Polygamy: its meaning and Countries where it is illegal

2Feb,2024

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Polygamy is a marriage system in which an individual has more than one spouse simultaneously. It is often categorized into two main types: polygyny, where a man has multiple wives, and polyandry, where a woman has multiple husbands.

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Meaning of Polygamy 

Polygamous marriages are not legal in Canada and are an offence under the Criminal Code of Canada.

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Canada

In the United States, polygamy was declared unlawful through the passing of Edmunds Anti-Polygamy Act of 1882.

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United States 

Polygamy became illegal in India in 1956, uniformly for all of its citizens except for Muslims, who are permitted to have four wives and for Hindus in Goa and along the western coast where bigamy is legal.

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India

Polygamy is currently illegal in Australia as it necessarily entails the crime of bigamy, which is defined as entering into a marriage with someone while already being legally married to another.

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Australia

In Germany, polygamy is illegal, legally punishable with fine or prison time up to three years.

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Germany

Polygamy is illegal in France and has been the center of recent political debates, due to surges of Malian immigrants living polygamously in the country.

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France