Porn Addiction Statistics

Is Porn Addiction a Real Problem?

A 2020 study found that approximately 10.3% of men and 3% of women reported feeling that they were addicted to pornography. Statistics on porn use, self-reported porn addiction, and rates of use by demographic and other factors highlight the need for porn addiction treatment.

Read on to learn more about the rate of porn addiction and other porn-related statistics in the U.S.

How Many People Are Addicted to Porn in the U.S.?

Porn addiction (a behavioral addiction) is not collectively viewed as a formal medical condition, so most reports of porn addiction are self-reports.

A study published in the Journal of Sex Research found that around 7% of U.S. adult internet users reported feeling they had a pornography addiction.

The study was conducted on a group of 2,075 people based on various use rates of porn in their lives.

Porn Addiction Rates in the U.S. vs. Other Nations

The number of people who strongly agree with the statement, “I am addicted to pornography,” is comparable across several nations. One study reported that one-fifth of teens in the UK watch porn, with some reporting an addiction to it. While not everyone who watches porn develops an addiction, compulsive behaviors can lead to addiction over time. Continued porn use that becomes a habit can lead to a state of problematic, compulsive use.

According to PornHub’s annual year-in-review statement, the top countries for porn viewing were as follows:

1. The United States
2. The Philippines
3. France
4. Mexico
5. The United Kingdom
6. Japan
7. Germany
8. Italy
9. Canada
10. Brazil
11. Spain
12. Poland
13. Australia
14. Ukraine
15. The Netherlands
16. Argentina
17. Colombia
18. Egypt
19. Chile
20. Sweden

These top 20 countries made up more than 78% of all porn viewing on the site in 2023.

Online Porn Use Rates by State

Porn use rates are also measured in each state.

The top states in the United States for the longest average time spent on porn-viewing in 2023 were:

• Maryland: 11 minutes, 31 seconds per average visit
• Rhode Island: 11 minutes, 11 seconds per average visit
• New Jersey: 11 minutes, 09 seconds per average visit
• North Carolina: 11 minutes, 07 seconds per average visit
• Delaware: 11 minutes, 05 seconds per average visit
• Alabama: 11 minutes, 04 seconds per average visit
• Tennessee: 10 minutes, 57 seconds per average visit
• Minnesota: 10 minutes, 56 seconds per average visit
• Missouri: 10 minutes, 56 seconds per average visit
• South Carolina: 10 minutes, 52 seconds per average visit

Statistics on Pornography Use

Pornography use rates are high in the U.S. and many other nations. While addiction rates are not necessarily high, studies on other behavioral addictions show that continuing to engage in the behavior can eventually prompt addiction.

Here are some important statistics on pornography use and behavior:

• Online use: Approximately 67% of American men and 41% of American women view online porn each year.
• Viewing behavior: Pornhub alone reported more than 2 billion visits in a single month in 2023.
• Beliefs about porn use: A 2020 study found that individuals who believe pornography is morally wrong are more likely to self-report feeling addicted to it, regardless of their actual usage time.

Emerging Trends in Pornography

The landscape of pornography is evolving rapidly with technology. While traditional videos are still dominant, other formats are growing and creating new challenges.

The Rise of AI-Generated Pornography

“Deepfake” pornography is a major emerging issue.

A 2023 study reported that AI-generated “deepfake” porn now makes up 98% of all deepfake videos online, a staggering 550% increase from 2019.

Research consistently finds that this content almost exclusively targets women non-consensually.

The Creator Economy and Camming

The webcamming industry is a multi-billion-dollar market.

Platforms like OnlyFans saw a massive surge in both performers and viewers, shifting pornography from studio production to an individual creator economy that often blends sexual performance with a sense of conversation and intimacy.

Porn Addiction Statistics by Demographic

Looking at porn use behaviors of particular groups helps highlight who may be at risk for porn addiction or compulsive porn use.

Gender and Porn Use

Porn use and self-reported addiction rates show a marked difference between men and women in the U.S.

Males report higher rates of problematic porn use and pornography viewing in all categories:

• Problematic porn use: 10.3% of men, 3% of women.
• Porn use (viewing online): 67% of men, 41% of women.
• Porn viewing behavior: In responding to the statement, “I have put off things I needed to do to view pornography,” 1% of women agreed, and 3% of men agreed.

Sexual Orientation and Porn Use

Porn use rates are high in both heterosexual men and men who identify as homosexual or bisexual. Self-reported problematic porn use rates in sexual minority men are also high.

