Is There a Country Where You Can Marry Your Sibling? (2024)

There is a country where you can marry your sibling, and in fact, there are a few.

The countries where you can marry your sibling under certain circ*mstances are Argentina, Brazil, Thailand, and the Netherlands, with some exceptions in the laws of those two last countries.

Yes, you can marry your siblings in some countries. It is permitted in Argentina, Brazil, Thailand, and the Netherlands under certain circ*mstances.

Most laws that pertain to the marriage of siblings make provisions for what is acceptable, and frequently connect those exceptions to laws connected to incest.

Table of Contents

  • Are incest and sibling marriage connected?
  • How is marriage between siblings defined in the law?
  • Is incest legal in some countries?
  • Where is it legal to marry a sibling?
  • What countries have exceptions when it comes to marrying siblings?
  • What do you think of a marriage between siblings?

Are incest and sibling marriage connected?

Is There a Country Where You Can Marry Your Sibling? (1)

There is no law that says marriage to a sibling and incest are connected, but incest is clearly defined in almost every country.

The most common definition of incest is that it is sexual activity between family members or relatives that are close to the bloodline.

This, by reasonable implication, would make marriage an incestuous act if siblings consummated the marriage.

Still, if marriage to a sibling is legal then, reasonably, that would suggest that incest, in some senses, is legal. In a few countries, it is not criminalized in certain circ*mstances.

In most countries, particularly developed countries, incest is illegal and/or criminalized with punitive consequences.

There are some countries that make incest illegal, but they do not have laws that make sexual relationships between same-sex couples illegal.

Then there are countries that consider incest socially unreasonable and unethical, but it is not criminalized – making it legal.

Other countries do not allow incest between minors but will allow for marriages within the same family lines between two consenting adults.

How is marriage between siblings defined in the law?

Is There a Country Where You Can Marry Your Sibling? (2)

In places where a marriage between siblings is legal, marriage is defined in the law by a definition known as consanguinity, and also by the nature of the family relationship between the two parties.

Those two variables are one and the same, and not every law pertaining to this subject uses the term consanguinity, although many do.

The term consanguinity applies to the percentage of DNA shared between two parties.

So, for example, a pair of identical twins would have 100 percent DNA. When you see laws pertaining to marriage between siblings, the laws often accept marriages when this percentage is low, or when the nature of the family relationship between the two parties is rather distant.

There are also countries where marriage between siblings is permitted when the sibling relationship isn’t known by either party or, one of the parties is adopted.

Consanguinity is determined by calculating generations and how close that number connects to the common ancestor between the parties, with the prohibition of marriage occurring at 25 percent.

So, two siblings with the same mother and father would have a level of consanguinity that wasn’t provided for by the law for marriage, in most countries, as their level of consanguinity would be 37.5 percent.

Where you see exceptions and circ*mstances for marriage by siblings most often is when the nature of their family relationship is distant or unknown.

Is incest legal in some countries?

Incest is legal in some countries, but sex with minors of any relationship is not legal in any country and is defined by every international agency as sexual child abuse.

It is important to note that many countries allow for marriage at the ages of 12 and 14.

Is There a Country Where You Can Marry Your Sibling? (3)

The countries that are said to look the other way on many forms of incest are Latvia, Belgium, Turkey, South Korea, Russia, Portugal, China, Belgium, Japan, Spain, and France.

Each of these countries that permit this has a law that defines what is okay and what is not, with incest being defined as sexual relationships between family members.

Relationships between parent and child would be forbidden, but with distant relatives, it might not be.

It is also worth noting that many countries that permit incestuous relationships by law do not permit marriage between relatives.

There are also countries that do not define incest at all. In India for example, it is not defined, but it could be considered exploitation if a report was filed on the matter.

Other countries do not criminalize incest in the way of punitive consequences and may simply fine or socially reprimand anyone that engages in this.

Where is it legal to marry a sibling?

Is There a Country Where You Can Marry Your Sibling? (4)

It is legal to marry a sibling in Argentina. Here, the parties must be over the age of consent, which is 18.

Marriage between an ascendant and a descendant is illegal and would be invalidated. Brazil has no punishment for relations between people over the age of 14.

Brazil law also allows for marriages between first cousins, and marriages between other family relationships are considered invalid.

That means that the parties involved will not be punished for their relationships beyond having their relationship invalidated by law.

Some countries that have exceptions to the law make these determinations on the grounds that marriage is a family relationship.

The consensus is that invalidating an existing marriage between family members is not changing the nature of the relationship, just the legality of it, and the principle of consanguinity is used here.

Brazilian law actually specifies in Article 1521 of their Civil Code that parents and their children (a relationship with consanguinity of 50 percent), and grandparents and their grandchildren would have their marriages invalidated.

Brazil does allow for marriages between parties where the consanguinity is 25 percent (such as with half-siblings), and permission will be issued upon a health check.

