Humans Rank 7th in Mammal Monogamy Fidelity

Humans have been placed seventh in a global ranking of monogamous mammals concerning partner fidelity, according to research by evolutionary anthropologist Mark Dyble. This places our species behind animals such as beavers and tamarins, who exhibit higher rates of fidelity.

The study compiled data from over 100 human populations and 34 mammal species, using the proportion of full siblings within a population as the key metric. Humans demonstrated a wide range in this index, averaging an estimated 66% fidelity.

This research bolsters the "monogamy hypothesis," suggesting that monogamous reproduction, which ensures fully related offspring, has been crucial for humans to develop extensive cooperative communities by facilitating the recognition of close genetic relationships.