Though pornography is shown in some studies to have a few positive effects (i.e., offering a way to validate sexuality), it has also had some negative effects. For example, men in sexual minorities may experience negative body images and mental health issues linked to their porn use.

Age and Porn Use

People who use porn the most in the U.S. are between the ages of 18 and 34 years old.

To break down porn use rates by age group:

• 57% of young adults ages 18-25 use porn monthly or more often.
• 29% of adults aged 25 and above use porn monthly or more often.

Research also shows that children are being exposed to porn at a very young age, between ages 9 and 13 on average.

By their teen years, most youth have been exposed to internet porn in some form, with 93% of teen boys and 62% of teen girls reporting internet porn exposure in one study.

Religiosity and Perceptions of Porn Addiction

The relationship between religious belief and pornography use is complex. Research shows that personal values are one of the strongest predictors of whether a person feels addicted, sometimes more so than the actual amount of porn they view.

Data on Christian Pastors and Congregants

Research from the Barna Group, an organization that studies faith and culture, provides key insights into the Christian community in the U.S.

Their late 2023 report found:

• 67% of Christian pastors report having struggled with pornography use at some point in their lives.
• 18% of all pastors say it is a current struggle for them.
• 26% of pastors under the age of 45 report a current struggle with pornography.
• 54% of practicing Christians report viewing pornography, compared to 68% of non-Christians.
• 81% of pastors believe their churches are not adequately teaching about or addressing compulsive sexual behavior.

The “Moral Incongruence” Factor

Academics have identified a powerful psychological factor called “moral incongruence.” This is the internal conflict that occurs when a person’s behavior (like watching porn) goes against their strong moral or religious beliefs. Multiple peer-reviewed studies have confirmed this is the single greatest predictor of self-perceived addiction.

As lead researcher Dr. Joshua B. Grubbs stated, “When people morally disapprove of pornography but still use it anyway, they are more likely to report that pornography is interfering with their lives.” For many, the distress comes from this internal conflict itself, not just the behavior.

The Impact of Pornography on Life and Work

Compulsive porn use can have significant, measurable effects on a person’s life, from their intimate relationships to their professional conduct.

Pornography’s Effect on Marriages and Relationships

Research consistently finds a strong correlation between solo pornography use and negative relationship outcomes. A longitudinal study published in the Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy found that initiating pornography use after marriage can nearly double the annual probability of divorce, from 6% to 11%. The secrecy surrounding one partner’s porn use often leads to feelings of betrayal, insecurity, and emotional disconnection for the other partner.

Pornography in the Workplace and Career Impact

The accessibility of online porn has created challenges in the workplace. Research has found that 70% of all internet pornography traffic occurs during the 9-to-5 workday. One study published in the Journal of Business Ethics found a causal link between viewing pornography and an increased likelihood of engaging in unethical behavior at work, such as lying or misusing company time.

Race and Porn Use

Porn use rates may vary among races, but they affect people from all racial and ethnic backgrounds.

One study conducted using data on pornography viewing rates from 1973-2016 found that Black Americans were more likely to view porn than White Americans, with Black men being more likely to view porn than any other gender/racial combination.

The Nuances of Pornography Viewership Across Racial Groups

Research analyzing long-term data from the General Social Survey (GSS) has explored trends in pornography viewership across different racial groups in the U.S. While this data provides valuable insights, it’s crucial to understand the context behind the numbers.

• Reported Viewership Trends: A key study published in The Journal of Sex Research analyzing data from 1973-2016 found that, on average, Black Americans reported higher rates of pornography viewership than White Americans during this period. The study also noted that the rate of increase in viewership was higher among Black Americans.
• The “Why” – Cultural and Historical Context: The same researchers suggest this difference is likely not biological but cultural and historical. They hypothesize that some White communities have historically organized around pornography as a key moral issue, which may have constrained its use. In contrast, they note that Black communities have often focused on more immediate structural and social justice issues, leading to fewer internalized social norms specifically against pornography use.
• Representation and Problematic Stereotypes: More recent reviews have explored what viewers of color watch. Research indicates that many BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) consumers prefer pornography that features performers of color. However, these same studies note a significant problem: this content frequently contains and reinforces harmful racial stereotypes and aggression, with women of color often being overrepresented as targets of aggression in pornographic scenes.
• Limitations of the Data: It is important to acknowledge that much of the long-term data, including the GSS, has historically used limited racial categories (often just “White,” “Black,” and “Other”). This makes it difficult to get a complete statistical picture for other communities, including Hispanic, Asian American, and Indigenous populations.

