Highlights

• Harems have existed throughout history, with some kings and emperors having thousands of women in their harem.
• Anime often incorporates harems, with some shows focusing on developing relationships between characters and others exaggerating the numbers for comedic effect.
• Various anime series, such as "The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You" and "Date A Live," feature protagonists who find themselves surrounded by multiple love interests.

Although unthinkable in most modern relationships nowadays, harems have been around for an extremely long time and continue to flourish in certain parts of the world and in the minds of many guys (and girls!). It is believed that in the 6th century BCE, King Tamba of Banaras (now modern-day India) had a harem of over 16,000 women whilst Kublai Khan, grandson of Genghis, had four queens and over 7,000 concubines. To spice things up, Empress Wu Zetian of China (the only woman to hold the title of an emperor) had to establish an actual institute known as Kong He Jian to manage her large number of lovers.

Though history is full of harems, the realm of anime has its fair share. Whilst many franchises dial down the numbers to focus on exploring the characters and developing relationships, others just want to amp up the numbers to ridiculous levels.

Updated on January 6, 2024, by Mark Sammut: 2023 was pretty decent for harem anime, and the year even introduced an adaptation that will push the envelope in the number of girls. Will 2024 produce anything that can match these numbers?

Only shows that emphasize the harem aspect will be included; consequently, The Eminence in Shadow is omitted since Cid does not acknowledge the harem forming around him. Also, this is not a definitive list of the biggest harems in anime.

13 Rentarou Aijou - The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You

Harem Count: 6 (Introduced), 100 Soulmates

Technically, Rentarou Aijou's current (anime) harem is not currently that big since only six female characters are introduced in the first season; however, the first episode confirms that the protagonist has 100 soulmates whom he will be meeting during his high school years. Therefore, 100 Girlfriends will eventually live up to its name. At the moment, the manga has introduced more than 25 partners, and Rikito Nakamura seems to be genuinely trying to craft 100 waifus who are proper characters who do not just disappear after their introductory segment.

A harem parody, 100 Girlfriends starts silly and gets progressively more absurd as it moves along. Despite its premise, the anime is surprisingly wholesome, and a lot of its success is due to Rentarou being a great person who could convincingly impress all of his partners.

12 Itsuka Shido - Date a Live

Harem Count: (including Mio Takamiya) 11

When spacequakes start occurring more frequently, and the world has suddenly been overrun by a hoard of sultry yet destructive Spirits, it's up to Shido to save the day by flexing his rizz. If he manages to get the girls to fall for him, the day is saved! As most can tell by now, Date A Live is a comedic feast dripping with enticing fanservice, as Shido struggles to juggle his ever-growing harem and survive the humiliating situations he constantly finds himself in.

Although this whole scenario paints Shido as a pervert, he is actually thinking with the right head, as these Spirit alliances are saving the girls from the clutches of the Anti-Spirit Team, Ratatoskr (the Spirit Response Force, ironically led by his sister) and the nefarious Deus.Ex.Machina Industries. Season 5 of Date A Live has been officially confirmed and is expected to join the 2023 anime line-up.

11 Tomoki Sakurai – Heaven’s Lost Property

Harem Count: 11

Heaven's Lost Property takes the term harem to heart, delighting the lustful senses of Tomoki with exceptionally seductive content and sexual angst. Keeping things PG 13 (unlike Harem in the Labyrinth of Another World), this average Joe tries to score with the numerous celestial sensations (called Angeloids) that start falling from the sky, without forgetting his human companions, and while still somehow maintaining his good guy status, despite his perversions.

It's safe to say that Tomoki's heavenly lifestyle comes with a diverse array of fanservice, with a fetishized flavor for every palette. Whether the narrative is as captivating as the imagery is debatable, but if viewers have harem fantasies on the agenda, satisfaction is guaranteed on that front!

10 Kimihito Kurusu – Monster Musume: Everyday Life with Monster Girls

Harem Count: 11

In a world where mythical creatures and monsters attempt to integrate into society, Kimihito Kurusu is chosen as a ‘volunteer’ to enter a monster exchange program and personally help Miia, a snake-like lamia assimilate into society. Like any romantic comedy featuring a harem, Miia instantly falls in love with the charming high school protagonist and wants him as a mate.

However, society has placed laws against interspecies copulation, which makes it hard for our aspiring young hot-blooded guy. To make matters worse (or better), Kimihito bumps into several other female creatures including a harpy girl and a centaur lady who also want him as a mate. Of course, each female character he encounters ends up moving into the house, vying to become his wife.

9 Haruhi Fujioka – Ouran High School Host Club

Harem Count: 12

Haruhi Fujioka presents a unique anime harem case, whereby her striking good looks have amassed both male and female admirers, making her the hottest thing to hit Ouran High School since, well, Tamaki! After surviving an unfortunate incident with a wad of bubblegum, Hahuri makes her big debut under the guise of a male, and inadvertently winds up indebted to the boys' reputable Host Club.

When her co-hosts eventually discover Hahuri's feminine roots, they bubble over with excitement at the prospect of becoming her paramore. However, there was no elaborate gender reveal party, as she is urged to keep up the masculine facade for the sake of business; Hahuri certainly attracts plenty of attention from well-paying (presumably straight, for the most part) female clients.

