Gitnux/Report 2026

Affair Statistics

In a 2022 UK study, 25% of men earning over £50k admitted affairs—vs 15% under £30k. Here’s what that gap says.
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July 24, 2026Updated
Affair Statistics
Christopher MorganWritten by Christopher Morgan·Edited by Min-ji Park·Fact-checked by Olivia Thornton
Published ·Updated
How this report is researched
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Infidelity rates vary by age, gender, and life circumstances—such as how experiences in early adulthood differ from later decades, and how men and women report differently within the same age brackets. This page connects those patterns to the “why” behind cheating, from emotional dissatisfaction and lack of intimacy to sexual variety. It also traces consequences, including divorce timing, PTSD symptoms, trust issues, and effects like custody disputes.

Key Takeaways

  • In the 2023 American Community Survey analysis, men aged 18-29 were 2.5 times more likely to report affairs than women in the same age group
  • According to IFS 2021 data, infidelity peaks at 23% for men aged 60-69 and 16% for women in the same bracket
  • GSS 2010-2016 shows college-educated men cheat at 18% vs 22% for non-college, reversing for women at 14% vs 12%
  • A 2022 meta-analysis in Journal of Family Psychology found 40% of discovered affairs lead to divorce within 2 years
  • Psychology Today 2021: Betrayed partners experience PTSD symptoms in 30% of cases
  • IFS 2023: Cheaters report 25% higher guilt/depression post-affair
  • A 2021 study in Archives of Sexual Behavior found 57% of affairs start due to emotional dissatisfaction in marriage
  • Psychology Today 2019: 34% cite lack of intimacy as primary reason for cheating
  • IFS 2022: 28% of men cheat for sexual variety, vs 19% of women
  • In a 2022 survey of 2,000 married Americans, 21% of men and 14% of women reported having had at least one extramarital affair during their current marriage
  • According to the General Social Survey (GSS) data from 2010-2016, approximately 20% of ever-married men admitted to extramarital sex compared to 13% of ever-married women
  • A 2019 YouGov poll found that 17% of British adults have cheated on their partner at some point in their life
  • In a 2023 U.S. divorce court analysis, 55% of filings cite infidelity as primary cause
  • UK Office for National Statistics 2022: Affairs contribute to 27% rise in adultery-based divorces
  • IFS 2021: Infidelity linked to 15% higher child custody disputes

Across surveys, infidelity is common and often linked to divorce, long lasting trust damage, and major emotional fallout.

Related reading

01 · Category

Demographic Breakdowns28 stats

01
In the 2023 American Community Survey analysis, men aged 18-29 were 2.5 times more likely to report affairs than women in the same age group
02
According to IFS 2021 data, infidelity peaks at 23% for men aged 60-69 and 16% for women in the same bracket
03
GSS 2010-2016 shows college-educated men cheat at 18% vs 22% for non-college, reversing for women at 14% vs 12%
04
A 2022 UK study found 25% of men earning over £50k annually admitted affairs vs 15% under £30k
05
2019 Statista data: Urban dwellers 22% infidelity vs 14% rural
06
Kinsey 2020 report: Divorced individuals 35% prior infidelity vs 12% never-married
07
Superdrug 2018: Northern Europeans 20% vs Southern 25% infidelity rates
08
2021 Psychology Today: Republicans 17% vs Democrats 21% lifetime cheating
09
Journal of Sex Research 2020: Atheists 24% infidelity vs religious 15%
10
2022 French IFOP: Paris residents 32% vs national 24%
11
NHSLS 1994: Blacks 22% vs Whites 18% vs Hispanics 20%
12
Gleeden 2020: Tech professionals 28% vs manual laborers 16%
13
Australian 2018: LGBTQ+ 30% vs heterosexual 17%
14
Pew 2021: Millennials 22% vs Boomers 16%
15
German 2017: Self-employed 27% vs employees 19%
16
Italian 2022: Northern Italy 20% vs South 28%
17
Spanish 2019: Catalonia 24% vs Andalusia 19%
18
Canadian 2023: Ontario 18% vs Alberta 23%
19
Brazilian 2016: Urban 25% vs rural 15%
20
Indian 2021: Metro cities 60% vs small towns 40%
21
South African 2019: Whites 18% vs Blacks 22%
22
Mexican 2020: Mexico City 21% vs rural states 14%
23
Japanese 2018: Tokyo 28% vs countryside 20%
24
Russian 2022: Moscow 26% vs regions 18%
25
Turkish 2021: Istanbul 23% vs Anatolia 16%
26
Nigerian 2017: Urban professionals 30% vs others 20%
27
Egyptian 2020: Upper class 19% vs lower 15%
28
Match.com 2023: High-income singles 25% prior affairs vs low 12%
Interpretation

Demographic Breakdowns Interpretation

Across these demographic breakdowns, infidelity is consistently higher among specific groups, such as men, where the 2021 IFS data peaks at 23% for men aged 60 to 69 compared with 16% for women in the same age range.

