In what may come as a surprise for the residents of Aargau, the extramarital affairs and dating site Ashley Madison has named Aarau of all places as the most unfaithful city in Switzerland. As a share of the population, the people of the cantonal capital are the most willing to go, let's say, beyond the bounds of traditional relationships.
Every six months, the infamous dating app and “cheating service" Ashley Madison records how many people from each Swiss city register with their platform. Originally launched in Canada in 2002, the online site is marketed at people who are married or in relationships who are looking to have an affair, epitomised by their famous slogan: “Life is short. Have an affair.”
Today, the website claims over 60 million users in 53 countries around the world. Naturally, the whole concept has ruffled its fair share of feathers, with NPR famously writing in 2009 that it is a “business built on the back of broken hearts”. Nevertheless, using their data, the company revealed where the most unfaithful people come from in Switzerland - and the top city is a bit of a surprise.
According to their data from between June and September 2023, Aarau is the most unfaithful city in Switzerland. The Aargau capital saw the most registrations per inhabitant during the period, maintaining its top spot from the winter version of the report in 2023.
Is it because of the castle, is there not much to do or is there something in the Aare? With Ashley Madison refusing to suggest a reason why the city is home to the most deceitful lovers, we can only speculate - Watson suggested that it may be something to do with water, with all the top five being situated by a major lake or river.
Aarau was followed by Geneva, which shot up from seventh in the winter ranking to place second in summer, “no doubt revitalised by the famous Jet d’Eau and the places conducive to meetings on the shores of Lake Geneva,” Ashley Madison wrote.
In all, here are the 10 most unfaithful cities in Switzerland, according to Ashley Madison:
In all, the company wrote that there was no Röstigraben to be found in their ranking, with the top 10 featuring equal parts German and French-speaking cities. Their services aren’t just centred around major urban areas either, with Bulle (27.000 residents), Wil (25.000) and Chur (40.000) all featuring in the top 20.
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