8 Issei Hyoudou – High School DXD

Harem Count: 14

At the start, Issei Hyoudou was just your typical high school pervert who didn’t do much with his life. Dreaming of cute girls and his harem, Issei gets the chance of a lifetime when a beautiful girl asks him out on a date. Too bad it was his last (he gets killed as she's a fallen angel who likes killing).

Having been revived by the equally gorgeous Rias Gremory who also happens to be a powerful devil, Issei gets a new lease on life, as Gremory’s servant. Issei must now settle into his new life and train to become powerful enough to survive in the brutal world of devils and angels. Thankfully, Issei can also now fulfill his dreams of creating a harem as beautiful women begin to flock toward him.

7 Anos Voldigoad – Misfit of Demon King Academy

Harem Count: 15+

The Demon King of Tyranny may have to fight for his claim to the throne after his two-thousand-year reincarnation period left a convenient gap for an imposter to make themselves comfy. Fortunately, many wide-eyed women could see Anos Voldigoad for who he really is: their alluring, omnipotent, and rightful leader.

Anos is rarely without his bevy of babes at his beck and call, each devoted to taking down the tyrant who antagonizes hybrids for sport. Anos himself has an assortment of stunning companions, from the Necron Demon twins to humans, Spirits, Goddesses, and more. Moreover, a select group of hybrid girls has devoted all their energy to forming an Anos Fan Union, spurring on their Demon King with their unexpectedly powerful praise.

6 Keima Katsuragi – The World God Only Knows

Harem Count: 21

Known as the legendary ‘God Of Conquest,’ Keima is the GOAT when it comes to getting girls, in online dating sims of course. Stating his interest in '2D' girls, Keima is unfortunately shackled to a demon who must retrieve spirits. These spirits, of course, come in the form of cute girls.

Bound by oath, Keima must now do what he despises the most, conquer the hearts of capricious ‘3D’ girls and help his captor, Elsie, do her job. Using his legendary dating sim skills, Keima must tread a careful line in fulfilling his duty to Elsie, and continue racking up hearts in his favorite dating sim games.

5 Negi Springfield – Negima!?

Harem Count: 31

Negi is a child wizard prodigy hailing from Wales. To become a full-fledged Master Wizard, he must do one final task, become an English teacher at an all-girl boarding school in Japan. His roommate who has come to despise him soon discovers his identity as a wizard and the two form a weird relationship that ultimately makes them frenemies.

A remake of the original Negima anime (Mahou Sensei Negima), the show loosely follows the original but has its own original story featuring more romance and ecchi elements.

4 Hongou Kazuto – Koihime Musou

Harem Count: 73

A modern-day second-year high school student who is catapulted back in time to the Three Kingdoms period of China, Hongou Kazuto has a harem akin to the Chinese imperial concubine system.

Though not having thousands of girls, as it is an anime, Kazuto is modeled after Liu Bei, the founder of Shu-Han, who happens to be knowledgeable in history, skilled in kendo, has a high intellect, and has good leadership skills. With such skills at his disposal and being able to ‘predict’ historical events, it’s no wonder girls seem drawn to him, even if he’s a bit of a pervert.

3 Kamijou Touma – A Certain Magical Index

Harem Count: 1000+

In a world brimming with psychic power and with many aspiring to become exceptional espers, Touma is unfortunate to not have any abilities. Well, that’s not true as Touma has the odd ability to negate other supernatural powers (quite handy in his case).

Touma meets and ‘befriends’ many girls throughout his journey. One of these girls, Misaka, gets cloned (20,000 times to be precise, although only about 9,000 are active currently) and each one of them has the embedded memory of having a crush on Touma. Though technically clones, the Misakas (or sisters) eventually develop a sense of self and individuality and pursue Touma as a prospective partner.

2 Reito Mizuhara – World’s End Harem

Harem Count: Anyone And Potentially Everyone

After the world’s male population practically dies out due to the Man Killer (MK) virus (Nice), Reito Mizuhara is a researcher who undergoes cryostasis to cure an illness and wakes up. Though devoted to finding a cure for the (MK) virus, Reito keeps getting distracted by the women who are ‘assigned’ to him, the Reito Group, which consists of five main members.

Although other men are present in the anime, they are few and far between. Despite the carnal pleasures available in front of him, Reito is only truly dedicated to his one true love, Elisa. What a guy!

1 Machio Hiraku – Farming Life In Another World

Harem Count: Every Female in the Village (Across All Species)

Not many would refute that Machio Hiraku is the luckiest man alive. Well, his former life was nothing to envy, but fortunately, the powers that be wish to redeem themselves by offering him the afterlife of his dreams; dealer's choice! Hiraku surprisingly seeks a life of solitude whereby her can explore his love for farming; however, it doesn't take long for the local inhabitants to come sniffing around.

Hiraku gets the ball rolling by promptly proposing to the vampiress, Ru Rurushi, and his harem subsequently picks up steam, while the elves, in particular, prove to be especially eager (having no males of their own.) To put it bluntly, Hiraku has his way with every willing (and age-appropriate) candidate, arguably more than making up for his past life's suffering, tenfold!

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