Does cousin marriage prevalence differ between provinces of Pakistan?
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Direct answer
Yes. Table 4.5 of the 2017–18 Pakistan DHS reports meaningful differences by province and region in whether women were married to paternal first cousins, maternal first cousins, other relatives or non-relatives. The pattern is not uniform within provinces, and provincial averages mix urban, rural, educational and ethnic differences. Exact comparisons should use the table’s weighted percentages rather than a small clinic or district sample. The survey supports regional variation, but it does not explain whether law, preference, migration or family structure caused it.
Sources used
Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey 2017–18
National Institute of Population Studies and The DHS Program
National survey evidence for marriage timing, women, households and health indicators.View sourceUnpacking the link between cousin marriage and women's paid work
Social Science Research
Analysis of PDHS 2017–18 married women. Evidence about associations with paid work, not a new 2024 national prevalence survey or a longitudinal trend.Source checked:
View source