Which Zodiac Signs Are Most Likely to Cheat? Stats & Astrology

The Short Answer: What the Surveys Actually Say

No peer-reviewed study in a journal like Psychology Today has definitively proven that any zodiac sign is statistically most likely to cheat — but several large-scale consumer surveys, including a widely cited EduBirdie survey on zodiac signs and cheating, have produced rankings that astrology enthusiasts love to debate. The EduBirdie survey, which polled thousands of respondents about their own infidelity history and their sun sign, found Scorpio, Aries, and Gemini appearing near the top of self-reported cheating lists in multiple rounds of data collection. These findings are interesting starting points, not verdicts.

What makes these surveys tricky is methodology. Self-report bias is enormous in any study on infidelity — people underreport, misremember, or define 'cheating' differently. Survey samples are also rarely balanced across all twelve signs, and no study controls for age, relationship length, cultural background, or whether someone is a serial monogamist or a habitual dater. So when you see a headline claiming 'Scorpios cheat the most,' the honest translation is: 'In this particular sample, more self-identified Scorpios admitted to infidelity.' That's worth knowing, but it's a long way from statistical proof.

How the EduBirdie Zodiac Cheating Survey Was Structured

The EduBirdie survey on zodiac signs and cheating methodology asked respondents directly whether they had ever cheated on a partner and to provide their sun sign. The survey aggregated thousands of responses and ranked signs by the percentage of self-reported cheaters within each sign's respondent pool. Scorpio, Aries, Libra, and Gemini tended to cluster near the top across different waves of the survey, while Cancer, Virgo, and Capricorn consistently appeared near the bottom.

Critically, the survey did not weight responses for sign distribution in the general population, nor did it account for the fact that Scorpio and Aries respondents may skew younger or be more likely to use platforms where such surveys circulate. These are the kinds of confounds that a peer-reviewed Psychology Today-style infidelity study would control for — and why academic researchers who study astrology and personality (such as those publishing in journals like Personality and Individual Differences) remain skeptical that sun-sign alone predicts behavior.

Why Do Certain Signs Keep Appearing on 'Most Likely to Cheat' Lists?

Certain signs appear repeatedly on cheating lists because their traditional astrological archetypes map onto personality traits that relationship researchers independently associate with higher infidelity risk. This isn't magic — it's a case of two descriptive systems overlapping on the same human behaviors. Astrology describes Gemini as adaptable, dual-natured, and easily bored; relationship psychology identifies novelty-seeking and low conscientiousness as predictors of infidelity. The archetypes rhyme.

Here is a sign-by-sign look at the astrological reasoning behind the most commonly cited names, keeping in mind that sun sign is only one layer of a full natal chart — rising sign, Venus placement, and the condition of the 7th house all carry significant weight in traditional relationship astrology.

Scorpio: Intensity, Secrecy, and the Myth of the Cheating Scorpio

Scorpio appears at or near the top of almost every zodiac cheating survey, and the astrological explanation is layered. Scorpio is a fixed water sign ruled by Mars (classical) and Pluto (modern), associated with depth of desire, secrecy, and an all-or-nothing emotional register. Traditional astrology does not paint Scorpio as a frivolous cheater — quite the opposite. Scorpio is considered one of the most intensely loyal signs when genuinely committed. The paradox is that Scorpio's capacity for secrecy and its comfort operating in shadow can make infidelity, when it does occur, particularly concealed and therefore more likely to be admitted only in anonymous surveys.

There's also a cultural feedback loop at play. Scorpio has been mythologized as the 'sexy, dangerous' sign for decades in pop astrology, which may influence how Scorpio-identified people frame their own romantic histories when answering surveys. Self-concept shapes self-report.

Gemini: The Dual Nature Reputation

Gemini's reputation as a cheater is arguably the most culturally entrenched in Western pop astrology, rooted in its symbol — the Twins — and its mutable air nature. Classical astrology describes Gemini as intellectually restless, socially versatile, and genuinely curious about multiple perspectives simultaneously. These traits, when applied to relationships, can manifest as difficulty with monogamous commitment if other chart factors reinforce them, particularly a heavily aspected Mercury or a 5th house emphasis.

