2025 Porn Addiction Statistics – Rates, Demographics & Effects

Porn addiction is the compulsive consumption of pornographic material even when there are negative consequences. Major health organizations have not officially recognized porn addiction as a medical condition, but a growing number of people report porn-viewing behaviors that match addiction patterns. Research shows that porn viewing can stimulate the brain’s reward system and make it difficult for some people to moderate their consumption.

Current statistics show that all ages, ethnicities, and gender-orientations in the United States report viewing porn. Whether people are concerned about their habits or simply looking to understand this growing phenomenon, the following statistics offer insights into how pornography impacts people across the United States.

Rates Of Porn Addiction In The United States

Recent studies show that approximately 7% of U.S. adult internet users who view porn also have an addiction to it. When broken down by gender, the numbers show that about 11% of men and 3% of women self-report being addicted to pornography. Due to porn addiction not being widely recognized as a medical condition, most of these statistics come from self-reporting. This means that the actual numbers could be much higher, as many people may be reluctant to admit they watch too much porn.

Beyond U.S. borders, porn viewing shows significant worldwide reach. According to PornHub’s annual statistics, the top 10 countries for porn viewing include the United States, the Philippines, France, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, Italy, Canada, and Brazil.

States That Report The Most Porn Use

Porn addiction rates aren’t tracked by state, but porn use duration gives some insight into possible areas of concern in the United States.

States with the most extended viewing times per visit include:

• Maryland
• Rhode Island
• New Jersey
• North Carolina
• Delaware

Viewing sessions in these states averaged between 11 minutes and five seconds to 11 minutes and 31 seconds. Longer viewing times might indicate a more intense engagement with pornographic content.

Demographics Of Porn Addiction

Looking at who is most affected by porn addiction may reveal important patterns across gender, age, race, sexual orientation, and religious background.

Gender And Porn Addiction

There is a large gender gap in porn addiction. Studies show that men consume far more pornography than women and are likely to develop unhealthy viewing habits. Approximately 69% of men and 40% of women in America view online porn each year. Men are also 20% more likely to download porn than women. When asked if they put off important tasts to watch porn, 3% of men said yes compared to 1% of women.

Age And Pornography Use

Young adults between 18-34 years old report the highest rates of porn viewing, with 57% of young adults ages 18-25 use porn at least once a month. Only 29% of adults ages 25 and above use porn at that frequency. Disturbingly, research shows that children are first exposed to porn between ages 9-13, with 93% of teen boys and 62% of teen girls reporting exposure to internet pornography.

Ethnic And Racial Porn Use Rates

Studies that exame porn use across racial and ethnic lines have found some variation in viewing patterns. Data collected from 1973-2016 revealed that black Americans were more likely to view porn than white Americans, and white women’s porn use has increased over time, eventually becoming similar to rates among black men.

Porn Use And Sexual Orientation

Heterosexual, homosexual, and bisexual men report high rates of porn use. Some research has found that men in sexual minorities often experience negative effects on their body image and sexual expectations due to porn viewing. Other studies suggest porn has helped validate sexuality for gay or bisexual men.

Religious Affiliation And Porn Use

Religious affiliation and moral views about porn influence how people report their relationship with pornography. Data has shown that people who view porn as morally wrong report higher rates of addiction than those who don’t have morally righteous views or religious convictions. This might be due to the cognitive dissonance that occurs when actions contradict a belief system, which may intensify feelings of shame.

Factors That Influence Porn Addiction Rates

Below are some of the key factors that contribute to the growing rates of compulsive porn viewing in the United States.

Influencing factors include:

• Addictive Nature of Pornography — Porn stimulates the brain in ways similar to drugs or alcohol. Problematic porn use (PPU) show signs of “incentive salience”, a psychological state where desire for porn is detached from actually enjoying the act of watching it.
• Broad Accessibility — There are about four million pornographic websites, and 95% of U.S. residents have internet access. The shift to mobile viewing means people can access explicit content virtually anywhere.
• Early Exposure to Porn — Children and teens who are exposed to pornography at young ages, often accidentally, can be highly affected due to their developing brains.
• Booming Porn Industry — The porn industry has seen a nearly 13% revenue increase in recent years. Lucrative financial incentives drive the creation of content and more sophisticated marketing strategies to potential customers.

What Are The Effects Of Porn Addiction?

The effects of porn addiction can devastate personal relationships, with research showing increased divorce rates among young adults who introduce porn into their relationships. Sexual satisfaction also declines, as men who viewed pornography report 26% satisfaction compared to 41% of non viewers.

The impacts of mental health and compulsive porn use are also concerning, with 60% of people reporting loneliness, stress, anxiety, and depression, versus 38% for non-porn-viewers. Additionally, 78% of compulsive viewers report unhappiness with their physical appearance compared to 44% of people who don’t watch porn. If you or a loved one are battling porn dependency, contact a mental health professional or addiction specialist for more guidance on treatment options.

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Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff