Frequency of Sex

A survey by Durex, a leading research firm, found the frequency of sexual interaction varies significantly from country to country. The global average for frequency of sex is 109 times per year (2.1 times per week, or once every 3.3 days). The following summary shows how individual nations compare to the national average of frequency of sexual interaction per year.

People from Thailand had the lowest average sexual frequency at 64 times per year, half the frequency of Americans.

Source: 1997 Durex Global Sex Survey

Impact of Age on Sexual Frequency

The same study by Durex identified the most sexually active age ranges. The study concluded that people aged 20-39 make love most frequently followed by people over the age of 40 and finally, those under 20.

Source: 1997 Durex Global Sex Survey

Gender Differences in Sexual Frequency

Durex also studied gender differences between different age groups. The study found that women are more sexually active in their teenage years than male counterparts. However, when they reach 40, men are more sexually active compared to women the same age. The greatest change of sexual frequency for males occurs during the teen years when their sexual frequency peaks. Women on the other hand, experience their most dramatic change in sexual frequency over age 40.

Source: 1997 Durex Global Sex Survey

Frequency of Sex by Relationship Status

The status of a relationship has a major impact on the frequency of sex. Couples who are cohabiting, but not married, are the most sexually active. They make love 146 times a year compared to single people, who are not in a steady relationship and who have sex 69 times per year. Couples with children have sex more often (115 times a year) than people without children (103 times a year).

Source: 1997 Durex Global Sex Survey

Factors Most Important When Making Love

Globally, the most important factor in making love is satisfying one's partner. Thirty-four percent of respondents placed this as a top priority. Personal satisfaction ranked second (27%), followed by not catching HIV/AIDS (18%), avoiding unwanted pregnancy (16%), and avoiding sexually transmitted diseases other than AIDS (5%).

Source: 1997 Durex Global Sex Survey

Sexual Priorities and Nationality

Different nationalities varied in the factors they rated as most important when having sex. Americans were the most selfish lovers, with 61 percent rating personal satisfaction as a top priority, followed by Russians (42%).

Canadians are the world's most considerate lovers; 51 percent rank partner satisfaction as a top priority. Mexicans follow with 50 percent, with the British at 47 percent. Respondents from Hong Kong and Poland were least likely to rate partner satisfaction as their number one priority.

Source: 1997 Durex Global Sex Survey

Age of First Sex

Globally, the average age of first sexual intercourse is 17.6 years. Men have their first sexual experience at a younger age than women (17.3 versus 17.8 years). The trend toward having sex at a younger age is accelerating with each decade. Respondents over 40 reported their first sexual experience at an average age of 18.6 years, compared to an average age of 18 years for 30-39 year-olds.

Americans are the youngest to start having sex with an average of 16.2 years, followed by Britain (16.7), Brazil (16.9), France (17) and South Africa (17.1). People in Hong Kong (18.9 years)and Poland (18.7) wait the longest to have their first sexual experience.

Source: 1997 Durex Global Sex Survey

Pre-Marital Relations

Sexual Relations
Only 39 percent of Americans say that having a sexual relationship before marriage is wrong. The highest disapproval rating comes from older Americans, of which more than 70 percent think a sexual relationship before marriage is wrong. Seventy-five percent of 18-29 year olds feel that a sexual relationship before marriage is acceptable.

Living Together Before Marriage

Almost 1/3 of couples who are currently married say they lived together before they "officially married" compared to 19 percent in 1989, according to a Gallup Poll.
Almost one-half of married couples age 18-29 say they lived together before getting married.

About half of all married couples on the West Coast lived together before marriage. The trend of couples living together before marriage is more prevalent on the West Coast than any other region of the country.

Democrats and liberals are more likely to have lived together before they got married than Republicans and conservatives.

Source: Gallup Poll, December 1997