If you look up how many people watch porn in India, you will find an interesting paradox. While the self-reported numbers are low, the web traffic data shows that India is a leading porn consumer.
In 2014, India was identified as the fifth-largest consumer of pornography by Pornhub. By 2024, India was ranked fourth in the global consumption of porn. However, in surveys, only 8.3% have acknowledged porn use.
So, what is the reality of porn consumption in India? How many people watch porn in India, and what drives India’s porn use in 202? Let’s find out.
Do All Men Watch Porn in India?
There is no conclusive data to answer the question, Do all men watch porn in India? However, a general trend in porn consumption is that men are more likely than women to watch porn. So, it is safe to assume that a large section of men in India watch porn.
When we look at the data –
- In a community survey of 18 to 40-year-olds in Bengaluru, 10.9% of men admitted to watching pornography compared to 5.6% of women.
- A youth survey of 18 to 21-year-olds showed that 66% percent of boys watch porn at least 7 hours a week. These youngsters started watching porn around the age of 9.
- Pornhub notes that in the web traffic from India, 70% is male and 30% is female.
Top 10 countries who Watches More Porn
In surveys and data from adult websites, India is consistently ranked among the leading consumers of porn. In spite of an official ban on internet pornography, the number of people watching porn in India has been steadily increasing.
So, to answer the question, how many people watch porn in India? We can say it’s a significant number. According to Pornhub, the top 10 porn consumers are from – United States, Indonesia, Brazil, France, the Philippines, Japan, Canada, Mexico, India, and Spain.
How Many Men and Women Watch Pornography in India?
The socio-cultural landscape of India presents a unique dichotomy. On the one hand, there is a rich historical tradition of sexual discourse through ancient texts such as the Kamasutra. Yet, conversations about sex and sexuality are taboo in contemporary society.
As a result, while there is a reluctance to admit it, there is a widespread and deeply embedded pattern of porn consumption. Indians are among the top consumers of internet pornography, with huge spikes during the COVID lockdown of 2020.
In terms of how many men and women watch pornography in India, men are 2 to 3 times more likely than women to watch porn.
- In surveys, 5.6% women report watching porn compared to 10.9% of men.
- Indian female viewership makes up for 30% (An increase from the previous 25%), and men make up for 70% of traffic to Pornhub.
- In a youth survey of 18 to 21-year-olds, it was found that 66% of male undergraduates and 30% of female undergraduates watched porn.
- Undergrad men reported watching up to 7 hours of porn per week, and females were watching on average 5 hours of porn per week.
Here are more insights about how many people watch porn in India and what drives their porn habits –
1. High Mobile Consumption
Affordable data plans and the prevalence of smartphones are key factors in the increasing internet porn consumption in India. In 2019 itself, 89% of Indian viewers accessed porn on their phones compared to 77% of global porn mobile traffic.
2. Rapid Growth Trend
The increasing porn consumption by Indians was particularly noted during the COVID lockdowns of 2020. Web traffic analysis found a 95% spike in visits to porn websites during this period. Even before the enforcement of restrictions in March-April, there was a jump of 20%.
3. Cultural Context
Officially, India is among the countries with strict restrictions on access to porn. In 2018 itself, the Indian Government banned more than 800 adult websites. However, easy mobile access and workarounds such as VPNs let people engage easily with pornography.
4. Age Demographics
The porn consumption in India is more prevalent among youths and adolescents. Surveys have found that 85% of porn users in India are in the age range of 18 to 24. Disturbingly, the age of exposure to porn is found to be 9 years, increasing the likelihood of later porn use.
5. Gender differences
More men than women report watching porn in India, which is in line with the global trends. The percentage of women watching porn is increasing, but considering the social taboo, the self-reporting numbers might not give an accurate picture.
6. Urban Vs Rural
When we look at how many people watch porn in India, it is not entirely an urban phenomenon. In Haryana, 63% of urban youth reported watching porn on their phone. At the same time, Mizoram surpasses major cities such as Delhi and Mumbai in terms of page views.
7. Bans and Availability
Indians often use mirror sites and VPNs to access porn websites, as adult websites are blocked in India. So, even though there are restrictions, the access and privacy of smartphones make porn easily available.
8. Mental-Health Correlates
Studies have noted that symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress correlate with men’s craving for porn. A 2022 survey found that more hours spent watching porn correlated with higher psychological distress and lower quality of life.
How Often Do People Watch Porn in Percentage?
We do not have conclusive studies or surveys about the frequency of porn consumption when it comes to how many people watch porn in India. So, we have to rely on data from surveys of youth as an indicator of larger trends.
Among undergraduates, boys averaged 7 hours and girls averaged 5 hours of porn watching per week. As porn viewing rates are higher among youth compared to older adults, the frequency and quantity are likely to be less among the older population.
What Factors Affect Porn Addiction Rates?
Along with how many people watch porn in India, it is equally important to understand the factors behind porn addiction.
Individuals are more likely to develop porn addiction if they are exposed to porn early in life. Convenient and private access to porn on mobile phones makes people more vulnerable to hyperstimulation of porn. Using porn to manage difficult emotions (stress and anxiety) of mood regulation (boredom and depression) can create a vicious cycle of addiction.
What Counts as ‘Problematic’ Use?
Medically speaking, porn is not classified as an addiction. The dependency on porn is categorized under compulsive sexual behaviors and Problematic Porn Use (PPU). There is no standard number of hours or type of content that defines Problematic Porn Use.
An individual’s porn consumption behavior is considered problematic if it disturbs their work, academics, or personal relationships. Inability to quit porn in spite of its harmful effects and a desire to stop also suggests a compulsive porn habit.
Escalating porn use in terms of increasing the number of hours and seeking more extreme types of content is an indicator of problematic porn behavior. Another key indicator is the psychological distress, such as guilt and shame, resulting from porn watching.
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FAQs on How Many People Watch Porn in India
1. What is illegal to watch on the internet in India?
In India, any websites showing nudity or sexual acts are outlawed, and there is a ban on all porn distribution. Child pornography is completely illegal, including watching it.
2. Is porn legal in India?
Private viewing of adult, consensual, and non-child porn is legal in India. However, broadcasting or sharing of porn is illegal, and child porn is always illegal.