Global infidelity statistics paint a surprising picture. Thailand leads the world in unfaithfulness, with 51% of its population admitting to cheating on their partners. Patterns of infidelity show dramatic variations across different cultures and regions. Uruguay reports the lowest rates, with only 10% of people having extramarital affairs.
Recent studies show that 20% of married men cheat on their spouses, while the number drops to 13% for married women. These actions take a heavy toll on relationships – 88% of couples' separations stem from unfaithfulness.
France stands out as the only country where most people don't see infidelity as unacceptable, with less than 50% condemning the practice.
The latest data from 2023 reveals that one in five people cheated on their partners before marriage. Research also shows that 10% of fathers-to-be were unfaithful during their partner's pregnancy – a time of particular vulnerability. The numbers continue to evolve in 2025, driven by changing relationship dynamics around the world.
Global Cheating Statistics in 2025
Cheating rates keep climbing worldwide in 2025. About 40% of unmarried couples and 25% of married ones have dealt with at least one cheating episode. The digital world has transformed how people start and maintain affairs. Online platforms have become the go-to places for unfaithful behavior.
How common is infidelity worldwide?
Research shows that roughly 70% of Americans participate in some type of extramarital relationship during their married life. People from stable family backgrounds cheat less often (15%) than those whose parents split up (18%).
Most affairs start at work. A Gleeden survey of 8,000 people revealed that 57% of women and 62% of men cheated during business trips. The data shows that 31% of affairs happen with coworkers. This makes the office a breeding ground for unfaithful relationships.
Money matters affect cheating patterns too. The American Sociological Review published research that shows men who depend on women financially cheat more (15%) compared to when women rely on men's income (5%).
Cheating statistics 2023 vs. 2025: What changed?
Digital cheating has grown by a lot between 2023 and 2025. Social media, dating apps, and chat platforms now spark many affairs. Dating platforms like Tinder show that 25% of their users already have partners. Technology helps people cheat more easily.
There's another reason to worry – emotional affairs online keep growing. People can't tell anymore where friendly chats end and emotional cheating begins. The meaning of cheating has changed too. About 23% of American men don't call it cheating when they fall in love with someone else.
American infidelity numbers have shot up to 84% in 2025. That's a huge jump from previous years. Research proves that cheaters are three times more likely to do it again in their next relationships.
Top countries with highest and lowest cheating rates
Thailand tops the world's cheating chart. About 51% of married Thai people admit they've been unfaithful. Thailand leads both male and female global infidelity rankings. The "mia noi" (minor wife) tradition plays a big part in these high numbers.
European countries follow Thailand with high infidelity rates:
|
Rank |
Country |
Infidelity Rate |
|
1 |
Thailand |
51% |
|
2 |
Denmark |
46% |
|
3-4 |
Germany |
45% |
|
3-4 |
Italy |
45% |
|
5 |
France |
43% |
Some countries stay more faithful. Iceland has the lowest cheating rate at 9%. Greenland comes next at 12%, and Ireland follows with 15%.
America shows big differences between regions. A 2023 survey puts Texas, Alabama, and Nebraska at the top of the cheating list. Cities like Columbus, Ohio, Miami, and Orlando, Florida have the most unfaithful partners.
Different cultures view cheating differently. Less than half the people in France and Finland think cheating is always wrong. This might explain why these countries rank higher in infidelity rates.
Who Cheats More: Men or Women?
Men cheat more than women, though younger generations are closing this gap. The latest data shows that about 20% of men say they've had sex with someone other than their spouse while married, compared to 13% of women. This 7% difference has stayed mostly the same over time, with some interesting changes across different groups.
Infidelity rates by gender
Current statistics back up the common belief that men cheat more often. Among married people, 22% of men admit they've cheated at least once, while only 14% of women say the same.
The numbers tell a different story for different age groups though. Young married adults (ages 18-29) show an unexpected trend – women actually cheat slightly more than men (11% versus 10%). This pattern flips after age 30, and the gap gets wider as people get older.
The good news is that younger generations show smaller differences between men and women who cheat. Millennials have a tiny gap – 13% of women and 15.9% of men report being unfaithful. This suggests relationship dynamics are changing among younger people.
Men and women also cheat for different reasons. Men usually look for physical satisfaction and cite things like having the chance, wanting variety, or boosting their ego. Women tend to cheat because they feel emotionally unfulfilled, underappreciated, or want to get back at a cheating partner.
Emotional vs. physical cheating differences
The way men and women view and get involved in different types of cheating varies quite a bit. Studies show that 35% of women and 45% of men have had emotional affairs. Their reactions to different kinds of cheating tell an interesting story.
A big survey of 64,000 Americans found that 54% of straight men said sexual cheating would hurt them more than emotional affairs. The opposite was true for women – 65% of straight women said emotional cheating would devastate them more than physical infidelity.