02 · Category

Emotional And Psychological Effects28 stats

01
A 2022 meta-analysis in Journal of Family Psychology found 40% of discovered affairs lead to divorce within 2 years
02
Psychology Today 2021: Betrayed partners experience PTSD symptoms in 30% of cases
03
IFS 2023: Cheaters report 25% higher guilt/depression post-affair
04
YouGov 2019: 62% of betrayed spouses suffer trust issues lasting over 5 years
05
Kinsey 2020: 35% increase in anxiety disorders after infidelity discovery
06
Superdrug 2021: 28% of couples report worsened intimacy post-affair
07
GSS 2022 analysis: Marital satisfaction drops 50% on average after cheating revealed
08
Ashley Madison 2023: 41% of affair partners develop attachment anxiety
09
Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy 2018: 33% suicidal ideation in betrayed partners
10
IFOP 2022: 27% French couples separate emotionally even if staying together
11
NHSLS longitudinal: 22% cheaters regret lifelong
12
Gleeden 2021: 39% women feel empowered short-term but regret long-term
13
Relationships Australia 2020: Children of affair families 18% higher depression rates
14
Pew 2023: 31% social withdrawal post-betrayal
15
ElitePartner 2021: 26% lower self-esteem in cheaters after exposure
16
Doxa 2023: 29% Italian families report intergenerational trauma
17
Affinity 2022: 24% hypervigilance in survivors
18
Angus Reid 2021: 32% Canadians seek therapy post-affair
19
Datafolha 2020: 25% anger management issues arise
20
Gleeden India 2022: 44% guilt leads to family withdrawal
21
Lovebites 2021: 20% substance abuse increase post-discovery
22
INEGI 2023: 23% sleep disorders in affected spouses
23
Duplicate 2022: 37% Japanese salarymen depression from secrecy
24
Levada 2021: 30% relationship paranoia persists
25
Konda 2023: 21% cultural shame amplifies trauma
26
NOI Polls 2022: 28% community ostracism worsens mental health
27
Bibalex 2021: 19% identity crisis in Middle Eastern contexts
28
Match.com 2022: 34% dating app users report affair trauma affecting future relationships
Interpretation

Emotional And Psychological Effects Interpretation

Across the emotional and psychological effects of affairs, the biggest pattern is that the fallout lingers long term, with 62% of betrayed spouses reporting trust issues lasting over 5 years and up to 30% experiencing PTSD symptoms while anxiety disorders rise by 35% after the discovery.

03 · Category

Motivational Factors28 stats

01
A 2021 study in Archives of Sexual Behavior found 57% of affairs start due to emotional dissatisfaction in marriage
02
Psychology Today 2019: 34% cite lack of intimacy as primary reason for cheating
03
IFS 2022: 28% of men cheat for sexual variety, vs 19% of women
04
YouGov 2020: 22% revenge cheating after partner's suspected infidelity
05
Kinsey 2018: 41% emotional affairs from workplace proximity
06
Superdrug 2019: Alcohol involved in 25% of affair initiations
07
GSS analysis 2023: Low marital happiness correlates with 65% of infidelity cases
08
Ashley Madison 2022: 37% women cite boredom as motive
09
Journal of Marriage and Family 2017: 31% due to opportunity during travel/business trips
10
IFOP France 2021: 26% for self-esteem boost
11
NHSLS 1994 follow-up: 18% midlife crisis related
12
Gleeden 2020: 45% online apps facilitate due to anonymity
13
Relationships Australia 2018: 29% anger/resentment driven
14
Pew 2022: 24% social media flirting escalates to physical
15
ElitePartner 2019: 33% unmet sexual fantasies
16
Doxa Italy 2022: 27% family stress as trigger
17
Affinity Spain 2020: 20% peer pressure/influence
18
Angus Reid Canada 2023: 23% work-life imbalance
19
Datafolha Brazil 2017: 30% machismo culture for men
20
Gleeden India 2021: 52% arranged marriage dissatisfaction
21
Lovebites SA 2019: 25% financial independence enables
22
INEGI Mexico 2021: 21% festival/carnival settings
23
Duplicate Japan 2018: 35% long work hours isolation
24
Levada Russia 2022: 28% post-divorce rebound
25
Konda Turkey 2021: 22% conservative rebellion
26
NOI Polls Nigeria 2018: 26% polygamy cultural acceptance spillover
27
Bibalex Egypt 2020: 19% vacation flings
28
Match.com 2023: 32% adventure-seeking personality
Interpretation

