Research

Ethical non-monogamy statistics (2026)

How common is consensual non-monogamy, who practices it, and how do the relationships actually fare? The figures below are drawn from peer-reviewed research and reputable organizations — each one cited, so you can check and reuse it. Last updated 2026-05-24.

~1 in 5

single U.S. adults (about 21%) report having engaged in consensual non-monogamy at some point in their lifetime. Source

Higher

rates of consensual non-monogamy are reported among men and among people who identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual, versus the overall average. Source

~1 in 9

Americans have been in a polyamorous relationship, and roughly 1 in 6 say they would like to try polyamory, per surveys compiled by OPEN. Source

Comparable

research finds consensually non-monogamous relationships report satisfaction, commitment, and trust on par with monogamous relationships. Source

Equal or better

people in consensual non-monogamy are often as conscientious, or more, about safer-sex practices such as STI testing and barrier use. Source

Persistent

stigma toward consensual non-monogamy remains significant despite outcomes comparable to monogamy — a gap documented across the research literature. Source

Prevalence

The most-cited prevalence research, drawing on two U.S. Census-based quota samples of single adults, found that more than one in five participants (about 21%) reported engaging in consensual non-monogamy at some point in their lifetime. That proportion held steady across age, education, income, religion, region, and race, but varied with gender and sexual orientation.

Who practices ENM

The same research found men and people who identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual were more likely to report previous experience with consensual non-monogamy. Surveys compiled by advocacy organizations put the share of Americans who have been in a polyamorous relationship at roughly one in nine, with about one in six saying they would like to try it.

Relationship outcomes

Studies comparing consensually non-monogamous and monogamous relationships generally find comparable levels of satisfaction, commitment, and trust — there is no evidence base for the assumption that non-monogamy is inherently less stable or less healthy. People in CNM relationships are also frequently as careful, or more so, about safer-sex practices such as regular testing and barrier use.

Attitudes and stigma

Despite comparable outcomes, consensual non-monogamy continues to face significant social stigma, a gap between perception and experience documented across the literature. Visibility and acceptance have been rising, but CNM relationships are still widely misjudged relative to how the people in them actually fare.

Cite this page

Found this useful? You're welcome to cite or link it:

Ethical Non-Monogamy. (2026). Ethical non-monogamy statistics (2026). https://www.ethicalnonmonogamy.com/statistics

Please link the underlying sources directly when you can — they're all listed below.

A note on sourcing

Figures here are phrased conservatively and attributed to the body that produced or compiled them. Prevalence estimates come from national survey samples and will vary by study, population, and method; aggregate figures are credited to the organizations that compiled them rather than presented as primary findings. Where a number can't be sourced reliably, we leave it out.