Over 5 Million Married Indians Flock To Extramarital Dating App; Bengaluru Leads The Charts

A growing shift in how relationships are perceived in India is beginning to reflect in digital behaviour. According to recent insights from Gleeden, a platform designed for discreet relationships, over 5 million of its users in India are married, signalling a notable rise in people seeking connections beyond traditional partnerships.

While metro cities continue to dominate the trend, the data reveals interesting regional patterns. Bengaluru leads the charts with 18% of users, followed by Hyderabad (17%), Delhi (11%), Mumbai (9%), and Pune (7%). However, the phenomenon is no longer limited to urban hubs, with a rise in users from smaller tier-2 & tier-3 cities such as Lucknow, Chandigarh, Surat, Coimbatore, Patna and Guwahati.

The platform’s findings are backed by a 2024 survey conducted among 1,503 married individuals aged between 25 and 50 across Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities. The study highlights a gradual shift in attitudes, with many individuals questioning conventional ideas of marriage while still navigating societal expectations.

User behaviour on the app also offers insight into evolving relationship dynamics. Around 65% of users are men, while women make up 35% though female participation has surged by 148% over the past two years. Most users are either married or in long-term relationships, often turning to the platform for companionship, emotional validation or experiences they feel are missing in their current partnerships.

Interestingly, engagement patterns reveal that users spend an average of one to one-and-a-half hours daily on the app, with peak activity observed during afternoon hours (12 pm to 3 pm) and late at night (10 pm to midnight). Preference trends also reflect a mix of traditional and modern expectations. Men generally seek women aged 25 to 30, while women tend to prefer slightly older, financially stable partners, such as professionals in senior roles.

As digital platforms continue to reshape personal interactions, the rise of extramarital dating apps like Gleeden points to a complex and evolving narrative around relationships in modern India.