However, it's worth noting that Gemini's mutable quality also makes it highly adaptable to a partner's needs. Many astrologers argue that a Gemini in a genuinely stimulating relationship has little motivation to stray — the cheating tendency is more about under-stimulation than inherent faithlessness.

Aries, Libra, and Sagittarius: The Other Frequent Flyers

Aries (cardinal fire, ruled by Mars) appears on cheating lists partly because Mars governs desire and impulsivity. Traditional astrology associates Aries with acting before thinking, which in a relationship context can mean pursuing attraction before weighing consequences. This is less about malice and more about the Aries archetype's comfort with immediate action. Aries also has a strong ego investment in being desired, which can make external validation tempting.

Libra's appearance on these lists surprises people because Libra is the sign of partnership, ruled by Venus. The classical explanation is that Libra's core drive is relational harmony — but it also craves being loved and can struggle to end one relationship before beginning another, leading to overlap. Sagittarius, a mutable fire sign ruled by Jupiter, is associated with freedom, expansion, and philosophical restlessness. Long-term commitment can feel like a constraint to an unanchored Sagittarius, and the sign's love of new experiences extends to new people.

Which Signs Appear Least Often on Cheating Lists?

Cancer, Virgo, Taurus, and Capricorn consistently appear at the bottom of self-reported cheating surveys. Cancer is a cardinal water sign ruled by the Moon, deeply oriented toward home, security, and emotional continuity — the very things that infidelity threatens. Virgo, a mutable earth sign ruled by Mercury, is associated with conscientiousness, self-criticism, and a strong moral framework. Taurus, fixed earth ruled by Venus, values stability and material security above novelty. Capricorn, cardinal earth ruled by Saturn, is associated with discipline, reputation-consciousness, and long-term thinking.

Importantly, 'appearing least on cheating lists' does not mean these signs are incapable of infidelity. It may simply mean they are less likely to self-report it, define it the same way, or participate in the kinds of online surveys that generate these rankings. Earth signs in particular may be more private about relationship failures.

What Does Serious Relationship Research Actually Say About Astrology and Infidelity?

Academic relationship science has not validated sun-sign astrology as a predictor of infidelity. Studies published in personality and social psychology journals consistently find that factors like attachment style (anxious, avoidant, or secure), relationship satisfaction, opportunity, and individual personality traits — particularly low agreeableness and high narcissism — are far stronger predictors of cheating than birth date. A 2020 meta-analysis of infidelity predictors found that relationship dissatisfaction and poor communication were the most robust variables across cultures.

This doesn't mean astrology has nothing to offer the conversation. Some researchers, including those sympathetic to astrology as a symbolic language, argue that natal chart analysis functions as a sophisticated personality typology — not unlike the Big Five personality model — and that certain chart configurations genuinely correlate with personality patterns that relationship science links to infidelity risk. The honest position is: astrology can offer a useful reflective framework, but it is not a deterministic predictor, and no zodiac sign is condemned to cheat.

How to Actually Use Astrology to Understand Relationship Patterns

Rather than using sun-sign rankings to judge a potential partner, experienced astrologers suggest looking at several chart factors together to understand how someone approaches commitment. The 7th house (the house of partnership) and its ruling planet, the placement and aspects of Venus (values, affection) and Mars (desire, drive), and the condition of the Moon (emotional needs) all interact to paint a much more nuanced picture than sun sign alone.

For example, a Scorpio sun with Venus in Libra in the 7th house and a well-aspected Moon in Taurus is going to read very differently from a Scorpio sun with Venus in Sagittarius in the 5th house square Neptune. The first configuration leans heavily toward committed partnership; the second may struggle with idealization and romantic escapism. This is the level at which astrology becomes genuinely interesting — and genuinely personal.

Venus and Mars Placements Matter More Than Sun Sign

Venus in a natal chart describes what a person values in love, how they give affection, and what they find attractive. Mars describes how they pursue desire and handle conflict. A Gemini sun with Venus in Taurus is far more romantically steady than pop astrology's 'Gemini cheats' narrative would suggest. Conversely, a Taurus sun with Mars in Aries and Venus in Gemini may have more restless romantic energy than their sun sign implies.

If you're genuinely curious about your own relationship patterns through an astrological lens, getting a full natal chart reading — rather than just reading about your sun sign — is the meaningful step. Most professional astrologers will tell you that sun-sign-only readings are the horoscope column version of astrology, not the full tradition.

