Infidelity refers to someone having sex outside of his or her marriage or civil union without the permission of the other partner. Relationships can vary widely across the world, and there are some marriages in which people might allow each other to have sex with other people outside of the marriage. On the other hand, infidelity is also one of the most common reasons why both married and unmarried relationships come to an end. Therefore, it is worth exploring which countries have higher rates of infidelity than others, and the impact this might have on those around them.
How Many People Cheat on Their Significant Other in the United States?
There are surveys that have been conducted on infidelity in the United States. Approximately half of people in married relationships cheat at least one time during the course of the marriage. Close to three-quarters of men and more than two-thirds of women admit that they would sleep with someone else if it was guaranteed that they would never get caught. In addition, the majority of affairs start with close friends or co-workers. It is unusual for a one-night stand to be the cause of infidelity in a marriage. In addition, once an affair begins, it lasts an average of two years. Finally, if the affair is discovered, close to 2/3 of marriages will end immediately because of the affair.
Infidelity Rates by Country
Country | Single or Married 2020 |
|---|---|
| United States | 71% |
| Germany | 68% |
| United Kingdom | 66% |
| Thailand | 61% |
| Brazil | 57% |
| France | 57% |
| Russia | 53% |
| Japan | 49% |
| Romania | 46% |
| Australia | 44% |
Which Countries Have the Highest Rates of Infidelity?
There are several countries in which cheating is relatively common. Thailand is an outlier, but it is also at the top of the list. More than half of people in Thailand who are married admit to committing infidelity at least once during the course of the marriage. Then, infidelity is relatively common in Europe. In some situations, there might be relationships where people are allowed to sleep with other people outside of the marriage. In Denmark, close to 46 percent of people admit to sleeping with someone outside of the marriage. Germany and Italy are not far behind, where 45 percent of people who are married in both of these countries admit to committing infidelity. Belgium, Norway, and France also have infidelity rates that are 40 percent or higher.
Is Infidelity Always Seen as a Universal Wrong?
It may come as a surprise to some people that infidelity is not always seen as a universal wrong. There are some people who believe that sleeping with people outside of the marriage might be important for keeping things interesting or fun, or getting people to appreciate their partners a bit more. For example, less than half of people in France and Finland believe that cheating is always wrong. There are several other European countries that are not far behind these two. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that cheating is also more common in European countries when compared to other places across the globe. Different places look at infidelity in different ways, which contributes to different infidelity rates.
