" in West Africa and Central Africa, with the countries estimated to have the highest polygamy prevalence in the world being Burkina Faso, Mali, Gambia, Niger and Nigeria.

Polygyny is more common in societies that have the custom of bride price.

Polygyny is considered an economic advantage in many rural areas.

Polygyny served as "a dynamic principle of family survival, growth, security, continuity, and prestige", especially as a socially approved mechanism that increases the number of adult workers immediately and the eventual workforce of resident children.

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Polygyny contended that polygyny is unjust to wives and children.

Polygyny argues that it creates rival stepchildren and forces them to compete for attention, food, and shelter.

Polygyny has been criticized by feminists such as Professor John O Ifediora, who believes that women should be equal to men and not subject to them in marriage.

Polygyny occurred even in areas of where monogamy was prevalent.

Polygyny varies according to a woman's age, religion and educational experience.

Polygyny is legal in Somalia and most commonly seen throughout Muslim communities.

Polygyny criticizes the ruling elite for speaking out against the practice while taking more than one wife themselves.

Polygyny is legal in Yemen, a majority Muslim nation, which follows Islamic tradition where polygyny is acceptable up to four wives only if the husband treats all wives justly.

Polygyny was legalized and documented in unrecognised Chechen Republic of Ichkeria but Russian authorities had annulled these polygynous marriages after they regained control over territory of Ichkeria.

Polygyny has a long history among the Mapuche people of southern South America.

Polygyny is practiced by some Muslim immigrants to the US, especially those from Africa and Asia.

Polygyny is allowed in the Quran but if a man fears he can't deal justly with them he should only marry one.

Polygyny had a total of nine wives, but not all at the same time, depending on the sources in his lifetime.

Polygyny is not forbidden in the Tanakh and over 40 important figures had more than one wife, such as Esau, Elkanah, and Solomon.