Cousin marriages in Pakistan: what the data really shows

This chart breaks down marriage relationships by province and by rural–urban divide—and a few patterns stand out clearly:

🔹 First cousins dominate

Across provinces, marriages to first cousins (father’s or mother’s side) form the majority. In several regions, they account for well over two-thirds of all marriages.

🔹 Father’s side slightly more common
Marriages to a father’s-side cousin are marginally more frequent than those on the mother’s side—suggesting lineage, inheritance, and family structure still matter in marital choices.

🔹 Urban vs rural: surprisingly similar
Urban and rural Pakistan look remarkably alike:
• Father’s-side cousin: ~45%
• Mother’s-side cousin: ~33%
• Second cousin: ~13%
• Other relations: ~9–10%

Urbanisation alone has not fundamentally shifted marriage patterns.
🔹 Provincial variation exists—but tradition holds

While levels vary by province, the underlying preference for close-kin marriage remains strong nationwide.

📌 Why this matters
Cousin marriage isn’t just a cultural issue—it connects to public health, genetic risk, women’s autonomy, and intergenerational mobility. Any serious conversation on social change in Pakistan must be grounded in such evidence, not assumptions.
Data-driven conversations > anecdotal debates.

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