Has cousin marriage become more or less common in Pakistan over time?
Last reviewed:
Direct answer
Analyses of successive Pakistan DHS rounds find that marriage to relatives remained high from 1990–91 through 2017–18 rather than showing a simple national collapse. The latest completed DHS in that series placed all consanguineous unions at roughly 63%, with almost half involving first cousins. Cohort, province, education and residence patterns differ, so a stable national average can hide change within subgroups. Survey waves describe marriages represented at each interview and should not be read as yearly registration counts.
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 sourcePakistan Country Indicators
The DHS Program
Indicator page summarizing Pakistan DHS measures across survey waves.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