Men vs women in polygamous union by education level

Polygamy in Kenya declines sharply with higher education levels, according to data released in the 2025 Kenya Population Situation Analysis Report.

The data shows that 33.6 per cent of women with no education are in polygamous unions, compared to 15.4 per cent of men with two or more wives in the same category.

At primary level, the figures drop to 10.5 per cent for women and 5.9 per cent for men. Among those with secondary education, only 5.2 per cent of women and 2.9 per cent of men are in polygamous unions.

Overall, 9.2 per cent of women and 4.5 per cent of men are in polygamous marriages nationwide.