What countries have exceptions when it comes to marrying siblings?

Is There a Country Where You Can Marry Your Sibling? (5)

The countries that have exceptions when it comes to marrying siblings are Thailand, Latvia, and the Netherlands.

These countries have exceptions similar to Brazil’s where the principle of consanguinity applies.

In Thailand, incest between parties over the age of 15 is not illegal. Marriage is not illegal either unless one party is a direct descendant of the other.

In Thailand also, siblings cannot be full or half-siblings but can be stepsiblings or adopted siblings.

Latvia also has not prohibited incest but only incest between minors. The same applies to the Netherlands.

Marriage is forbidden between direct ascendants and descendants, and siblings cannot marry.

There are circ*mstances where siblings can apply to the Minister of Justice for an exception to the rule, and these are typically granted in the case of adoptions or stepsiblings, or in third and fourth-degree sibling relationships when both have declared consent.

What do you think of a marriage between siblings?

There are many reasons why countries would permit the sealing of a relationship between siblings, whether they are in the same bloodline or not.

For some developing countries, the law pertains to social and economic needs, and often property values and territory are included in marriages.

For this reason, a marriage between siblings of any kind may be performed to protect family lineage and inheritance, as opposed to protecting a romantic relationship.

For relationships like this, incest and marriage may not even be connected, and the incest may never occur, but it could if producing more lineage is a requirement of the country or parties.

Developed countries have a clear no on every angle of this form of relationship but look poorly at the idea of incest and sibling marriages.

What do you think of a marriage between siblings?

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Is There a Country Where You Can Marry Your Sibling? (2024)

FAQs

Which country can you marry your relatives? ›

Unlike China mainland, the two special administrative regions of China, Hong Kong and Macau, place no restrictions on marriage between cousins.

Which cultures marry siblings? ›

Brother-sister marriages were more common amongst the Greeks and Egyptians rather than the Roman citizens, as it was customary in Greek and Egyptian cultures. The genetic effects amongst offspring of these marriages are un-known as nothing in papyri states that family marriages links to this.

Where is it legal to marry your step sibling? ›

Only Virginia prohibits marriage between step-siblings. Some of these laws have odd conditions. For example, Alabama prohibits marriage between a stepparent and a stepchild, while the marriage that created the step-relationship still exists.

Can brother and sister marry in Germany? ›

Marrying close family members (i.e. grandparents, parents, siblings, children or grandchildren) is not permitted in Germany. The prohibition also applies to half-siblings and adopted children.

Can you marry your cousin in the US? ›

Twenty-four states prohibit marriages between first cousins. Twenty states and the District of Columbia allow cousins to marry; six states permit first-cousin marriage only under certain circ*mstances.

Is it legal to marry your cousin in Japan? ›

East Asia. First-cousin marriage is allowed in Japan , though the incidence has declined in recent years. China has prohibited first-cousin marriage since 1981, although cross-cousin marriage was commonly practised in China in the past in rural areas.

Which king married his own sister? ›

Akhenaten first married Nefertiti, who was renowned for her great beauty, but had no sons so he then married his sister in an effort to have a son. Hawass said it would take several months to reveal more details about the identity of the Tutankhamun's mother.

Who married his own sister? ›

The Greek god Zeus married his sister: the goddess Hera. So did the Egyptians' Osiris, marrying his sister Isis. The Inca god-king Manco Capac married his sister too.

Can brother and sister marry in China? ›

The law bans marriage between close relatives, which is defined as lineal relatives, blood relative in the direct line of descent, and collateral relatives, such as cousins or uncles, to the third degree of relationship.

Can you marry your half-sister in the UK? ›

A person cannot marry any of the following relatives: a child, including an adopted child. a parent, including an adoptive parent. a brother or sister, including a half-brother or half-sister.

Is it legal to marry your half sibling us? ›

Certain blood relatives may not legally marry each other. This includes marriages between siblings ('sibling' means a brother, sister, half-brother or half-sister) and between a parent and child (for example; a mother and son or father and daughter).

Can step siblings marry in the US? ›

There is no U.S. law that makes it illegal for stepsiblings to become lawful husbands and wives. Even though you may be related through your parents' marriage, you are not related by blood, therefore, you are not subject to consanguinity laws, which make it illegal for close blood relatives to get married.

What states can 1st cousins marry? ›

Summary
StateFirst cousin marriage allowedSexual relations or cohabitation allowed
AlabamaYesYes
AlaskaNoYes
ArizonaOnly if both parties are 65 or older, or one is infertileNo
ArkansasNoYes
47 more rows

Who have married their sisters? ›

The Greek god Zeus married his sister: the goddess Hera. So did the Egyptians' Osiris, marrying his sister Isis. The Inca god-king Manco Capac married his sister too. The same goes for a long list of gods from across the world.