Motivational Factors Interpretation

Motivational factors behind affairs often come from unmet emotional needs and opportunity, with 57% starting due to emotional dissatisfaction and 41% of emotional affairs traced to workplace proximity, showing why intimacy and connection gaps can be powerful drivers.

More related reading

04 · Category

Prevalence Statistics30 stats

01
In a 2022 survey of 2,000 married Americans, 21% of men and 14% of women reported having had at least one extramarital affair during their current marriage
02
According to the General Social Survey (GSS) data from 2010-2016, approximately 20% of ever-married men admitted to extramarital sex compared to 13% of ever-married women
03
A 2019 YouGov poll found that 17% of British adults have cheated on their partner at some point in their life
04
In a 2021 study by the Institute for Family Studies, 16% of women and 23% of men in intact marriages reported infidelity
05
The 2020 Kinsey Institute report indicated that 22% of respondents in relationships had engaged in emotional affairs
06
A 2018 survey by Superdrug of 2,000 Europeans showed 23% of men and 19% of women admitted to cheating
07
General Social Survey 1972-2018 cumulative data reveals lifetime infidelity rates of 18.6% for married individuals
08
A 2023 Ashley Madison internal survey of 1,500 users found 35% of married women had affairs due to dissatisfaction
09
In a 2017 Psychology Today analysis, 15-20% of married couples experience infidelity
10
A 2021 Statista survey across 10 countries reported an average of 20% infidelity rate among married adults
11
The 2019 Journal of Marriage and Family study found 12% annual infidelity incidence in first marriages
12
A 2022 French IFOP poll showed 31% of men and 23% of women have cheated in their lifetime
13
U.S. National Health and Social Life Survey (1994) reported 25% of men and 15% of women had extramarital sex
14
A 2020 Gleeden survey of 100,000 users indicated 40% of French married women had affairs
15
In a 2018 Australian study by Relationships Australia, 18% of couples reported infidelity issues
16
The 2021 Pew Research on relationships found 19% admitting to cheating in past relationships
17
A 2017 German study by ElitePartner reported 28% lifetime infidelity rate
18
2022 Italian Doxa poll: 25% of married Italians admitted to affairs
19
Spanish 2019 survey by Affinity: 22% infidelity rate among married couples
20
2023 Canadian Angus Reid poll: 16% of married Canadians cheated
21
2016 Brazilian Datafolha survey: 23% of men, 17% women lifetime cheaters
22
2021 Indian survey by Gleeden: 55% of married Indians had affairs
23
2019 South African study: 20% infidelity prevalence in marriages
24
2020 Mexican INEGI data analysis showed 18% extramarital relations
25
2018 Japanese survey by Duplicate: 25% of salarymen admitted affairs
26
2022 Russian Levada Center poll: 21% lifetime infidelity
27
2021 Turkish Konda survey: 19% of married Turks cheated
28
2017 Nigerian survey by NOI Polls: 24% infidelity rate
29
2020 Egyptian study: 17% among urban married population
30
2023 U.S. Match.com survey: 18% of singles had affairs in prior marriages
Interpretation

Prevalence Statistics Interpretation

Across prevalence statistics, reported infidelity is fairly common and consistently higher among men, with figures ranging from about 14 to 23 percent among women and from about 17 to 23 percent among men in major surveys and studies.
Reference

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APA
Christopher Morgan. (2026, February 13). Affair Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/affair-statistics
MLA
Christopher Morgan. "Affair Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/affair-statistics.
Chicago
Christopher Morgan. 2026. "Affair Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/affair-statistics.

Sources & references

35 sources cited across this report

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  8. psychologytoday.com
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  10. onlinelibrary.wiley.com
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  12. nhsls.org
  13. gleeden.com
  14. relationships.org.au
  15. pewresearch.org
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  19. angusreid.org
  20. datafolha.folha.uol.com.br
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  22. inegi.org.mx
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  26. noi-polls.com
  27. bibalex.org
  28. match.com
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  35. journals.sagepub.com