Key Highlights
Here is a short view on the new and surprising trends of extramarital affairs in India:
- A new survey shows that Kanchipuram, a small town in Tamil Nadu, is now the top place in India for cheating.
- The Delhi-NCR area is still a main spot, with nine places in the top 20 list of Indian cities.
- Mumbai is not in the top 20 list for infidelity, which is a big change.
- A YouGov survey found that 53% of Indian adults say they have cheated. This is tied with Brazil for the highest rate in the world.
- The ashley madison app data shows that affairs are rising in smaller towns, not just in big metro cities in India.
Introduction
For many years, people in India did not talk much about extramarital affairs. The topic was kept quiet, and the culture put a high value on staying loyal in marriage. Now, things are starting to change in the country. There is data that shows more people are speaking up about relationships, and the way they feel about adultery is shifting. Before, some saw adultery as something that happened, but not often. Reports now say extramarital affairs are there more than before. This new information is making many think in a new way about marriage and how couples live in India.
Ashley Madison in India: A Snapshot of 2025 Trends
Ashley Madison is a dating app made for people who want to have affairs outside their relationship. The app has released its June 2025 user data for India, and what they found is surprising. The report says that more people in India are involved in affairs now. Out of all the indian respondents asked, 53% have said they were unfaithful. This shows that how people feel about relationships in india is changing a lot.
The data shows there are some big changes in different places. The busy city of New Delhi is still important, but the biggest rise is happening away from cities people usually talk about. This means that as more people in India use the internet, more of them are trying out relationships that are not just with one person. The ideas below look at where these changes can be seen the most.
The Rise of Affairs in Smaller Indian Towns
One of the biggest things to come out from the latest data is the sharp rise in extramarital affairs in smaller towns. The top example is Kanchipuram. It is a town in Tamil Nadu that people know for famous temples and silk sarees. In 2024, Kanchipuram was at 17th place. It jumped to number one in 2025 for people having extramarital affairs. This quick change shows that it is not just happening in big cities anymore.
This is not happening in just one town. The report shows that the app is getting more popular in tier-2 and tier-3 cities too. City names like Jaipur, Dehradun, Raigarh, and Kamrup are now on the top 20 list. A lot of people there are signing up and using the app. Many of these places are seeing more activity than the big cities.
This change shows that more people in smaller towns now have internet and feel free to try online dating and meet others outside of marriage. Even though south west delhi and the rest of the delhi-NCR area are still big for meeting new people, you can see a fast rise in other small places in india. This tells us a new story about how relationships today look different for people in india.
Notable Changes Among Metro Cities and Surprising Leaders
While small towns be growing, the Delhi-NCR area is still strong when it comes to infidelity in India. Delhi-NCR covers nine of the top twenty places for extramarital affairs. Six of these are in Delhi, including places like Gurgaon and Noida. This makes Delhi a big name for people looking for outside connections in India.
The title for India's top place for cheating has changed. Now, Kanchipuram takes the number one spot. But you can also find several big cities high on the list. A big change is that Mumbai is no longer in the top 20. Mumbai used to be at number two before.
|
Rank |
City/Region |
|---|---|
|
1 |
Kanchipuram |
|
2 |
Central Delhi |
|
3 |
Gurgaon (Gurugram) |
|
4 |
Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida) |
|
5 |
South West Delhi |
Other cities like Chandigarh, Pune, and Bangalore are also on the list. This info shows things are mixed up, as bigger cities keep shifting in the rankings. It also shows that digital platforms in the country are now making new places stand out for non-monogamy.
India’s Infidelity Rate: Global and Local Perspectives
Have you ever thought about how often infidelity happens in India compared to other places in the world? A YouGov survey done for Ashley Madison in early 2025 found something very surprising. The results showed that 53% of Indian respondents said they had an extramarital affair. This means more than half of those asked in India admitted to being unfaithful in their marriage.
This shows India is at the top of the world, along with Brazil, for the highest rate of admitted infidelity in adults. India having such a high rate goes against what many people think about the country being very traditional. It shows that views in india about having only one partner are changing a lot. The next sections will talk more about how india compares to other places and explain what new reports say about this topic.
How India Compares to Other Countries in Extramarital Affairs
India’s view on extramarital affairs is changing fast now. The YouGov survey found that 53% of Indian adults said they have been unfaithful. This is a big number and puts india with Brazil at the top for this trend. It shows that extramarital affairs used to be something people did not talk about. Now, it has become something that many face in their life.
This trend is easy to see. Paul Keable, who is the chief strategy officer at Ashley Madison, talked about the numbers. He said, “India is leading the way in changing modern relationships. More than half of adults asked said they have been unfaithful.” His words show that there is a big change going on in the country right now.
India is now sixth in the world for user sign-ups and activity on Ashley Madison. People in India are joining and using the site more. Ashley Madison says India could rank even higher by the end of the year. This shows that the way relationships work in India is changing. It is part of a bigger talk happening around the globe about ashley madison, india, and how people feel about one partner and finding happiness for themselves.
Key Findings from Recent Surveys and Reports
The latest reports helping us understand extramarital affairs in India use data from Ashley Madison in June 2025 and the YouGov survey. These surveys show a clear picture of the present situation. They help us see where and why cheating is becoming more common in India.
The main things found in these new reports are shown here:
- Surprising Leader: Kanchipuram, a small town in Tamil Nadu, is now the top city for affairs. It has gone past all big metros like Delhi and Mumbai.
- Metro Hotspot: Delhi-NCR still has a high rate of infidelity. Nine places in this area are in the top 20.
- Mumbai's Exit: Mumbai is not in the top 20 list now. This is a big change from before.
- High Admission Rate: 53% of indian respondents in the survey said they have had an affair.
So, why is this trend happening? Reports say there are a few reasons. Some people feel emotionally disconnected in their marriages. Dating apps also let people feel like they can be anonymous. Long work hours and the ease of work-from-home life add to this. All these things make it easier for people to look for new connections outside their marriage.
Conclusion
In the end, things are changing fast for extramarital affairs in India. Recent 2025 data from Ashley Madison shows some new and surprising facts. Even smaller places like Kanchipuram are now leading when it comes to infidelity. It is clear that non-monogamous relationships are becoming more common in many regions. A high rate of infidelity together with new ways people think about fidelity shows there is a mix of old values and new ways the world works. These new facts help us see how relationships in India are changing. If you want to learn more about this or need some advice, feel free to contact us for a free chat with our experts!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which city in India is currently considered the “cheating capital”?
According to Ashley Madison's data from June 2025, Kanchipuram has become the new "cheating capital" of India. This is a small town in Tamil Nadu. But the Delhi-NCR region, which has places like South West Delhi and Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida), is still a main hotspot for this. Delhi ranks higher than most other big cities in India for things like this.
What is driving the increase in extra-marital affairs across India?
More people in India are having extramarital affairs. This is happening for a few reasons. There is more internet use, even in smaller towns. Social rules about relationships are also changing. Dating apps give people a way to meet others and be private. A YouGov survey done in April found there is more acceptance of non-monogamy among Indian adults. This shows that several things are causing this change.
Is having an extramarital affair illegal in India?
No, having an affair outside marriage is not against the law in India. In 2018, the Supreme Court of India made a big change and said that adultery should not be a crime. This means that now, people cannot be charged with a crime for this. But, if someone in a marriage goes to court, adultery can still be used as a reason to get a divorce. [Source: https://indiankanoon.org/doc/113835440/]