Sex by the Numbers: When Do Men Lose Their Virginity, and How Many Partners Do They Have on Average Over Their Lifetime?

In popular culture, male sexual activity is often shrouded in myths: while some are criticized for being “too” promiscuous, others are elevated to the status of heroes. Research from the Global Promiscuity Index (GPI) and data from Durex offer a look at male behavior through hard data, revealing where the most sexually active men live and how social norms influence their reputation.

"First-Time" Sex: From Iceland to Malaysia

The age at which people become sexually active varies greatly by region. Globally, most people lose their virginity between the ages of 17 and 20.

The earliest start. The Scandinavian countries lead the way. In Iceland, the average age is only 15.6 years. In Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland, this figure stands at 16 years old.

Western Context. In the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, the average age is about 18 years old.

The latest start time. In Asian countries, young people wait significantly longer. In Malaysia, the average age of losing one's virginity is 23 years old, in India and Singapore—about 22 years old. In China, this figure ranges from 21.2 to 22.1 years depending on the research methodology.

Interestingly, the very definition of “loss of virginity” remains a subject of debate: some recognize only vaginal or anal intercourse, while others include oral sex in this definition as well.

Global "Libertiness" Index (GPI)

To assess sexual activity in 45 countries, the following is used Global Promiscuity Index (GPI). It takes into account six indicators: the average age at first sexual intercourse, the number of sexual partners, the STI incidence rate (per 100,000 people), public attitudes toward premarital sex, and the legal status of prostitution and extramarital relationships. A complete table by country is provided at the end of the article.

The Top 5 Countries with the Highest Levels of Promiscuity, According to the GPI

According to surveys conducted by the condom manufacturer Durex, the undisputed champions in terms of the number of sexual partners are men from Austria. On average, there are 29.3 partners over a lifetime. This is significantly higher than the average figures even in the most “free” countries.

For comparison, the overall figures (мужчины и женщины вместе) in the leading countries, they look like this:

1. Australia — 360.14 points (an average of 13.3 partners over a lifetime).

2. Brazil — 340.66 points (9 partners over a lifetime).

3. Greece — 336.53 points (10.6 partners over a lifetime).

4. Chile — 334.64 points (10.1 partners over a lifetime).

5. New Zealand — 327.49 points (13.2 partners over a lifetime).

As we've already mentioned, gender-related records deserve special attention: according to surveys conducted by Durex, Austrian men lead the world in the number of sexual partners (on average 29,3), and New Zealand women rank first among women (on average 20,4 (partner). Finland recognized as the country with the largest number of partners in the industrialized world (on average 12,4 (partner).

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Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus: The Numbers and Reality

The Eastern European region shows a variety of approaches to data collection and a range of results.

Russia: According to various sources, the average age at which young people lose their virginity is 17.9 years (Durex) or 18.7 years (GPI). The average number of sexual partners among Russians is — 9,0. The overall score on the GPI index is 258,72, which places Russia in the middle of the list, alongside Israel and Ireland.

Ukraine: According to data on the median age at first sexual intercourse (DHS, 2016–2018), Ukrainians become sexually active at 19.6 years.

Belarus: Data on Belarus in the latest GPI global rankings and detailed DHS tables none.

Social Standards and LGBTQ+ Rights 🏳️‍🌈

An analysis of sexual behavior reveals deep-seated social inequalities. In many modern cultures, there remain double standards: Men with multiple partners are called “players” or “studs,” whereas women in similar situations are stigmatized.

A similar double standard is often applied in relationships between heterosexuals and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Why might these data be inaccurate?

Researchers emphasize that it is extremely difficult to determine the level of sexual activity in a country, since most of the data is based on self-reports (surveys). People tend to either underestimate or overestimate their activity due to social expectations and personal motives.

For example, the high rankings of Western countries (such as the United Kingdom) are often linked to growing social recognition the right to privacy. At the same time, in developing countries, despite lower scores on “promiscuity” indices, higher rates of STIs and higher birth rates are often observed.

Countries with the Highest Levels of Sexual Activity in 2026