This might come from evolutionary psychology. Men worry more about sexual faithfulness because they can't be certain about paternity, while women care more about emotional loyalty since it relates to resource commitment. One researcher puts it simply: "men are generally motivated by physical factors like sexual desire and variety".
How age affects cheating behavior
Age plays a big role in how people cheat. Middle-aged folks of both genders cheat more, but the patterns look different.
Women's cheating peaks in their 60s, with 16% having affairs – more than any other female age group. The numbers drop quickly for women in their 70s and 80s.
Men follow a different path. They keep cheating more as they age, reaching 26% in their 70s, and staying high at 24% even after 80. The biggest gap between men and women shows up in the oldest age groups, with an 18% difference between men and women over 80.
Looking back shows how things have changed. During the 1990s, cheating peaked for men aged 50-59 (31%) and women aged 40-49 (18%). From 2000-2009, these peaks moved to men aged 60-69 (29%) and women aged 50-59 (17%). The gap between men and women over 80 grew from 5% to 12% over twenty years.
Even kids show these gender differences in dishonest behavior. Research shows boys cheat more than girls, and this gap gets bigger as they grow older.
Cheating by Country: Cultural and Regional Trends
Cultural attitudes worldwide show interesting patterns in how different societies look at and deal with infidelity. European nations take a more relaxed approach while religious societies enforce strict rules. These cheating statistics reflect deep-rooted cultural values rather than just personal choices.
Cheating rates by country: France, Thailand, Japan, USA
The acceptance and practice of extramarital affairs show dramatic differences between cultures. Thailand stands as the world's capital of infidelity. A whopping 51% of married people there admit to being unfaithful. The cultural practice of "Mia Noi" (little wife) and Thailand's booming sex industry help explain these high numbers.
Danish people come in second with 46% saying they've cheated, while Germany and Italy both show 45% rates. France's reputation for being casual about affairs might surprise you – it ranks fifth at 43%. Other European countries with high numbers include Norway at 41%, Belgium at 40%, and Spain at 39%.
American statistics show 35-39% of people admit to having affairs. Japan presents a unique case with 31% infidelity rates. Japanese people's idea of what counts as "cheating" is different from what Western nations think.
|
Country |
Overall Infidelity Rate |
|
Thailand |
51% |
|
Denmark |
46% |
|
Germany |
45% |
|
Italy |
45% |
|
France |
43% |
|
USA |
35-39% |
|
Japan |
31% |
Why some cultures are more tolerant of infidelity
Different cultures see extramarital relationships very differently. Many Westerners might be surprised that France is the only country where less than half the people see infidelity as morally wrong. French culture might disapprove of affairs but doesn't always see them as relationship-enders like other countries do.
A society's definition of betrayal matters more than how often it happens. Four main factors shape how cultures view infidelity: the balance between group and individual values, religious beliefs, different standards for men and women, and laws.
Japanese people's biggest concern isn't sexual betrayal but getting caught. Many Japanese folks see emotional affairs and paid sexual encounters differently. Some don't even think paid services count as "real" cheating. Chinese couples experience high rates of sexual infidelity but are less likely to divorce than American or French couples.
Cultural expectations shape how people see cheating. Group-focused societies might see infidelity as bringing shame to the whole family. Individual-focused cultures treat it as something private between partners.
Religious and legal influences on cheating norms
Religious practice has a big effect on worldwide infidelity rates. Studies show people who regularly attend worship services cheat less. Numbers tell us that 12.4% of married adults who go to religious services weekly have cheated, compared to 24.8% of those who never attend. This pattern shows up across different religions.
Some countries have harsh legal consequences for adultery, unlike the social disapproval common in Western nations. Saudi Arabia's Islamic law can put people in prison or even sentence them to death in extreme cases. Iran also has severe punishments, including public lashings for adulterers.
Catholic countries often reflect their religious values in their laws. The Philippines offers an interesting example where adultery can land you in jail. Taiwan took a different path in 2020 by making infidelity a private matter instead of a crime.
Countries with similar religious backgrounds sometimes handle infidelity very differently. Singapore maintains strong opposition to extramarital affairs despite becoming more open-minded about living together before marriage and same-sex relationships. These legal and religious frameworks both shape and reinforce how cultures view relationship faithfulness.
Why People Cheat: Common Causes
The psychology behind cheating shows five main reasons why people have affairs. These patterns help explain why cheating rates stay high worldwide even though society frowns upon it. Affairs rarely happen out of nowhere – they usually build up over time as relationship problems or personal unhappiness grow.
