It is not uncommon for men to have more than one wife, and many cultural practices and religions worldwide support this practice. It is, however, unusual to hear of a woman who has multiple husbands. Polyandry is a type of polygamy in which a woman has two or more husbands at once.
While most countries only allow monogamous and polygamous marriages, a few cultures around the world allow polyandry, which helps a woman to marry more than one man.
Here is a list of countries that practise polyandry:
1. India
The Paharis practice polyandry in the Jaunsar Bawar region of North India, and a minority of people in Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh, justify and practice it. As descendants of the Pancha Pandavas (five brothers who were husbands to a woman named Draupadi, the daughter of King Panchala), they believe they must carry on the tradition. The Toda tribe of the Nilgiris also practices polyandry, as do the Nair caste systems in South India and the Najanad Vellalas of Travancore. In 1988, Tibet University surveyed 753 Tibetan families and discovered that 13% practised polyandry.
2. Kenya
While polyandry isn’t explicitly prohibited or forbidden under the law in Kenya, it is a common practice. In 2013, two men decided to marry a woman they both adored, leading to the first reports of polyandrous marriage in Kenya. The bride couldn’t decide which man she wanted, so it was a good excuse to marry all three of them. There have also been reports of polyandry among Kenya’s Masai people. In August 2013, two Kenyan men agreed to marry a woman with whom they had both been having an affair.
3. China
In modern-day China, Tibet is a region covering much of the Tibetan Plateau. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people, as well as other ethnic groups, including the Monpa, Tamang, Qiang, Sherpa, and Lhoba peoples. Nowadays, considerable numbers of Han Chinese and Hui people also inhabit it.
In the past, Tibetans practised fraternal polyandry. The woman in the scenario might not reveal to her husband which child belongs to whom to avoid creating any problems or issues within their family. However, the Tibet Autonomous Region government in 1981 ceased to tolerate new polyandrous marriages under family law. It is now illegal to practise this in Tibet, but research shows that it still happens in rural areas.
Currently, polyandry is present in all Tibetan areas but is particularly common in some rural regions of Tsang and Kham that are faced with extreme living conditions.
A 2008 study of several villages in Xigaze and Qamdo prefectures found that 20–50% of the families were polyandrous, with the majority having two husbands. For some remote settlements, the number was as high as 90%. Polyandry is very rare among urban residents or non-agricultural households.
4. Nepal
Nepal is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is primarily located in the Himalayas, but it also includes portions of the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
Polygamy has been officially prohibited in Nepal since 1963, but people in the Humla, Dolpa, and Kosi regions value their traditions far more than the law. There are entire villages of polyandrous families here. This type of marriage is also common among tribes in Nepal’s north and northeast, including the Bhotia, Sherpa, Newar, and others.
5. Gabon
Both men and women can join in a polygamous marriage with the other gender under Gabonese law. In practice, the right to multiple spouses is typically reserved for men. In May 2021, a Gabonese woman showcased her seven husbands and explained how she manages to coexist with them without any issues.