Economic Factors and Porn Use

Nearly all studies conducted on porn use include economic factors, such as income level. However, income level does not appear to have a direct correlation to pornography use in the existing studies.

Instead, the factors that affect porn use rates remain gender, early exposure, and over-exposure to porn.

What Factors Affect Problematic Porn Use Rates?

Pornography has the potential to stimulate the brain in patterns similar to those of addictive substances. When a person with an addiction engages in a rewarding behavior, the brain’s pleasure and reward systems are activated, which can make a person want to repeat the behavior again and again.

Other factors that may affect rates of problematic porn use:

• Accessibility: As of 2024, over 4 million websites are offering pornographic content, accounting for roughly 12% of all sites on the internet. With 95% of U.S. residents having internet access, pornography is more accessible than ever before.
• The porn industry is lucrative: The internet porn industry is currently valued at over $1 billion (as of 2023). Most porn sites offer a certain amount of porn viewing for free, which can work to keep users coming back.

Statistics on Access to Pornography in the U.S.

How accessible is porn in the U.S.?

About 4 million websites offer pornographic content. This number accounts for about 12% of all websites on the internet.

As of January 2024, 95% of U.S. residents have access to the Internet, so nearly anyone can access pornography at any time.

This includes accidental exposure to porn through spam, pop-up ads, or receiving a link without consent.

Statistics on Porn Use by Type

The majority of porn use occurs via online videos.

A study in 2019 showed that porn is most often viewed on computers (73%) and cell phones/smartphones (62%).

In its 2023 report, Pornhub stated that its website alone receives 42 billion visits per year globally.

Porn Industry Statistics

The pornography industry is large and growing.

A study that examined 40 years of pornography use found increased rates of porn consumption over time.

For men ages 18-26, 45% had viewed pornography in the 1973-1980 cohort, which increased to 61% in the 1999-2012 cohort.

This increase may be linked to the rise of the internet. The implementation of porn on social media platforms like OnlyFans and Twitter has also increased both access to porn and the incentive to create it.

Statistics on Sexual Trafficking & Child Pornography

It is critical to distinguish between consensual adult pornography and illegal child pornography. The data on child pornography highlights a serious criminal issue. According to the United States Sentencing Commission (USSC), there were 6,151 individuals sentenced for federal child pornography offenses in Fiscal Year 2018. The data for these offenders reveals:

• The average age was 41 years old.
• The overwhelming majority, 97.3%, were male.
• A large majority of offenders (71.5%) had little or no prior criminal record.
• Regarding race, 73.3% of offenders were White, 18.2% were Black, and 5.5% were Hispanic.

Sadly, child pornography is often linked to child sex trafficking. Some porn websites have had allegations brought against them in civil lawsuits regarding their connection to violent porn, sex trafficking, and child porn.

Statistics on Perception of Porn Use

People in the U.S. tend to agree on what is considered pornographic material. However, people have mixed feelings about how they perceive porn.

In one study that asked participants if porn was bad for society, 37% of older adults agreed, while only 14% of young adults agreed. These rates are also affected by whether participants are male or female.

In the same study, 39% of women believed that porn is ‘very bad’; 21% of men agreed.

Statistics on Other Effects of Porn Use

Porn use and addiction can have adverse effects on a person’s sexual satisfaction and relationships.

A study that assessed men on their sex life satisfaction asked one group of men if they were satisfied with their sex life — 41% responded that they were satisfied. They asked another group the same question, but only 26% reported satisfaction. The only difference? The first group had not watched pornography the day before, while the second group had watched porn.

Other potential adverse effects of increased porn use include:

• Increased attitudes about sexual objectification
• Relationship issues
• Self-isolation and self-loathing
• Issues with sexual libido and sexual health
• Impact on mental health issues

Find Supportive Resources for Porn Addiction Now

Porn use rates are increasing, and research shows a wide range of adverse effects that can result from frequent porn use. While not a widely accepted medical condition, compulsive porn use can cause issues in your sexual health, relationship, and sense of self-worth.

If you or a loved one are battling a porn addiction, don’t wait to get help. Confidential therapy is offered in-person and online, and support groups like Porn Addicts Anonymous offer local chapters in communities nationwide.

Our Find Treatment Help page can provide you with all the resources you need.

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