Is incest very common in the Middle East and North Africa?

I'd like to start be pointing out that I'm an only child.

Are the people of the Middle East and North Africa a bunch of sick f-cks! Hey we don't judge here at the Report!

https://youtu.be/NFutge4xn3w?si=gmX3RtRrTqyGIrNV&t=32

Why the High Rates in These Regions?

The high prevalence of consanguineous marriages in these nations—ranging from roughly 46% to over 61%—is deeply rooted in specific historical, cultural, and socioeconomic dynamics rather than random chance:  

• Preservation of Family Wealth and Property: Marrying within the family ensures that land, assets, and wealth remain within the lineage rather than being divided and distributed to outsiders.  

• Social Trust and Stability: In many tribal or clan-based societies, family marriages are viewed as a way to strengthen tribal alliances, maximize political stability, and minimize social friction. There is an inherent trust in knowing a spouse’s background and family dynamics intimately.

• Cultural and Tribal Norms: In many of these regions, endogamy (marrying within a specific social group or family) has been the preferred social structure for centuries, carrying strong tradition and cultural endorsement.  

How Does This Compare Globally?

Region / Country	Consanguinity Rate (Second Cousins or Closer)	Context & Comparison
Middle East & North Africa (Nations in your screenshot)	40% – 60%+	This region has some of the highest rates globally due to longstanding tribal traditions and structured family alliances.
United States	< 1%	Extremely low. Marrying a first cousin is legally banned or heavily restricted in the vast majority of U.S. states, and the practice carries a very strong cultural taboo.
Major EU Nations (e.g., UK, Germany, France)	< 1% to ~1.5%	Generally negligible across the broader native population. However, some Western European countries see higher micro-pockets of cousin marriages within specific immigrant communities from South Asia or the Middle East.
East Asia (e.g., China, Japan, South Korea)	< 1%	Incredibly low today. China explicitly banned first-cousin marriage under its 1980 Marriage Law. While legally permissible in Japan, the social preference for it has entirely plummeted in the modern era.