What cousin can you marry? ›

In the United States, second cousins are legally allowed to marry in every state. However, marriage between first cousins is legal in only about half of the American states.

Are 5th cousins blood related? ›

Are Fifth Cousins Blood-Related? Fifth cousins are related, but there is a chance they do not share DNA. In fact, there is only a 10-15% chance of sharing genetics with any fifth cousin. Even if you and our fifth cousin are related by blood, the DNA shared will be small, especially when compared to closer cousins.

What famous person married their cousin? ›

Albert Einstein

The revered genius married his first cousin Elsa Lowenthal.

What president was married to his cousin? ›

On St. Patrick's Day, 1905, he married Eleanor Roosevelt. Following the example of his fifth cousin, President Theodore Roosevelt, whom he greatly admired, Franklin D. Roosevelt entered public service through politics, but as a Democrat. He won election to the New York Senate in 1910.

Does Japan have a child limit? ›

A two-child policy is a government-imposed limit of two children allowed per family or the payment of government subsidies only to the first two children.

Who are 3rd cousins? ›

First cousins share a grandparent (2 generations) Second cousins share a great-grandparent (3 generations) Third cousins share a great-great-grandparent(4 generations) Fourth cousins share a 3rd-great grandparent (5 generations)

Is it OK to marry your adopted sibling in Japan? ›

A person who is under 18 years of age cannot get married in Japan without a parent's approval. Most people related by blood, by adoption or through other marriages cannot get married in Japan.

Who married his own mother in history? ›

Oedipus, in Greek mythology, the king of Thebes who unwittingly killed his father and married his mother.

Which king married his mother? ›

When Oedipus grew to manhood, a prophet warned him that he would kill his father and marry his mother. Not knowing that he had been adopted, and that his real parents were Jocasta and Laius, Oedipus left the country to avoid committing such crimes.

What king married their daughter? ›

The dynamics these incestuous relationships are largely unknown. In some situations, the father, in this case Ramesses II, married a daughter it would seem as a replacement after the death of her mother.

Who married his own daughter? ›

Dhruva was the Rashtrakuta king who gave his daughter in marriage to Vishnuvardhana IV of Eastern Chalukyas.

What is the relationship between brother and sister called? ›

siblings. A sibling is your brother or sister. It's that simple. The word sibling once meant anyone who is related to you, but now it's reserved for children of the same parent or parents.

What is the youngest age you can get married in America? ›

The minimum underage marriage age, when all mitigating circ*mstances are taken into account, commonly ranges from 15 to 17. Nine states do not allow a person over 21 to marry an underage person. As of November 2022, eight states do not set any minimum age for marriage.

Can 3rd cousins marry? ›

Myth and Fact About Marriages Between Cousins

In short, yes, it is legal for second and third cousins to marry in the US.

Is it legal to marry your cousin in Kentucky? ›

(1) No marriage shall be contracted between persons who are nearer of kin to each other by consanguinity, whether of the whole or half-blood, than second cousins. (2) Marriages prohibited by subsection (1) of this section are incestuous and void. History: Amended 1946 Ky. Acts ch.

Can you marry an adopted sibling? ›

They are in no way blood related, but is it legal for them to date or even marry eventually? ANSWER: The adopted siblings described here, who are related by adoption only, but not by blood, can marry. However, they must request authorization from the court.

Is a half sister a real sister? ›

A half sister is a sister who is related to her sibling(s) through only one parent. This typically means that they share only one biological parent (not both). For example, when a person's parent has a daughter with another partner (who is not the person's parent), the daughter is considered the person's half sister.

Can you marry your step sibling in Canada? ›

2 (1) Subject to subsection (2), persons related by consanguinity, affinity or adoption are not prohibited from marrying each other by reason only of their relationship. (2) No person shall marry another person if they are related lineally, or as brother or sister or half-brother or half-sister, including by adoption.

Can I ask for my half-brother to USA? ›

To bring a paternal half-sibling to the U.S., a U.S. citizen must prove that their shared father was married to the U.S. citizen's mother, that marriage has legally ended, and the shared father has legally married the mother of the foreign national half-sibling.

Who married their cousin in the Bible? ›

Abraham's son Isaac married Rebekah, his first cousin once removed, the granddaughter of his father Abraham's brother Nahor with Milcah.

Does the Bible allow cousins to marry? ›

Must first cousins be forbidden to marry? In the Bible, and in many parts of the world, the answer is no.

Can you marry your cousin in Florida? ›

The 2022 Florida Statutes (including 2022 Special Session A and 2023 Special Session B) 741.21 Incestuous marriages prohibited. —A man may not marry any woman to whom he is related by lineal consanguinity, nor his sister, nor his aunt, nor his niece.

