People cheat for various reasons: some are unhappy or dissatisfied with their relationship; others cheat out of boredom or a desire for excitement. Sometimes, cheating even stems from a sex addiction. But what about the numbers?
Men used to cheat on their partners a lot more than women, you could tell just by the first glance. Now, though, we can say with certainty that women are making up ground, in some countries, women cheat more often than men.
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People have studied adultery a lot, and the results are never the same. They look different for men and women, married or not, with or without kids, for a long time, and depending on where they live (continent, country, or city).
Who Cheats Most? Data on Cheating Statistics 2025 and Global Infidelity Trends
Today, cheating remains among the most researched and emotionally loaded subjects in modern social relationships. For most people, who may assume that infidelity is rare or only applies to certain types of personalities, current cheating statistics 2025 show infidelity still affects a significant percentage of couples worldwide. From marriages to dating relationships, the statistics illuminate trends depending on gender, age and social behavior.
At the end of the decade, 2025, infidelity statistics show that roughly 20 per cent of married men and 13 per cent of married women confess to having sexual affairs beyond their marriage at least once.
These are figures for physical affairs only. The percentage increases greatly when emotional and digital infidelity are added. Surveys show that almost 30–35% of adults say they engaged in infidelity at some point in time, whether it be physically or emotionally. A better understanding of who is most likely to cheat than simply taking stock of the current statistics, looking at where society is moving and exploring the role of technology in our romantic relationships.
How Frequent is Cheating in Modern Relationships?
Stats on cheating across countries around the world are another line in the sand, showing this is far from the case. Roughly 23% of men and 19% of women say they’re unfaithful in committed dating relationships.
Marriages don’t remove the risk; on the contrary, long-term marriages tend to have a unique emotional and situational strain that can make individuals more susceptible to infidelity.
But when the researchers have expanded the definition of cheating to consider emotional affairs, for instance, including intimate texting, secret messages or romantic relationships without physical closeness, the numbers actually jump. It has come to be understood that emotional infidelity is now reported at almost the same frequency by men and women.
Recent cheating statistics for 2025 also highlight the growing power of digital platforms. This means that about 25% of individuals using dating apps are in a committed relationship. This shows us how accessibility and opportunity change behavior. Today, the relationship landscape has matured such that infidelity is now easier to initiate and hide.
Who Cheats the Most?
The very most common question in relationship research is: who cheats the most? Men have traditionally reported higher rates of physical infidelity. That trend is also true, overall.
Roughly 1 in 5 married men admit to cheating, in comparison to about 1 in 8 married women. But the gap has narrowed over the past decade.
As adults aged 18–29, women reporting infidelity are as often, if not more so than, men in that same age range. This change is due to changing social norms, economic self-sufficiency, and evolving attitudes towards female sexual behavior.
Men aged 40 and older, however, have the highest rates of physical cheating throughout life.
Infidelity 2025 statistics indicate that men over 60 report particularly high lifetime rates, often related to prolonged dissatisfaction with their marriage or changes in life stage.
This closing gender gap indicates that cheating behavior has increasingly been molded by emotional satisfaction, opportunity, and personal values as opposed to just gender. In the analysis on Age and Infidelity, which age group cheats the most?
Age is an important determining factor in cheating behavior. Younger adults are not, quite simply, the most likely to cheat physically, as people seem to believe. Data shows:
· Infidelity is most common among adults 40–59 years old.
· Men ages 60 and older have higher lifetime rates of cheating.
· Young adults under 30 report more emotional or digital affairs than physical ones.
· Identity changes, workforce anxiety, aging pressures, midlife relationship fatigue and identity crises are common features of midlife.
These factors increase vulnerability during this time.
Cheating statistics worldwide document that infidelity peaks in middle adulthood and starts to cool back down later in life.
Global Cheating Statistics: A Global Perspective
From cheating statistics around the world, infidelity does not happen in one region or style. The rates differ widely from one country to another, but the prevalence of cheating is universal.
In numerous countries, over 40% of married people admit to cheating at least once. Approximately 30–35% of adults in North America and some parts of Europe admit to cheating in a previous or ongoing relationship. Reporting rates are shaped by cultural norms.
More conservative societies might have lower reported numbers, but researchers say that underreporting is probable in socially stigmatized areas. No matter where you live, the data suggests that infidelity is a common problem where opportunity, cultural norms, and satisfaction with relationships play a part.
Technology and Digital Infidelity in 2025
The role of technology is among the most significant changes reflected in cheating statistics for 2025. Social media, messaging platforms, and dating apps have broadened the definition of cheating. Many emotional affairs start with casual conversations that gradually become intimate. Because these interactions may not involve physical contact, users at times justify them as benign. Key trends include:
About 25% of dating app users are already in committed relationships. One of the most prevalent bases for modern affairs is online messaging. Some people do not immediately label some digital behavior infidelity. Technology has broken down these barriers, increased privacy, and opened up constant access to alternatives to your romantic partner.
Why Do People Cheat?
Nothing in isolation causes infidelity. Research reveals some recurring motivations:
· Emotional dissatisfaction
· Lack of intimacy or communication
· Desire for novelty or excitement
· Needing to get validation or a boost of self-esteem
· Opportunity, particularly in job settings
About 30% of business-related affairs start in workplace environments, which often involve proximity and emotional attachment as risk factors. Infidelity statistics 2025 found the strongest predictor of cheating between both sexes was emotional dissatisfaction.
Consequences on Emotions and Mind
There are substantial emotional tolls of cheating. In fidelity can cause anxiety, depression, loss of trust and long-term relationship insecurity for betrayed partners. For those who cheat:
· Almost 70% talk of guilt or regret.
· Most will continue to experience dissatisfaction even after the affair.
· Infidelity rarely delivers long-term emotional fulfilment.
At this point, cheating has been implicated in some 40% of relationship breakdowns, an indicator of the long-term relationship consequences.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who cheats the most, according to cheating statistics?
Married men make up the population that reports the highest rates of physical infidelity according to cheating statistics 2025. Women aged 18–29, however, report cheating at rates similar to those of men in their age group. Adults aged 40–59 are among those with the highest rates of combined infidelity among both genders.
Are men or women more likely to cheat in relationships?
Men are still somewhat more prone to physical affairs, particularly in marriage. But the gender gap has fallen significantly over the years. Emotional cheating rates are nearly equal between men and women, now indicating changing relationship norms.
How common is cheating in committed relationships?
In studies of infidelity worldwide, people in committed relationships admitted to cheating between 20% and 35% of the time. The percentage may be even higher when one takes into account emotional and digital affairs.
Does cheating happen more often in marriage or dating relationships?
Both have cheated, but in different ways. Marriage has pretty consistent long-term physical cheating (of about 20 per cent for men and 13 per cent for women), while dating relationships have higher short-term rates (especially among younger people).
What age group is most likely to cheat?
Overall rates of infidelity were highest among those aged 40 to 59 years. Emotional or digital cheating is more common among young adults; physical infidelity peaks in middle adulthood.
