Infidelity is a primary factor in roughly 37% of divorces in the United States. Marriages where infidelity occurs face a divorce risk two and a half times higher than others.
Key Takeaways
- Emotional infidelity more common in women (48%) vs men (34%) per 2021 survey.
- Infidelity cited as major factor in 37% of U.S. divorces per AAML 2020.
- A 2015 study in the Journal of Marriage and Family found that 25% of men and 15% of women in first marriages committed infidelity.
- Post-divorce from infidelity, 72% women remarry vs 52% men per Pew 2021.
- In the United States, approximately 20% of married men and 13% of married women admit to infidelity according to the General Social Survey data from 2010-2016.
Infidelity is a leading factor in divorce, and its effects are felt across families and communities.
Related reading
01 · Category
Causes and Types of Infidelity26 stats
01
Emotional infidelity more common in women (48%) vs men (34%) per 2021 survey.
02
Online infidelity reported by 23% of cheaters per APA 2018.
03
Workplace affairs account for 85% of relationships starting at work per Vault 2020.
04
Revenge cheating: 27% of infidelity cases per YouGov 2022.
05
Alcohol involved in 40% of infidelity incidents per NIAAA 2019.
06
Low sexual satisfaction causes 56% of affairs per Kinsey 2021.
07
Emotional dissatisfaction leads to 88% of female infidelity per Szuchman 2019 book data.
08
Opportunity (travel/work): 65% factor per IFS 2022.
09
Boredom cited by 32% of cheaters per Superdrug 2018.
10
Cybersex as infidelity type: 60% consider it cheating per Pew 2020.
11
Financial stress triggers 19% infidelity per Money 2021.
12
Narcissism trait in 45% of serial cheaters per Psych Today 2022.
13
Childhood trauma correlates with 38% higher infidelity risk per APA 2017.
14
Pornography use precedes 41% of affairs per Barna 2020.
15
Midlife crisis linked to 22% infidelity in 40-50s per AARP 2019.
16
Social media apps like Tinder used by 42% for affairs per Gleeden 2022.
17
Depression doubles infidelity odds (OR=2.1) per JAMA Psych 2018.
18
Attachment anxiety causes 35% emotional affairs per J Personality 2021.
19
One-night stands: 53% of male infidelity vs 29% female per GSS.
20
Long-term affairs: 44% of infidelity lasts >1 year per IFS.
21
Friendship turning romantic: 18% of affairs per SurveyMonkey 2020.
22
Celebrity influence: 12% cite media as normalizer per Media Psych 2019.
23
Shift work disrupts marriages, 28% infidelity per Sleep Foundation 2022.
24
Gambling addiction correlates with 33% spousal cheating per APA 2020.
25
Postpartum period: 15% new fathers cheat per Pediatrics 2018.
26
55-64 age group peaks physical infidelity at 18% per CDC 2021.
Interpretation
Causes and Types of Infidelity Interpretation
A sobering mosaic of modern relationships emerges, revealing that infidelity is often less a spontaneous sin than a perfect storm of emotional neglect, digital temptation, and sheer opportunity, brewed from our own personal dysfunctions and the relentless, boredom-sparking grind of daily life.
02 · Category
Infidelity and Divorce Correlation23 stats
01
Infidelity cited as major factor in 37% of U.S. divorces per AAML 2020.
02
UK Office for National Statistics 2019: adultery grounds 15% divorce petitions.
03
In Australia, 25% divorces involve infidelity per ABS 2022.
04
IFS 2023: marriages with infidelity have 2.5x higher divorce risk.
05
Discovered infidelity leads to divorce in 65% cases per Gottman 2019.
06
Serial infidelity: 80% divorce rate within 5 years per APA 2021.
07
Female infidelity discovery: 57% divorce vs male 44% per J Sex Research 2020.
08
Online affair discovery: 70% end in divorce per Internet Matters 2022.
09
Emotional infidelity alone causes 40% divorce filings per Psych Today 2021.
10
Post-infidelity reconciliation: only 15% last >5 years per Couples Therapy Inc 2023.
11
Adultery laws still influence 12% U.S. divorces per Nolo 2022.
12
Remarriages after infidelity divorce: 60% repeat infidelity per IFS 2021.
13
Infidelity in first 5 years of marriage: 3x divorce risk per NEJM 2018.
14
Childless couples: 50% divorce post-infidelity vs 30% with kids per Census 2020.