Which states sleep with cousins? ›

Which states sleep with cousins? California. In California, first cousins are allowed to marry, and they are also allowed to have sexual relations and cohabitate.

Can you date your cousin in Alabama? ›

Alabama Marriage Requirements

You cannot marry children, siblings, parents, uncles, aunts, grandchildren, grandparents or great grandparents of any relation. You can marry first cousins without restriction, however.

Is it illegal to date your cousin in Texas? ›

In Texas, the only relations with permission to marry are first cousins once-removed. First cousins, half-cousins and cousins through adoption are not allowed to marry. First cousins in Texas are also not allowed to live together, nor can they have sexual relations.

Which famous actress has lots of husbands? ›

Number of Marriages: 9

Zsa Zsa Gabor leads the pack of stars who have been married the most. She married Burhan Asaf Belge in 1935 and the pair divorced in 1941. She then married Conrad Hilton in 1942 and divorced him in 1947.

What do I call someone who is married to my sister? ›

You also call your own siblings' spouses your brother-in-law (the husband of your sibling) or sister-in-law (the wife of your sibling). I hope this helps.

What couples married their cousins? ›

People like Charles Darwin, Edgar Allan Poe, and Albert Einsteinall married their first cousins. And it's not just in the past. Queen Elizabeth II married her cousin, Prince Philip. And former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani's first wife was his second cousin.

How much DNA do 1st cousins share? ›

First cousins share ~12.5% DNA

To figure out how much DNA any two relatives have, we need to figure out how much DNA in common they inherited from each shared ancestor. Let's look at first cousins. How much DNA would they share? First cousins have two shared ancestors: one Grandmother and one Grandfather.

Why are cousins attracted to each other? ›

According to experts, cousins are sexually attracted to each other because blood relatives are raised in the same environment. They become so familiar with each other that even if they appreciate one another's physical appearance, there is a feeling of repulsion if they think about having a sexual relationship.

Can blood cousins marry? ›

There is no legal restriction on the marriage of first cousins.

Can 2nd cousins marry in Australia? ›

The short answer to the headline question is yes, you can marry your second cousin in Australia. Some people may be surprised that you can marry your first cousin! In fact, it may shock many people that in Australia there are quite a number of your relatives whom it is legal for you to marry.

Do cousins marry in Mexico? ›

If you look at a world map showing where cousin marriage is legal, you will see that it's allowed throughout most of Europe and the U.K., South America, Australia, parts of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. It's also legal in Mexico and Canada.

Can I marry my 3rd cousin in Philippines? ›

Cousin marriages are not allowed. "Section 1, Article 38 of the Family Code prohibits marriage of relatives up to the fourth civil degree (first cousins)."

Can you marry your cousin in Canada? ›

2 (1) Subject to subsection (2), persons related by consanguinity, affinity or adoption are not prohibited from marrying each other by reason only of their relationship. (2) No person shall marry another person if they are related lineally, or as brother or sister or half-brother or half-sister, including by adoption.

What famous person married their first cousin? ›

Albert Einstein

The revered genius married his first cousin Elsa Lowenthal.

Is it OK to marry a 3rd cousin? ›

Myth and Fact About Marriages Between Cousins

In short, yes, it is legal for second and third cousins to marry in the US.

Can you marry your cousin in Alabama? ›

Alabama Marriage Requirements

You cannot marry children, siblings, parents, uncles, aunts, grandchildren, grandparents or great grandparents of any relation. You can marry first cousins without restriction, however.

Can I marry my cousin in Christianity? ›

Christianity as a whole has no rules against marriages among cousins. It's actually looked on favorably in the Old Testament and it is not mentioned in the New Testament. Some church's, such as the Roman Catholic Church, have guidelines against marriages to close relatives.

Are 4th cousins blood-related? ›

Are fourth cousins blood-related? Because you only share DNA with around half of your fourth cousins, there is a chance that you are not “blood-related.” What is this? If you have a half-fourth cousin, it is more likely that you do not share identical DNA.

How much DNA do 3rd cousins share? ›

These numbers get a little trickier with cousins. First cousins share 12.5%, second cousins 3.125%, third cousins 0.78125%, and so on. But in real life, these are averages. The exact numbers will vary, sometimes a lot.

Can I marry my sister in law? ›

Is it legal to marry your sister in law? Absolutely. You are not related by blood.

Can 2nd cousins marry? ›

In the United States, second cousins are legally allowed to marry in every state. However, marriage between first cousins is legal in only about half of the American states. All in all, marrying your cousin or half-sibling will largely depend on the laws where you live and personal and/or cultural beliefs.

Can uncles marry nieces? ›

While all political units prohibit marriage between a person and a sibling, an aunt, or an uncle, their prohibitions vary considerably for other degrees of collateral relationship. The uncle-niece marriage is not prohibited in Georgia and among Jews in Rhode Island.

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