Can a Full Astrological Profile Predict Faithfulness More Accurately?

A full natal chart can map relationship tendencies with considerably more nuance than sun sign alone, though 'predict faithfulness' is still too strong a claim — astrology describes tendencies, not destinies. Traditional Hellenistic and Medieval astrologers used techniques like bonification and maltreatment of the Lord of the 7th house, the condition of Venus by sign and aspect, and the sect of the chart (day or night birth) to assess relationship dynamics. Modern psychological astrology integrates these with attachment theory and developmental psychology.

The point is that even within the astrological tradition itself, a single sign placement was never considered sufficient to judge someone's romantic character. The signs-most-likely-to-cheat framing is a product of pop astrology and survey culture, not classical astrological practice. Use it as a conversation starter, not a verdict.

Eastern Astrology's Take: What Korean Saju Says About Relationship Loyalty

Eastern astrological traditions approach relationship compatibility and loyalty from an entirely different structural framework. In Korean Saju (Four Pillars of Destiny), your character is not determined by a single sun sign but by eight characters — four Heavenly Stems and four Earthly Branches derived from your birth year, month, day, and hour. These eight characters interact as a dynamic system, and specific combinations of the Day Master (your core self) with the Spouse Palace and relationship stars are used to assess romantic tendencies.

For example, a Day Master with a strong 'Eating God' (食神) output star and a weakly rooted Spouse Palace may indicate someone who prioritizes personal freedom and self-expression over partnership stability — a pattern that some Saju practitioners would read as a predisposition toward relationship restlessness. This is a fundamentally different lens from Western sun-sign astrology, and it's one reason many readers find it illuminating to compare both systems. If you're curious how Eastern astrology reads your relationship patterns differently, SajuWiki offers a free Korean Saju (Four Pillars) reading at unsewiki.com/en that maps your birth date and time to your eight characters — it takes about two minutes and gives you a genuinely different perspective on your romantic tendencies.

Common Misconceptions About Zodiac Signs and Cheating

The biggest misconception is that any zodiac sign is inherently, inevitably unfaithful. Astrology — even at its most traditional — describes archetypal tendencies and potential, not fixed behavioral outcomes. A Scorpio who has done significant self-work, who is in a deeply fulfilling relationship, and whose chart shows strong Saturn influence on the 7th house is not going to cheat because a survey said Scorpios do. Human agency, relationship quality, and life circumstances dwarf any astrological influence on specific behavior.

A second major misconception is that these surveys are neutral scientific instruments. The EduBirdie zodiac cheating survey, like most consumer surveys on this topic, was designed for engagement and shareability, not academic rigor. The sample is self-selected (people who seek out astrology content are more likely to participate), the questions are self-report (subject to social desirability bias and memory distortion), and the results are not peer-reviewed. Treating them as equivalent to a Psychology Today-cited infidelity study does a disservice to both astrology and actual relationship science.

Finally, many readers assume that appearing low on cheating lists means a sign is automatically a safe partner. Relationship health is far more complex than fidelity alone — a sign that rarely cheats may still struggle with emotional unavailability, communication, or conflict avoidance. Astrology is most useful when it opens self-reflection, not when it closes judgment.

How to Use This Information Wisely in Real Relationships

The healthiest way to engage with zodiac cheating statistics is as a mirror for self-reflection, not a screening tool for partners. If you identify with a sign that appears frequently on these lists, the more useful question isn't 'am I going to cheat?' but 'what are the specific relationship patterns — boredom, need for validation, fear of confrontation — that I should be aware of and actively address?' That's where astrology genuinely earns its place in personal development.

For partners, using a sun-sign ranking to preemptively distrust someone is both unfair and astrologically unsophisticated. What you can do is use astrological archetypes as a shared language for discussing needs — a Sagittarius partner may genuinely need more autonomy and adventure in a relationship to feel satisfied, and naming that clearly is more productive than surveilling their phone. Astrology works best as a vocabulary for honest conversation, not a verdict system.

Ultimately, the research — both astrological and psychological — points to the same conclusion: relationship quality, communication, and mutual investment are the strongest predictors of faithfulness. No birth chart, however afflicted, overrides a genuinely loving and well-tended relationship. And no pristine chart guarantees one either.