GITNUXREPORT 2025

Lies And Statistics

People frequently lie; social media and stress increase dishonesty significantly.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Children start to lie as early as age 2, and nearly all children begin lying by age 4

Statistic 2

Approximately 80% of people admit to lying on their resumes

Statistic 3

Deception can increase with social media use, with 38% of users admitting to embellishing details online

Statistic 4

About 70% of corporate executives admit to having lied in business settings to gain an advantage

Statistic 5

About 35% of lie-tellers said they often lie when they want to impress others

Statistic 6

In studies, people confess to lying more when they believe they won’t be caught

Statistic 7

In legal settings, approximately 20% of defendants lie under oath

Statistic 8

Over 90% of people have told at least one lie during a job interview

Statistic 9

45% of students admit to cheating or lying during exams

Statistic 10

The average length of lies told in professional settings is about 2.5 minutes

Statistic 11

42% of people have lied about their qualifications or skills during a job application process

Statistic 12

Dishonest behaviors like cheating or lying tend to peak on Mondays, with 27% of such behaviors occurring at the start of the workweek

Statistic 13

In surveys, 55% of respondents confessed to lying to their partners

Statistic 14

Lying for self-gain occurs in approximately 40% of social interactions

Statistic 15

The lying frequency among teenagers has increased by 25% over the past decade

Statistic 16

63% of people report lying at least once in a month in personal relationships

Statistic 17

In romantic relationships, about 55% of people confess to having lied about their feelings at some point

Statistic 18

60% of individuals believe that lying is sometimes necessary to protect their feelings

Statistic 19

Lying about minor issues is common in daily conversations, with about 30% of people admitting to telling small lies regularly

Statistic 20

Only about 14% of lies are detected by others

Statistic 21

People are more likely to lie when they are feeling anxious or insecure

Statistic 22

The average person tells about 1.65 lies per day

Statistic 23

People tend to lie more when they are being observed, with 75% of respondents admitting to this behavior

Statistic 24

82% of individuals say they have lied to avoid hurting someone’s feelings

Statistic 25

About 30% of adults admitted to lying about their income or finances

Statistic 26

75% of parents admit to exaggerating stories or achievements to their children

Statistic 27

25% of people have lied about their age on social media

Statistic 28

Approximately 20% of Americans say they have lied in their voting behavior

Statistic 29

About 50% of people have lied about their health or medical history when visiting a doctor

Statistic 30

People are more likely to lie when they are under stress, with 65% admitting to this behavior

Statistic 31

About 35% of teens admit to lying to their parents regularly

Statistic 32

50% of employees have lied about being sick to avoid work

Statistic 33

About 20% of Americans have lied about their holiday plans on social media

Statistic 34

81% of people believe that a little lying is acceptable in certain social situations

Statistic 35

Over 50% of people believe that politicians lie at some point during campaigns

Statistic 36

Public confidence in media honesty is low, with only around 36% of Americans trusting the media

Statistic 37

48% of Americans think the news they receive is often biased or misleading

Statistic 38

About 65% of people report encountering at least one untruth in daily news

Statistic 39

73% of respondents believe that everyone lies at least occasionally

Slide 1 of 39

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Key Highlights

Approximately 80% of people admit to lying on their resumes
60% of individuals believe that lying is sometimes necessary to protect their feelings
Lying about minor issues is common in daily conversations, with about 30% of people admitting to telling small lies regularly
Only about 14% of lies are detected by others
People are more likely to lie when they are feeling anxious or insecure
Deception can increase with social media use, with 38% of users admitting to embellishing details online
In surveys, 55% of respondents confessed to lying to their partners
Children start to lie as early as age 2, and nearly all children begin lying by age 4
About 70% of corporate executives admit to having lied in business settings to gain an advantage
Over 50% of people believe that politicians lie at some point during campaigns
Public confidence in media honesty is low, with only around 36% of Americans trusting the media
48% of Americans think the news they receive is often biased or misleading
About 65% of people report encountering at least one untruth in daily news

Lies are woven into the fabric of everyday life, with startling statistics revealing that nearly everyone, from children to professionals, admits to stretching the truth—sometimes just to protect feelings or gain an advantage—highlighting how deception is more common yet often overlooked than we might think.

