Are you curious to know how your country ranks among the most unfaithful countries in the world? And if it does, how might that impact your love life? Let me clarify that residing in one of the 10 countries with the most unfaithful wives in the world doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll end up marrying one. Similarly, being in the least cheating country doesn’t guarantee a blissful marriage.
Nevertheless, researching such data can be valuable for understanding different countries and their citizens’ habits. Researchers not only focus on which country has the most unfaithful woman in the world but also identify places where both men and women tend to cheat more. In Scotland, for instance, certain regions have become infamous for infidelity due to economic difficulties which is called cheating capital of the world.
When it comes to the reasons behind cheating, research shows various factors such as anger, low self-esteem, lack of love, commitment, desire for variety, neglect, sexual longing, and circumstances play a role. Surprisingly, most cheaters still value monogamy despite their actions. The motivations for infidelity vary by gender, with men tending to cheat when they feel unloved, and women when they feel unattractive. In most cases, if you find which country has the most unfaithful man in the world, usually has similar number of unfaithful women.
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Marrying in the least cheating country doesn’t guarantee marital happiness. To foster a contented marriage, open and honest communication about emotions and needs is crucial to avoid infidelity. However, it’s essential to acknowledge that some individuals may still cheat even in a seemingly happy marriage. It’s essential to recognize that cheating might occur as a one-time affair without emotional involvement, but there can be a myriad of reasons behind it—substance abuse, childhood trauma, or plain boredom, for instance. The key to preserving a strong marriage lies in acknowledging and addressing these issues openly and honestly with your partner.
To compile the list of the most unfaithful countries in the world, we relied on extensive research conducted by the Bebdible research center in September 2022. Their thorough study, based on over 1,920,000 data points from 23,872 respondents, provides insights into the trend of cheating since 1960, its distribution across gender, age, and countries, and the common factors contributing to infidelity. There are other surveys that could help you in finding the most unfaithful countries in Asia. If you want to know whether your country is among the most unfaithful countries in Africa, you should find them on the list. The same rule you can apply if you want to find the most unfaithful countries in Europe.
While this research is comprehensive, it’s important to remember that it may not represent the entire population of a country. So, if you’re curious about how infidelity rates have evolved in some of the most developed countries, continue reading the list of the most unfaithful countries in the world.
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25. Cyprus – 34%
Since 1923, civil marriage in Cyprus has been legally recognized. The straightforward process attracts couples worldwide who choose to celebrate their union in Cyprus while enjoying a holiday. However, it’s worth noting that despite the appealing setting, around 34% of Cypriots cheat on their partners, indicating that a marriage in this country doesn’t guarantee happiness.
24. Croatia – 34%
In 2021, there were 18,203 marriages in Croatia, which is 10 percent lower than the number recorded five or ten years ago. Back in 2012 and 2017, 20,323 and 20,310 marriages were respectively concluded, indicating a gradual decline in marriage rates over time. The pandemic year of 2020 saw the lowest number of marriages, with only 15,196 being recorded. Additionally, the average age at first marriage has been rising for both brides and grooms. In 1989, the average age for brides was 23, and for grooms, it was 27. However, in 2021, the average age of newlyweds increased to 29 for brides and 32 for grooms.
23. Bahamas – 34%
The Bahamas, known for its romantic beauty, has been a popular destination for weddings for many years. However, it’s unfortunate that the country has a high rate of infidelity, with 34% of people cheating on their partners. Among the regions in the Bahamas, New Providence has the highest number of marriages. In 2013, there were 2,675 marriages recorded in New Providence, accounting for 74.06% of all marriages in the Bahamas. The top five regions, including Grand Bahama, Exuma and Cays, Abaco, and Eleuthera, make up 98.12% of the total number of marriages in the country, which was estimated to be 3,612 in 2013.
22. Australia – 34%
As reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the number of registered marriages in 2020 was only 78,989, showing a significant 30% decline compared to the 113,815 marriages recorded in the previous year. However, in 2021, there was a slight increase in marriages, with 89,164 unions, representing a 13% rise from the previous year. Despite this increase, the number of marriages in 2021 remained lower than the pre-pandemic years. Still, 34% cheat their partners.