Lack of emotional connection
A missing emotional bond stands out as the basic reason people cheat, especially among women. Studies show that 65% of women who have affairs point to emotional emptiness as their main reason. Men think differently – only 31% say emotional distance pushed them to cheat. Couples who drift apart emotionally often look elsewhere to feel connected.
People tend to start emotional affairs at the time they feel their partner doesn't get or value them. This gets worse during tough life changes like having kids, switching careers, or taking care of elderly parents. The emotional gap usually grows over months or years before someone actually cheats.
Sexual dissatisfaction
Sex problems come up as the most common reason to have affairs across many studies. Research shows many people who cheated still loved their partners but weren't happy with their sex lives. About half the people in one study weren't having sex with their main partners at all.
Women who aren't satisfied sexually are more likely to have affairs than men in the same situation. One researcher explained it this way: "Women are more likely to cheat if they're sexually unhappy because love should bring pleasure and satisfaction". Both how often couples have sex and how good it is matter a lot to keep relationships stable.
Opportunity and temptation
Just having the chance to cheat makes it more likely to happen, even for people who are usually faithful. Studies back this up: "people who put themselves in tempting situations are more likely to cheat". Those who knowingly put themselves in risky spots end up cheating more than people who just happen to be in similar situations.
Things that create chances to cheat include:
- Business trips (57% of women and 62% of men admit to affairs while traveling to work)
- Working together (31% of affairs happen with coworkers)
- Social media and dating apps
- Being apart from partners for long periods
Revenge or retaliation
Getting even becomes a strong reason to cheat, especially after finding out about a partner's affair. A study of 1,000 people found that one in three cheaters did it to get back at an unfaithful partner. Women choose revenge cheating slightly more often than men (37% compared to 31%).
Most people who cheat for revenge (54%) tell their partners about it just to hurt them. About 80% say they don't feel bad about cheating to get even. This payback pattern often starts a cycle of relationship damage that gets harder and harder to fix.
Low relationship satisfaction
The relationship deficit theory suggests that problems like being unhappy or fighting a lot can predict affairs. But that's not the whole story – surveys found that many cheaters (35-55%) said their marriages were "happy" or "very happy".
Research shows that both the person who cheats and their partner usually feel less happy with their relationship before the affair starts. People who cheat report "being less satisfied with their relationship, feeling less close, and having more fights during their affair".
These relationship problems often grow so slowly that couples barely notice. Neither the cheater nor the person being cheated on usually gets back to how happy they were before. This shows how deeply cheating affects relationships, no matter what caused it in the first place.
The Role of Technology in Modern Infidelity
Technology has altered the map of infidelity in the 21st century. New digital pathways for betrayal exist that previous generations never imagined. Social media plays a huge role – 82% of people in the UK use it actively.
They spend about 2 hours each day scrolling through multiple platforms. This digital world has made the lines between faithful and unfaithful behavior increasingly unclear.
How social media enables emotional affairs
Social media platforms create perfect conditions for emotional affairs that often start with innocent-looking interactions. Studies show that people addicted to social media are more likely to be unfaithful online. The psychology makes sense – people feel less inhibited on social media. They become bolder and share more openly in their messages.
Young people face higher risks of social media-driven infidelity. They tend to take more chances online. These situations usually start small – a casual message to an old friend or ex-partner. Soon enough, friendly chats turn into flirting that damages their current relationships.
Dating apps and secret messaging
Dating apps have become powerful tools for modern cheating. The numbers tell a concerning story – 40% of American adults use dating apps while in committed relationships. Tinder's statistics are even more startling – 30% of its users are married.
Websites like Ashley Madison specifically target people looking for affairs. These sites attract more than 130 million visitors worldwide each month.
Secret messaging apps have expanded rapidly. Popular options include:
- Telegram's "Secret Chat" with messages that self-destruct
- Snapchat's vanishing content that leaves no trace
- WhatsApp's "locked chats" protected by passwords or face recognition
Cyber-cheating: Is it really cheating?
The digital world has challenged our understanding of what counts as cheating. About 35% of women and 45% of men say they've had emotional affairs online. Many people try to convince themselves that virtual connections "aren't real cheating" because physical touch isn't involved.
This logic misses the point about betrayal. Digital affairs might not involve physical contact, but they break trust through lies and secrets. The moment online behavior becomes driven by attraction to someone outside the relationship, trust breaks down.
The damage matches traditional affairs. More than half of people who engage in cybersex lose interest in physical intimacy with their partners. The psychological effects last long after discovery. Relationships suffer from constant suspicion, jealousy, and partners checking up on each other.
Consequences of Cheating on Relationships
Cheating leaves deep emotional scars that go far beyond the original betrayal. Global statistics show how common affairs are and reveal their devastating impact on partners and families.
