Sarees, Temples… and Extramarital Affairs? This Tier-2 City Tops India’s Non-Monogamy Chart, Surpasses Metros

A small town in Tamil Nadu, with a population of just 2 lakh, has become India's leading non-monogamy hotspot. This is according to data from Ashley Madison, a dating app known for facilitating extramarital affairs. The app's June 2025 data reveals that tier-2 and tier-3 towns are now surpassing major cities like Delhi and Mumbai in terms of non-monogamous activities.

In April, a survey by YouGov for Ashley Madison highlighted that India and Brazil have the highest rates of admitted infidelity. Over half of the surveyed adults confessed to having had an affair. Paul Keable, Ashley Madison's chief strategy officer, remarked on this trend, stating, "This data highlights a striking trend—India is leading the way in redefining modern relationships, with more than half of surveyed adults admitting to infidelity."

Non-Monogamy Trends in India

The town topping this list is Kanchipuram, renowned for its sarees and temples. It has surpassed even metro cities in terms of signups and non-monogamous activity. Last year, Kanchipuram was ranked 17th but has now jumped to first place. The reason behind this significant rise remains unexplained by Ashley Madison.

Interestingly, Mumbai does not feature in the top 20 list of districts with high non-monogamy rates. Instead, tier-2 cities like Ghaziabad, Jaipur, Raigarh, Kamrup, and Chandigarh have made it to the list. Nine cities from Delhi-NCR are included among the top 20 hotspots.

Changing Dynamics in Relationships

According to Ashley Madison's data for June 2025, Kanchipuram leads among 20 districts with the most signups on their platform. Central Delhi follows closely behind at second place with Gurgaon taking third position. This shift indicates a growing acceptance of non-monogamous relationships across various regions.

Paul Keable further added that India ranks sixth among Ashley Madison's global markets and is expected to climb higher by year-end. He noted that these numbers suggest increasing acceptance of non-monogamy within Indian society.

The dating app initially gained popularity as a platform for those seeking extramarital connections discreetly. Its presence in India continues to grow rapidly as more individuals explore alternative relationship dynamics beyond traditional monogamy.