The Prevalence and Persistence of Cousin Marriage in Pakistan

On February 4th the Population Council had an article on cousin marriage in Pakistan:

Pakistan’s rate of consanguinity (the proportion of couples who are blood relatives) is unparalleled globally, with nearly two-thirds of marriages involving cousins. While cousin marriage rates have declined alongside economic development in many parts of the world, Pakistan’s rates have stayed roughly the same for several decades. Using data from the Punjab Consanguinity Survey, our new study provides a nuanced understanding of this phenomenon, contextualizing it within the frameworks of kinship, economic development, cultural norms, and demography.

Our findings identify three key factors that sustain high rates of cousin marriage in Pakistan: intensive kinship systems, slower economic development, and higher fertility rates. These factors combine to create a unique socio-economic environment in which the advantages of marrying within the family outweigh its drawbacks.