<Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> Cousin marriage is marriage between cousins (i.e. people with common grandparents or people who share other fairly recent ancestors). Opinions and practice vary widely across the world . In some cultures and communities, cousin marriage is considered ideal and actively encouraged; in others, it is subject to social stigma . Cousin marriage is common in the Middle East, for instance, where it accounts for over half of all marriages in some countries . In some countries outside that region, it is uncommon but still legal . In others, it is seen as incestuous and is legally prohibited: it is banned in China and Taiwan, North Korea, South Korea, the Philippines and 24 of the 50 United States . Supporters of cousin marriage where it is banned may view the prohibition as discrimination, while opponents may appeal to moral or other arguments . Worldwide, more than 10% of marriages are between first or second cousins . </P> <P> In the past, cousin marriage was practised within indigenous cultures in Australia, North America, South America, and Polynesia . Various religions have ranged from prohibiting sixth cousins or closer from marrying, to freely allowing first - cousin marriage . Cousin marriage is an important topic in anthropology and alliance theory . </P> <P> Children of first - cousin marriages may have an increased risk of genetic disorders, particularly if their parents both carry a harmful recessive mutation, but this can only be estimated empirically, and those estimates are likely to be specific to particular populations in specific environments . Children of more distantly related cousins have less risk of harmful genetic mutations . In fact, a study of Icelandic records indicated that marriages between third or fourth cousins (people with common great - great - or great - great - great - grandparents) may produce the most children and grandchildren . </P>

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