Who statistically cheats the most?

Who Is More Likely to Cheat? The Surprising Shift by Age

When it comes to infidelity, the common assumption is that men cheat more than women — and statistically, that still holds true overall. But the story isn’t as simple as stereotypes suggest. Research shows that while men are more likely to engage in extramarital affairs on average, the gap between genders narrows significantly with age, and even reverses among younger adults.

Among ever-married individuals aged 18 to 29, women actually report infidelity at slightly higher rates than men—11% compared to 10%. This subtle but important shift challenges long-held beliefs about gender and fidelity, pointing to evolving relationship dynamics in younger generations.

This trend may reflect broader cultural changes. As societal norms around gender roles continue to shift, so too do behaviors in relationships. Younger women today may feel more autonomy and agency in their personal lives, including decisions about fidelity. Meanwhile, older data showing higher infidelity rates among men could reflect past social permissiveness toward male cheating, a norm that appears to be fading.

Still, when looking at the population as a whole, men remain more likely to cheat. But the narrowing gap among younger couples suggests that gender differences in infidelity are not fixed — they’re shaped by context, culture, and generational change.

Ultimately, cheating is a complex behavior influenced by emotional, social, and psychological factors. While statistics can highlight patterns, they don’t capture the full human experience behind each decision. What’s clear is that as relationships evolve, so do the rules — or lack thereof — around faithfulness.