<P> Polygyny (/ pəˈlɪdʒɪniː /; from Neoclassical Greek πολυγυνία from πολύ - poly - "many", and γυνή gyne "woman" or "wife") is the most common and accepted form of polygamy, entailing the marriage of a man with several women . Most countries that permit polygamy are Muslim - majority countries in which polygyny is the only form permitted . Polyandry is illegal in virtually every state of the world . </P> <P> In some countries where polygamy is illegal, and sometimes even when legal, at times it is known for men to have one or more mistresses, whom they do not marry . The status of a mistress is not that of a wife, and any children born of such relationships were and some still are considered illegitimate and subject to legal disadvantage . </P> <P> Today, polygyny is more widespread in Africa than in any other continent . Some scholars see the slave trade's impact on the male - to - female sex ratio as a key factor in the emergence and fortification of polygynous practices in regions of Africa . Generally in rural areas with growing populations, the higher the incidence of polygyny, the greater the delay of first marriage for young men . The higher the average polygyny rate, the greater the element of gerontocracy and social stratification . </P> <P> Throughout the African polygyny belt stretching from Senegal in the west to Tanzania in the east, as many as a third to a half of married women are in polygynous unions, and polygyny is found especially in West Africa . Historically, polygyny was partly accepted in ancient Hebrew society, in classical China, and in sporadic traditional Native American, African and Polynesian cultures . In India it was known to have been practiced during ancient times . It was accepted in ancient Greece, until the Roman Empire and the Roman Catholic Church . </P>

Which type of economy most often practices polygyny