Polygamy: Not as Rare as You May Think

Polygamy may be abhorrent to most Americans, but in many parts of the global community it is common, normal, and accepted.

Although the percentage of men in the world who have more than one wife is relatively small, as much as a third of the world's population belongs to a community that allows it, says Israeli anthropologist Joseph Ginat.

There are many plural marriages in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, said Ginat, professor of social and culture anthropology at the University of Haifa.

Many American Indian tribes allow polygamy; several experimental Christian groups practice it. And, of course, there are those famous offshoots of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Polygamy is the most prevalent in Muslim countries, and in communities that are more traditional and agrarian. For example, it is common and growing among the 180,000 Bedouin of Israel. It is also frequent among some Mediterranean Jews living in Yemen.

But having multiple wives and families requires money, so in each society that permits polygamy, only 10% to 25% of men actually practice it, and most have only two wives, Ginat said. The men most likely to be involved are those with the most economic resources and most status in the community.

Today, as many Muslims are leaving the village for the city and adopting urban lifestyles, plural marriage is declining. When money becomes the basis of an economy, or when nuclear families replace an extended family network, the practice declines.

"When I was growing up in Bangladesh, my grandfather had two wives," said Iqbal Hossain, president of the Islamic Society of Greater Salt Lake City. "But now it is fast becoming a thing of the past."

Polygamy was an accepted practice among early Hebrews, including several revered biblical figures, such as Abraham, David, and Solomon.

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