Polygamy in Sierra Leone

Polygamy is prohibited under Sierra Leone’s penal code. Polygamy is authorised in customary marriages (under customary laws, the indigenous law of the various ethnic groups of Africa), where a man can take as many wives as he wishes.[1]

Prevalence of polygamy

37% of married women in Sierra Leone were in polygamous marriages in 2008.[2] 29.7% of married girls aged 15–19 reported that their husband had more than one wife.[3]

References
  1. [CEDAW (2007), Responses to the List of Issues And Questions with Regard to the Consideration of the Combined Initial, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Periodic Reports: Sierra Leone, CEDAW/C/SLE/Q/5/Add. 1, CEDAW, New York, NY, p. 17.]
  2. "Sierra Leone, Demographic and Health Survey 2008", Statistics Sierra Leone – Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone, ICF Macro Calverton, Maryland USA, July 2009, p. 84.
  3. "Sierra Leone, Demographic and Health Survey 2008", Statistics Sierra Leone – Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone, ICF Macro Calverton, Maryland USA, July 2009, p. 85.


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