Emotional damage and trust issues
Betrayed partners experience severe psychological reactions to infidelity. Many show symptoms similar to post-traumatic stress disorder with flashbacks, nightmares, and constant thoughts about the affair. Their trauma often shows up as heightened alertness to relationship threats, which leads to ongoing anxiety and poor sleep.
The damage runs deeper than immediate pain. Research shows that people who face betrayal are more likely to develop chronic anxiety, depression, and deep mistrust in all relationships. They question their judgment and self-worth constantly. Many wonder if they missed clear warning signs or somehow deserved what happened.
Cheating as a leading cause of divorce
Affairs and broken marriages go hand in hand. The American Psychological Association reports that 20% to 40% of divorces happen because of cheating. The numbers tell an even clearer story – 40% of adults who cheated are now separated or divorced, while only 17% of faithful partners face the same outcome.
Gender plays a big role in what happens after an affair. About 61% of men who cheat stay married, but only 44% of women who cheat do the same. This difference points to how society views male and female infidelity differently.
Can couples recover from infidelity?
Hope exists despite these harsh numbers. The Gottman Institute's research shows that trust can grow again when both partners accept the pain and work toward healing. Recovery works best when the person who cheated shows real remorse and stays open, while their partner works through their trauma responses.
Professional help offers the best chance of success. Couples therapy provides a safe space to address why it happens without making trauma worse. Yes, it is possible – about 60% of relationships survive cheating with proper therapeutic support.
The path to healing isn't straight forward. It takes time, openness, and both partners must want to build what therapists call a "2.0 relationship" instead of trying to get back what they lost.
Conclusion
The impact of cheating on relationships remains shockingly consistent worldwide, even though society frowns upon it. Global cheating statistics in 2025 reveal fascinating cultural differences in how various societies deal with extramarital affairs.
Thai society tops the list with 51% of people admitting to infidelity. Iceland's population proves most faithful with just 9% straying from their partners. These stark contrasts stem from deep-rooted cultural values rather than individual choices.
The gender gap in cheating continues to be significant. Men cheat more often at 20% compared to women at 13%, though younger generations show this gap closing. The reasons why people cheat differ between genders.
Physical attraction and variety motivate men, while women often point to emotional distance as their reason. Age is a vital factor too. Both genders see peak infidelity during middle age, but the patterns change as they grow older.
Society's views on cheating vary greatly across cultures. The French stand alone with less than half their population seeing adultery as morally wrong. Religious beliefs tend to lower cheating rates across faiths. Legal systems handle infidelity differently too – some countries jail cheaters while others don't see it as a crime.
Five main reasons make people cheat: they feel emotionally distant, sexually unsatisfied, see a chance, want revenge, or feel unhappy in their relationship. Modern technology has changed how affairs happen. Social media, dating apps, and private messaging create new ways to betray trust. These platforms blur the lines of what people call cheating.
Cheating leaves deep scars on relationships. Partners who get cheated on often show trauma symptoms like PTSD. About 88% of couples who split up say cheating played a big part in their decision. There's still hope though – 60% of relationships survive affairs with good counseling. Recovery needs true regret, honesty, and dedication from both partners.
These patterns show why people keep cheating despite society's disapproval. The numbers tell a complex story about how cultural norms, personal issues, and relationship problems push people to look outside their partnerships. The best way to build healthier relationships is to tackle why it happens rather than just condemning it.
FAQs
Q1. How common is infidelity worldwide in 2025?
According to recent global statistics, approximately 40% of unmarried relationships and 25% of marriages experience at least one incident of cheating. The rates vary significantly by country, with Thailand having the highest infidelity rate at 51% and Iceland the lowest at 9%.
Q2. Do men or women cheat more often?
Overall, men still cheat more than women, with about 20% of married men admitting to infidelity compared to 13% of married women. However, this gap appears to be narrowing among younger generations, with women slightly outpacing men in infidelity rates in the 18-29 age group.
Q3. What are the main reasons people cheat on their partners?
The five primary causes of infidelity are emotional disconnection, sexual dissatisfaction, opportunity and temptation, revenge or retaliation, and low relationship satisfaction. The specific motivations often differ between men and women, with men typically seeking physical gratification and women citing emotional dissatisfaction.
Q4. How has technology impacted modern infidelity?
Technology has dramatically reshaped how infidelity occurs, creating new pathways for betrayal. Social media platforms, dating apps, and secret messaging services have made it easier to engage in both emotional and physical affairs. About 40% of American adults use dating apps while in serious relationships, blurring traditional definitions of cheating.
Q5. Can relationships survive infidelity?
While infidelity is a leading cause of divorce, relationships can survive with proper support. Approximately 60% of couples manage to stay together after an affair with professional help. Successful recovery requires genuine remorse, transparency, and commitment from both partners to rebuild trust and address underlying issues.