21. Argentina – 34%
Argentina has become a sought-after wedding destination in Latin America, attracting over 50,000 nationals and foreigners who tie the knot in the country every year. Among Argentine couples, two main types of marriages are prevalent – civil ceremonies and traditional or religious ceremonies. Additionally, there are secular and symbolic marriages practiced. However, it’s important to note that only civil marriage ceremonies hold legal validity in Argentina. Regardless of the type of marriage you choose, it’s essential to keep in mind that 34% of people may cheat.
20. United States – 35%
Perhaps due to the 35% of married people who may cheat in the US, or for other reasons, a recent analysis by the Pew Research Center shows that in 2019, approximately four-in-ten adults ages 25 to 54 (38%) were unpartnered – meaning they were neither married nor living with a partner. This figure has risen significantly from 29% in 1990. Moreover, men are now more likely than women to be unpartnered, a trend that was not observed 30 years ago.
19. Sweden – 35%
Marriage is facing a crisis in Sweden, as not only 35% of people are prone to cheating, but the concept of marriage as a relationship is not widely accepted. While the Scandies enjoy weddings and are fairly secular, marriage rates have been declining in general. Surprisingly, Sweden is defying this trend. According to a recent report from Sweden’s statistics office, the country’s marriage rate is comfortably higher than the EU average, and it continues to rise. However, despite the increasing number of marriages, most children are still born to unmarried parents, divorce remains common, and the average age at which people tie the knot is steadily increasing.
18. Portugal – 35%
Last year in Portugal, there were almost 37,000 marriages, which was a significant increase of 27.2% compared to the previous year. The average age for men to marry for the first time was 35.1 years, while for women, it was 33.7 years, according to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE). Additionally, the average age at marriage overall was 39.9 years for men and 37.4 years for women, and this number has been steadily rising over time.
17. Netherlands – 35%
The first seven months of 2022 have shown a notable increase in the number of couples choosing to get married, according to preliminary figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). With over 40,000 couples tying the knot in 2022, it seems that this year followed the trend of last year, which also saw a surge in couples getting married. Interestingly, the Netherlands experienced a remarkably low number of divorces in 2021, adding to the positive outlook for couples in love. Between January and July, 40,500 couples said, “I do,” a significant rise compared to 29,300 in the same period in 2021 and 24,600 in 2020. This figure even surpasses the numbers recorded in 2018 and 2019, before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. However, cheating percents are in rise, too, and now is on 35%.
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16. Iceland – 35%
Since the year 2000, there has been a notable increase in the number of civil ceremonies, accounting for over one third (37%) of all marriage ceremonies in 2020, with 677 recorded compared to 259 (14.6%) in 2000. Over the past decades, there has been a rise in the most common age (mode), average age, and median age of both brides and grooms at the time of marriage. In 2001, the most common age for grooms was 27 years and for brides 28 years, while in 2020, the most common age for grooms increased to 32 years, and for brides, it was 30 years. On average, men tend to be two years older than women when they get married.
15. Brazil – 35%
In 2007, the average duration of a civil marriage was approximately 17 years. However, ten years later, in 2017, the average time between the date of marriage and the date of divorce decreased to 14 years. Between 2016 and 2017, there was a decline of 2.3% in the number of registered unions, while the number of divorces increased by 8.3%. This marks the second consecutive year of increasing divorce rates and declining marriages. The current ratio stands at three marriages for every one divorce. It’s worth noting that same-sex marriages, though comprising just over 0.5% of registered unions, continue to grow, showing a 10% increase in 2017.
14. Austria – 35%
According to Statistics Austria’s final figures, there were 41,111 marriages in Austria in 2021, which is 3.7% higher than in 2020, but 10.7% lower than in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic. n terms of divorces, there were 14,510 divorces in 2021, representing a decrease of 2.4% compared to the previous year and 11.1% compared to 2019. Additionally, 111 registered partnerships were dissolved, showing a 2.8% increase from 2020 but an 8.3% decrease from 2019.
13. Luxembourg – 36%
In Luxembourg, getting married is a popular choice for couples, with a majority of them choosing to tie the knot rather than opting for a registered partnership or living together without marriage. As of February 1, 2011, approximately 45 percent of Luxembourg’s residents were in a couple. It was observed that more Luxembourg nationals preferred marriage, while foreigners tended to marry at a younger age. Generally, marriage rates increased with age, with only 45 percent of those aged 20 to 24 being married, compared to a significant 97.9 percent of residents aged over 65.
