Where in the world is polygamy most common?

Polygamy is most common in the countries of sub-Saharan and middle Africa. Polygamy is also a common practice in Muslim culture. The legality of polygamy varies from country to country.

The most common form of polygamy is polygyny, the marriage of one man to simultaneous wives. Polygyny is almost invariably the only form of polygamy that is legal in those countries that permit multiple marriages.

Polygamy is not legal in the United States, but the practice still occurs within the Fundamentalist movement of the Church of Latter-day Saints. This group of Mormons practices plural marriage, a cultivated version of polygamy originally taught by Church founder Joseph Smith.