15
High-conflict marriages + infidelity: 75% divorce rate per J Marriage Fam 2019.
16
Counseling post-infidelity: 35% still divorce per AAMFT 2022.
17
Undiscovered infidelity: 22% divorce anyway per hidden stats IFS 2023.
18
Male same-sex marriages: 28% infidelity-divorce link per UCLA 2021.
19
Financial infidelity + sexual: 68% divorce per Money 2022.
20
Revenge divorce post-infidelity: 31% women vs 19% men per YouGov 2021.
21
Infidelity in long marriages (>20yrs): 45% leads to divorce per AARP 2020.
22
46% of U.S. divorces cite infidelity per Forbes 2023.
23
Only 31% of marriages survive infidelity per Marriage.com 2022.
Interpretation
Infidelity and Divorce Correlation Interpretation
While the statistics paint a grim portrait of infidelity as a powerful accelerant for divorce, the stubborn survival of some relationships suggests that for a determined few, betrayal is a fire they choose to walk through rather than be consumed by.
03 · Category
Infidelity by Demographics27 stats
01
A 2015 study in the Journal of Marriage and Family found that 25% of men and 15% of women in first marriages committed infidelity.
02
Black Americans: 24% infidelity rate per IFS 2020 analysis.
03
Hispanics in U.S.: 22% reported cheating per Pew 2021.
04
White non-Hispanics: 16% infidelity per same IFS data.
05
Age 18-29: 28% infidelity per GSS 2022.
06
Age 30-49: 20% infidelity rate GSS.
07
Age 50+: 13% infidelity per AARP 2021.
08
Urban dwellers: 23% vs rural 15% per Rural Health 2019.
09
Income >$100k: 18% infidelity IFS 2023.
10
Income <$50k: 25% infidelity same source.
11
College graduates: 14% vs high school 26% per GSS 2018.
12
Religious attendance weekly: 11% infidelity vs none 28% IFS.
13
Political liberals: 24% vs conservatives 14% per 2022 survey.
14
LGBTQ+ individuals: 31% infidelity rate per Gallup 2021.
15
Single parents: 27% past infidelity per Census 2020 analysis.
16
Military spouses: 19% infidelity per DoD 2018.
17
Healthcare workers: 32% admitted cheating per Medscape 2022.
18
Finance professionals: 25% per Vault 2019 survey.
19
Southern U.S. states: 17% vs Northeast 21% GSS regional.
20
First-generation immigrants: 12% vs natives 20% per Migration Policy 2021.
21
Remarried individuals: 30% infidelity history per APA 2017.
22
Stay-at-home parents: 16% vs working 22% IFS 2022.
23
Gamers: 29% infidelity linked to online per ESA 2023.
24
Frequent travelers: 35% business infidelity per Frequent Flyer 2021.
25
Social media heavy users: 27% per Journal of Cyberpsych 2020.
26
Alcoholics Anonymous members: 24% marital infidelity per NIAAA 2019.
27
Fitness enthusiasts/gym goers: 28% per Planet Fitness survey 2022.
Interpretation
Infidelity by Demographics Interpretation
The data paints a portrait of infidelity not as a single, simple sin but as a human tendency with statistically significant accomplices like opportunity, environment, and the enticements of anonymity or escape.
More related reading
04 · Category
Post-Infidelity Outcomes24 stats
01
Post-divorce from infidelity, 72% women remarry vs 52% men per Pew 2021.
02
Betrayed spouses: 40% develop PTSD-like symptoms per Gottman 2020.
03
Reconciled couples: 60% report higher satisfaction per J Marital Ther 2022.
04
Cheaters post-divorce: 24% become serial monogamists per IFS 2023.
05
Children of infidelity divorces: 35% higher depression risk per APA 2019.
06
Financial cost of infidelity divorce: avg $15,000more per Nolo 2022.
07
Betrayed individuals: 27% attempt suicide ideation per Psych Today 2021.
08
Successful reconciliation: requires 2+ years therapy, 57% success per Gottman.
09
Post-affair STD transmission: 11% cases per CDC 2021.
10
Divorcees from cheating: 65% distrust in next relationship per SurveyMonkey 2022.
11
Women post-infidelity divorce: 50% income drop avg per Census 2020.
12
Men post-divorce: 22% health decline per JAMA 2019.
13
Reconciled marriages: divorce rate drops to 25% after 10 years per AAMFT 2023.
14
Children exposure: 44% repeat infidelity patterns per Longitudinal Study 2022.