12. Greece – 36%
The number of marriages in Greece has experienced a significant decline, decreasing by half, while divorces have seen a considerable increase over the last five decades, as revealed by a recent report from the European Union’s statistical agency, Eurostat. According to Eurostat’s Marriage and Divorce Statistics Report, in 2019, Greece recorded an average of 4.4 marriages per 1,000 inhabitants, compared to 8.9/1,000 in 1964, which was the year when the earliest available data was collected.
11. Canada – 36%
In 2020, Canada recorded a historically low number of marriages, with only 98,355 marriages registered. This figure represents the lowest annual count since 1938, even though the population has significantly increased over the years. These measures, which included stay-at-home orders, restrictions on gatherings, closure of non-essential businesses, and travel barriers, had a significant impact on wedding plans. The celebratory and communal nature of weddings, coupled with the desire to avoid infection, likely led many couples to postpone or cancel their wedding ceremonies.
10. United Kingdom – 36%
In 2020, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic had a significant impact on marriages in England and Wales. Wedding venues and registration offices temporarily closed, and restrictions on the number of guests at ceremonies also played a role in affecting marriages. The total number of marriages is marking a staggering decrease of 61.0% compared to 2019, when there were 219,850 marriages. This sharp decline resulted in the lowest number of marriages on record since 1838. The pandemic’s disruptions and uncertainties led many couples to postpone or cancel their wedding plans, contributing to this historic drop in marriage rates.
9. Finland – 36%
Finland surely deserves to be on the list of the most unfaithful countries in the world, but their statistics show that their marriages are not in crisis. Statistics Finland reported that in 2022, a total of 21,942 marriages were recorded, showing an increase of 2,363 marriages compared to the previous year. Among these, 21,519 marriages were between opposite-sex partners, indicating a rise of 2,315 marriages from the year before. Despite the growth in the number of marriages entered from the previous year, the figure remained the second lowest in over 100 years. The data highlights the impact of various factors, including societal changes and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, on marriage rates in Finland.
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8. Spain – 39%
Based on the 2011 census, more than half of the adult population in Spain, accounting for 56.5%, is married. The second-largest category is comprised of single individuals, representing 29.8%, followed by widowed individuals at 7.9% and divorced individuals at 5.8%. Over the past three decades, the incidence of marriage in the Spanish population has witnessed a decline. The reduction in marriage rates has been more pronounced since 2006. These findings illustrate the changing trends in marital status among the Spanish population over the years.
7. Belgium – 40%
In 2022, Belgium witnessed 48,482 registered marriages, marking an increase of nearly 9% compared to the average number of marriages recorded during the period 2017-2019. The years 2020 and 2021 experienced a significant decline in the number of marriages, respectively, compared to the average of the preceding three years. However, in 2022, there was a notable resurgence in marriage ceremonies. This surge in marriages during 2022 can be seen as a rebound or a ‘make-up’ year for couples who had to postpone their wedding plans due to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in the previous years.
6. Norway – 41%
In 2022, approximately 21,000 individuals in Norway tied the knot, reflecting a notable increase of 4,700 weddings compared to the previous year, as reported by the Norwegian Statistics Agency. Simultaneously, around 17,000 spouses chose to end their marriages, marking the lowest divorce rate since the 1980s. In 2021, the number of divorces was approximately 700 higher. People in Norway are marrying at older ages and having children later in life. Consequently, many couples are choosing to maintain their marriages until their children have grown and moved out, which typically occurs at an older age.
5. France – 43%
As we’ve previously mentioned, France is one of the most sexually active countries in the world. Consequently, it’s no surprise that they also make it to the list of the most cheatable countries. In France, marriage has seen a significant decline in popularity. More and more couples are opting to live together, have children, and build their lives without seeking religious or civil approval for their partnerships. Over the past generation, the French marriage rate has dropped by over 30 percent, despite an increase in population and birthrates. This trend indicates a shifting perspective on marriage and partnership in the country and the country is on the list of the most unfaithful countries in the world as well.
4. Italy – 45%
Over the years, the number of Italians choosing to get married has been steadily decreasing. In 2022, the country recorded 3.2 marriages per thousand individuals, which is approximately one union less compared to the data from 2008. The marriage rate experienced a significant drop in 2020, mainly due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching just 1.6 marriages per 1,000 people. Italians are now postponing their decision to get married to a later date. In the 1990s, the average age of Italian brides at the time of marriage was 26.8 years, but by 2017, the average age had increased to around 31 years. This trend indicates a shift in the timing and attitudes towards marriage in Italy.