Porn addiction rates have been growing due to the ease of access to pornography sites online.
How many people are addicted to porn? That’s what we’re here to address today.
It’s important to know that not everyone who watches pornography is a pornography addict.
To be a porn addict, one must watch 11-plus hours per week.
Depending on who you ask, watching porn can be harmful to relationships or helpful.
However, when we look at how porn addiction works and the research behind it, we will learn that this addiction can be as devastating as drug or alcohol addiction.
Without further ado, let’s learn more from some pornography statistics
Key Statistics
- In the United States, an estimated 200,000 people are diagnosed with a porn addiction.
- Over 40 million adults in the United States regularly engage with porn sites.
- Men are 543% more apt to become addicted to porn than women.
- First exposure is said to happen at 13 years old on average.
- 35% of online downloads consist of pornographic content.
- 65% of young men say they watch porn weekly.
- In the U.K., one-fifth of teens watch porn.
- The WHO and APA have yet to recognize porn addiction
How Many People Are Addicted to Porn?
In the United States, an estimated 200,000 people are classified as pornography addicts.
Furthermore, another 40 million or more adults in the United States visit porn sites regularly.
Research shows that men are 543% more apt to become addicted to pornography than women.
On average, first exposure to porn occurs at 13 years old.
Moreover, an estimated 35% of all downloads from the internet are related to pornography.
Sadly, problematic, compulsive, or obsessive porn use impacts around 3% to 6% of the United States adult population.
In fact, 18% of young women and a startling 65% of young men say they watch porn at least once per week.
How easy is it to access a porn site? In the United States, where 60% of porn sites are hosted, you merely have to click a button that says you’re over 18 to gain access to the site’s content.
In the United Kingdom, one-fifth of teens frequently engage in porn watching, according to a UK study in 2021.
(Gitnux, The Guardian, The Recovery Village)
Porn Addiction Across the Globe
The United States isn’t the only country where pornography is viewed, nor is it the only country with a portion of the population where addiction is present.
According to mid-2022 data, the top ten countries where the most porn is viewed through PornHub include the following:
- Pakistan
- Egypt
- Vietnam
- Iran
- Morocco
- India
- Saudi Arabia
- Turkey
- The Philippines
- Poland
Notice that the United States didn’t make the top ten list on PornHub watchers.
In some of these countries, porn sites are restricted and even banned. In fact, watching pornography is a major crime in certain parts of the world.
(Daily Sun, Philstar)
Signs of Pornography Addiction
As you might suspect, porn addiction does come with signs. Some of them may be easily recognized, but others seem harmless.
Let’s look at some of the signs of porn addiction.
Hiding It
Much like with all kinds of addiction, reclusive and secretive behavior is one of the first indicators of addiction.
No addict wants to feel like they will be judged for their activities.
Sexual Dysfunction
One of the most obvious signs of pornography addiction is sexual impairment.
The psychological and physical effects of watching porn expand to real-life and negatively impacts sexual performance.
Issues at Work or Home
Having problems at work and at home are also signs of porn addiction or at least sexual compulsion.
Strained marital and partner relationships, lowered work performance, being unable to focus in the workplace, and troubles with day-to-day home and work life are all problems that can arise from porn addiction.
Increasing Porn Use
All addictions come with the increased use of the addiction. An increased use of pornography is a major indicator of an addiction to it.
When watching porn creates an increased need to watch it to become aroused or to feel sexually satisfied, that may be an addictive response.
Feeling of Shame and Guilt
One of the reasons people start watching porn initially is to escape from the outside world.
They use it as a coping mechanism just to escape the reality of their lives.
However, once the person is not engaging with porn, they often feel guilt and/or shame for watching porn when engaging with reality.
Irritability or Anger
All forms of addiction can change behavior.
Much like with drugs, a person addicted to porn will become angry and irritable when they can’t engage with the brain stimuli of porn.
This can present in social situations where they are in a setting and cannot view porn.
Blame and Denial
Porn addiction comes with the issues of blame and denial.
They don’t realize or want to face that they have a problem even when it’s adversely affecting their daily lives.
In fact, they will sometimes blame their partner for their increase in watching porn.
Financial Problems
Even with pornography being freely accessible at no cost online, a person with a pornography addiction will pay for subscriptions for more diverse and/or explicit porn content to keep up with their level of sexual gratification.
The more they desire to watch it, the more they spend, which has resulted in major financial losses.
Loss of Attraction
Porn addiction creates a distorted and fantastical view of sex and will impact perceptions of what sex can be in real life.
This issue can cause the person to lose their attraction to their partners.
This happens especially when they won’t engage in certain sex acts or dress like they want them to.
Negatively Impacts Pleasure
Excessive porn viewing can cause a person to lose their ability to feel pleasure.
In clinical terms, this is called anhedonia. The loss of feeling pleasure spans across activities, not just sexual pleasure.
Withdrawal
Withdrawal occurs when the person is dependent upon the stimulus just to function.
It can also cause physical pain and anxiety.
(Recovered)
Is Porn Addiction Recognized By the WHO?
It’s important to note that the World Health Organization (WHO) has yet to recognize porn addiction, but it has recognized “compulsive sexual behavior disorder” as an actual disorder.
Could porn and sex addictions be next for recognition?
(NCOSE)
Treatments for Porn Addiction
It’s important to be informed about the signs of porn addiction, but also about treatments for it.
Let’s look at some successful treatments for pornography addiction that have been and are being used.
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Hypnotherapy
- Counseling
- Medications as a last resort
While WHO and the APA doesn’t recognize the idea of porn addiction, they do offer these treatments as they would any other addiction.
Conclusion
Remember that only a licensed, qualified therapist or doctor can diagnose porn addiction.
A person can be considered to be obsessed with porn or watch it compulsively, but only an official diagnosis is viable.
We hope we have answered how many people are addicted to porn to your satisfaction.
Sources
| Daily Sun | Gitnux | NCOSE |
| Philstar | Restoring Hearts | Recovered |
| The Guardian | The Recovery Village |