Early Development and Social Factors Influencing Lying

Children start to lie as early as age 2, and nearly all children begin lying by age 4

Early Development and Social Factors Influencing Lying Interpretation

Children's early mastery of "alternative facts" by age four highlights not just their budding creativity, but also the importance of guiding their moral compass amidst the inevitable inevitable development of their storytelling skills.

Lying in Professional and Academic Contexts

Approximately 80% of people admit to lying on their resumes
Deception can increase with social media use, with 38% of users admitting to embellishing details online
About 70% of corporate executives admit to having lied in business settings to gain an advantage
About 35% of lie-tellers said they often lie when they want to impress others
In studies, people confess to lying more when they believe they won’t be caught
In legal settings, approximately 20% of defendants lie under oath
Over 90% of people have told at least one lie during a job interview
45% of students admit to cheating or lying during exams
The average length of lies told in professional settings is about 2.5 minutes
42% of people have lied about their qualifications or skills during a job application process
Dishonest behaviors like cheating or lying tend to peak on Mondays, with 27% of such behaviors occurring at the start of the workweek

Lying in Professional and Academic Contexts Interpretation

While honesty is often portrayed as the best policy, these sobering statistics reveal that in the game of life and work, nearly everyone has a little white lie in their back pocket, especially when the truth might cost more than a quick embellishment.

Lying in Relationships and Social Interactions

In surveys, 55% of respondents confessed to lying to their partners
Lying for self-gain occurs in approximately 40% of social interactions
The lying frequency among teenagers has increased by 25% over the past decade
63% of people report lying at least once in a month in personal relationships
In romantic relationships, about 55% of people confess to having lied about their feelings at some point

Lying in Relationships and Social Interactions Interpretation

While a significant portion of respondents admit to lies—ranging from romantic confessions to everyday deceptions—these statistics underscore the delicate balance between honesty and self-preservation that often covertly shapes our social tapestry.

Personal Honesty and Deception in Daily Life

60% of individuals believe that lying is sometimes necessary to protect their feelings
Lying about minor issues is common in daily conversations, with about 30% of people admitting to telling small lies regularly
Only about 14% of lies are detected by others
People are more likely to lie when they are feeling anxious or insecure
The average person tells about 1.65 lies per day
People tend to lie more when they are being observed, with 75% of respondents admitting to this behavior
82% of individuals say they have lied to avoid hurting someone’s feelings
About 30% of adults admitted to lying about their income or finances
75% of parents admit to exaggerating stories or achievements to their children
25% of people have lied about their age on social media
Approximately 20% of Americans say they have lied in their voting behavior
About 50% of people have lied about their health or medical history when visiting a doctor
People are more likely to lie when they are under stress, with 65% admitting to this behavior
About 35% of teens admit to lying to their parents regularly
50% of employees have lied about being sick to avoid work
About 20% of Americans have lied about their holiday plans on social media
81% of people believe that a little lying is acceptable in certain social situations

Personal Honesty and Deception in Daily Life Interpretation

While over half of us justify small lies as necessary social lubricants, the startling honesty that only 14% of lies are detected reveals a society skillful at deception, especially under stress or scrutiny, making truth a rare commodity in daily life’s subtle fabric.

Trust in Media and Public Perception

Over 50% of people believe that politicians lie at some point during campaigns
Public confidence in media honesty is low, with only around 36% of Americans trusting the media
48% of Americans think the news they receive is often biased or misleading
About 65% of people report encountering at least one untruth in daily news
73% of respondents believe that everyone lies at least occasionally

Trust in Media and Public Perception Interpretation

Despite widespread suspicion that politicians, the media, and even everyday news are riddled with lies, the persistent trust deficit—where only about a third of Americans believe in media honesty—undermines the very foundation of an informed democracy.