In 2025, 4% of Americans say they have ever been in an open relationship, yet most reports track real-life emotions like jealousy and compersion rather than stereotypes. One study finds anxiety runs 20% higher at first, but 65% say rules help them move past jealousy. Below is a snapshot of how satisfaction can stay high, while sexual health outcomes and relationship timelines shift in unexpected ways.
Key Takeaways
- 55% jealousy episodes monthly
- 40% report compersion over jealousy
- Anxiety 20% higher initially
- STI rates 2x higher in open relationships
- 25% of CNM report chlamydia diagnosis
- HIV prevalence 10% higher in non-monogamous
- Divorce rate 20% lower in open marriages
- CNM relationships last average 8 years
- 33% of open transition to mono long-term
- 4% of Americans have ever been in an open relationship
- 20% of single Americans are open to open relationships
- 5% of married couples practice consensual non-monogamy
- 92% of open relationship participants report high satisfaction
- CNM couples happier than monogamous in some studies
- 85% satisfaction rate in open marriages
Most open couples report high satisfaction while using rules to manage jealousy, despite higher STI risks.
Related reading
01 · Category
Emotional Aspects20 stats
01
55% jealousy episodes monthly
02
40% report compersion over jealousy
03
Anxiety 20% higher initially
04
65% overcome jealousy with rules
05
Depression rates similar to mono
06
Attachment insecurity 30% predictor
07
70% positive emotional growth
08
Envy peaks at 3 months
09
50% use therapy for jealousy
10
Emotional resilience +25%
11
Breakups from jealousy: 22%
12
Women report more compersion: 45%
13
Men: 35% jealousy reduction
14
Poly burnout 18%
15
Trust issues resolve in 60%
16
Loneliness lower by 10%
17
75% emotional security post-year 1
18
Guilt feelings 28% initial
19
62% report empowerment
20
Stress levels equal after adjustment
Interpretation
Emotional Aspects Interpretation
In the emotional aspects of open relationships, while 55% report monthly jealousy episodes, 65% say they overcome it through agreed rules, and notably 30% of attachment insecurity predicts emotional difficulty, with 40% feeling compersion alongside jealousy.
02 · Category
Health Risks17 stats
01
STI rates 2x higher in open relationships
02
25% of CNM report chlamydia diagnosis
03
HIV prevalence 10% higher in non-monogamous
04
Condomless sex 40% more common
05
Gonorrhea rates 15% elevated
06
Syphilis 3x in swingers/open
07
HPV transmission 30% higher
08
Testing frequency lower in 20% of CNM
09
Bacterial vaginosis 25% more reports
10
PrEP use 50% in high-risk CNM
11
Hepatitis C risk doubled
12
35% report multiple partners yearly
13
Unprotected anal sex 28% in open MSM
14
PID rates higher by 18%
15
Mental health STI stigma 40%
16
12% unplanned pregnancies in CNM
17
Vaccination gaps 15% in poly networks
Interpretation
Health Risks Interpretation
Health risks in open relationships stand out with STI impacts already showing up at higher rates, including chlamydia reported by 25% of CNM, HIV being 10% higher in non-monogamous people, and syphilis occurring 3 times as often among swingers and others who are open.
03 · Category
Long Term Outcomes20 stats
01
Divorce rate 20% lower in open marriages
02
CNM relationships last average 8 years
03
33% of open transition to mono long-term
04
Stability similar to monogamy at 70%
05
Poly families: 15% multi-generational
06
Breakup rate 25% higher first year
07
80% retention after 5 years with rules
08
Children in CNM: 5% prevalence
09
Inheritance disputes 10% in poly
10
55% achieve 10+ year milestones
11
Legal recognition low: 2%
12
65% report sustained passion
13
Aging CNM: 12% over 60
14
Transition success 40%
15
Cohabitation rates 45% in poly
16
Financial stability equal
17
72% no regrets long-term
18
Remarriage after CNM breakup: 30%
19
Community support boosts longevity 25%
20
50% primary partner retention
Interpretation
Long Term Outcomes Interpretation
For long term outcomes, open relationships show a mixed but compelling pattern: they have a 20% lower divorce rate and about 70% stability similar to monogamy, yet they also have a 25% higher first year breakup rate and only 33% transition to monogamy long term.
More related reading
04 · Category
Prevalence20 stats
01
4% of Americans have ever been in an open relationship
02
20% of single Americans are open to open relationships
03
5% of married couples practice consensual non-monogamy
04
Open relationships are more common among LGBTQ+ individuals at 22%
05
1 in 10 millennials have tried open relationships
06
3% of Europeans report current open relationships
07
Polyamory practiced by 0.5% globally
08
9% of U.S. adults have engaged in CNM
09
Open relationships twice as common in urban areas
10
15% of dating app users seek open arrangements
11
Women in open relationships: 6%
12
Men in open relationships: 7%
13
College-educated more likely: 8% vs 2%
14
Age 18-29: 12% open to CNM
15
Over 50: 1% in open relationships
16
Bisexuals: 25% in CNM
17
2% of Canadians in open relationships
18
Australia: 4.5% CNM prevalence
19
UK: 1 in 20 in open relationships
20
10% of swingers identify as open relationship practitioners
Interpretation
Prevalence Interpretation
For the prevalence angle, open relationships are a minority practice overall but are clearly emerging, with only 4% of Americans reporting ever being in one and 3% of Europeans reporting current open relationships, while the share is much higher for LGBTQ+ people at 22% and even among millennials with 1 in 10 having tried them.
05 · Category
Satisfaction21 stats
01
92% of open relationship participants report high satisfaction
02
CNM couples happier than monogamous in some studies
03
85% satisfaction rate in open marriages
04
Polyamorous individuals report 8/10 happiness
05
Open relationships boost communication scores by 20%
06
78% of CNM report stronger bonds
07
Satisfaction equal to monogamy per meta-analysis
08
65% prefer open over monogamous post-experience
09
Relationship quality higher in negotiated CNM
10
89% would recommend open relationships
11
Long-term CNM satisfaction at 80%
12
Open couples report 15% higher intimacy
13
70% of poly report fulfillment
14
CNM linked to better sexual satisfaction
15
82% open relationship satisfaction vs 75% mono
16
Women in CNM happier sexually: 90%
17
Men: 88% sexual satisfaction in open
18
Overall life satisfaction +10% in CNM
19
76% report improved self-esteem
20
CNM autonomy correlates with joy
21
67% of converts stay satisfied long-term
Interpretation
Satisfaction Interpretation
Overall, Satisfaction in open relationships looks strongly positive, with 92% reporting high satisfaction and 85% reporting satisfaction in open marriages, while studies also suggest improved communication scores by 20% and stronger bonds for 78% of CNM participants.
report visual · Comparison
Open relationships vs. monogamy: satisfaction and happiness
Higher reported satisfaction in open relationships compared with monogamy.
92% of open relationship participants report high satisfaction92%
89% would recommend open relationships
89%
85% satisfaction rate in open marriages
85%
82% open relationship satisfaction vs 75% mono
82%
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Marie Larsen. (2026, February 13). Open Relationship Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/open-relationship-statistics
MLA
Marie Larsen. "Open Relationship Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/open-relationship-statistics.
Chicago
Marie Larsen. 2026. "Open Relationship Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/open-relationship-statistics.
Sources & references
31 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level