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Wife's legal duty of obedience to her husband

What this indicator measures

The law is examined on one point: it contains no rule requiring a married woman to obey her husband, or it provides that spouses have the same rights and duties. Data from the 2026 edition of “Women, Business and the Law”, which describes the written laws in force on 1 October 2025 (not their actual application or uncodified customs).

How to read this?

“No duty of obedience” means the law does not impose it; the other label indicates that such a rule exists.

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186countries with data
2025data year(s)

In brief

Wife's legal duty of obedience to her husband: 186 countries and territories covered. Breakdown: No duty of obedience in the law : 168 ; Duty of obedience in the law : 18.

Why this indicator matters

A rule requiring a wife to obey her husband touches on equal rights and duties in marriage. Comparing this point shows whether the law puts both spouses on the same footing.

What makes this indicator vary

These rules come from family codes inherited from old legal traditions. Many countries have removed them or replaced them with reciprocal duties, while others keep a different framework depending on family status.

Reading precautions

Only the written law is examined, not practices or uncodified customs. A law that is silent does not guarantee equality in practice, and an old rule may remain little enforced.

Wife's legal duty of obedience to her husband

No duty of obedience in the law (168)

Duty of obedience in the law (18)

Frequently asked questions

Where does the "Wife's legal duty of obedience to her husband" data come from?

It comes from Banque mondiale – Women, Business and the Law (WBL 2.0). Site last updated: November 8, 2026. Each country is shown with the year of its most recent value.

What does “duty of obedience” mean?

It is a rule written in the law that requires a married woman to obey her husband. The indicator checks whether such a rule still exists in the legislation.

Why is the “no duty” label the option favourable to equality?

In this indicator, “no duty of obedience” means that the law does not impose this rule or provides identical rights and duties for both spouses.

Source and update

Source : Banque mondiale – Women, Business and the Law (WBL 2.0). Site last updated: November 8, 2026.

Indicators in the same category : Family & Nationality