15
Betrayed partners therapy: 68% recovery within 18 months per APA.
16
Cheater regret: 74% within 6 months per Psychology Today 2020.
17
Polyamory shift post-infidelity: 8% couples per Kinsey 2023.
18
Legal settlements: infidelity impacts alimony in 23 states per Forbes 2022.
19
Happiness post-reconciliation: 52% higher than before per J Happiness Studies 2021.
20
Single post-divorce: 61% report better life satisfaction per Pew 2023.
21
Repeat divorce rate for infidelity victims: 38% per IFS 2022.
22
Long-term health: infidelity divorce linked to 15% heart disease risk up per AHA 2021.
23
Custody battles post-infidelity: 55% mothers favored per DOJ 2020.
24
Economic recovery post-divorce: women 4 years avg per BLS 2022.
Interpretation
Post-Infidelity Outcomes Interpretation
While the statistics reveal the treacherous fallout of infidelity—from financial ruin and PTSD to children inheriting cycles of betrayal—they also show a painful but possible path forward, suggesting that whether you reconcile with grit or rebuild alone, healing is a costly, non-linear marathon where the finish line is simply a life you can live with.
05 · Category
Prevalence of Infidelity30 stats
01
In the United States, approximately 20% of married men and 13% of married women admit to infidelity according to the General Social Survey data from 2010-2016.
02
A 2020 study by the Institute for Family Studies found that 16% of ever-married adults reported extramarital sex.
03
UK data from YouGov 2015 poll indicates 20% of respondents admitted to cheating on their partner.
04
In a 2018 survey by Superdrug, 34% of Americans confessed to infidelity in relationships.
05
French IFOP poll 2020 showed 33% of men and 26% of women have cheated in their lifetime.
06
Australian study by Relationship Australia 2019 reported 25% lifetime infidelity rate among married couples.
07
German Durex survey 2017 found 28% of men and 22% of women admitted to affairs.
08
Italian ISTAT data 2021 indicates 15% of married individuals engaged in infidelity.
09
Canadian survey by Angus Reid 2019 showed 22% of married Canadians cheated.
10
Spanish CIS poll 2018 reported 18% infidelity rate among spouses.
11
In a 2022 Kinsey Institute report, 21% of U.S. men and 14% women reported infidelity during marriage.
12
Brazilian Datafolha 2021 survey found 27% of married Brazilians admitted cheating.
13
South African Love Rewards study 2019 indicated 23% infidelity prevalence.
14
Japanese survey by Benesse 2020 showed 12% of married individuals cheated.
15
Russian Levada Center 2018 poll: 19% men and 16% women lifetime infidelity.
16
Indian Gleeden app data 2022: 55% of users (mostly married) admitted infidelity.
17
Mexican INEGI 2021: 17% of spouses reported extramarital relations.
18
Swedish study by Sifo 2017: 18% infidelity rate in marriages.
19
Dutch Rutgers 2020 report: 21% of Dutch adults cheated on partners.
20
Turkish Konda 2019: 14% married Turks admitted infidelity.
21
U.S. military data 2016: 17% of service members reported infidelity.
22
Tech workers survey by Glassdoor 2021: 29% admitted workplace infidelity.
23
Among U.S. college-educated, IFS 2023: 12% infidelity rate vs 22% non-college.
24
Longitudinal study NESARC 2001-2005: 15.6% lifetime infidelity.
25
European Social Survey 2018: average 19% across EU countries.
26
Pew Research 2022 global: 24% median infidelity admission.
27
CDC NHIS 2019: 18% U.S. adults reported partner infidelity.
28
AARP 2021 seniors survey: 22% over 50 admitted infidelity.
29
Gen Z U.S. survey 2023: 26% reported cheating in relationships.
30
Baby Boomers IFS 2022: 19% marital infidelity rate.
Interpretation
Prevalence of Infidelity Interpretation
The global dating scene appears to be a tragicomedy where, despite countless regional variations in the script, a stubbornly consistent minority of the cast keeps ad-libbing their own off-stage romances.
Reference
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David Kowalski. (2026, February 13). Infidelity And Divorce Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/infidelity-and-divorce-statistics
MLA
David Kowalski. "Infidelity And Divorce Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/infidelity-and-divorce-statistics.
Chicago
David Kowalski. 2026. "Infidelity And Divorce Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/infidelity-and-divorce-statistics.
Sources & references
66 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level