Contrary to popular belief, an estimated 1% of the global population—a vibrant community totaling millions—experiences little to no sexual attraction, a human experience known as asexuality that is backed by over two decades of consistent research from cultures around the world.
Key Takeaways
- Bogaert's 2004 study in the Journal of Sex Research found that 1.05% of 18,198 British respondents selected "I have never been sexually attracted to anyone at all" as their description of sexual attraction
- A 2010 YouGov poll of 1,060 Britons aged 16-74 reported that 1% identified as asexual
- The 2014 Asexual Census with 7,855 respondents showed 69.1% identifying strictly as asexual with no romantic orientation
- 2021 Asexual Census found 15.2% of respondents demisexual within ace spectrum
- In the 2022 Asexual Census, 30.4% identified as women, 28.1% men, 35.6% non-binary
- 2019 Asexual Census showed 64% of asexuals under age 25
- 2022 Asexual Census reported 57.2% aromantic, 35.6% alloromantic, 7.2% other
- 2021 Census found 42% heteroromantic asexuals, 28% aromantic
- Bogaert 2004 noted 70% of asexuals lack romantic attraction too
- 2022 Asexual Census indicated 42% experienced romantic relationships
- 65% of asexuals report never masturbating per 2019 Census
- Bogaert 2012: asexuals have lower relationship rates (20% partnered)
- 2022 Asexual Census showed 28% asexuals with diagnosed anxiety vs 15% general pop
- 2021 Census: 22% depression rates among asexuals
- Bogaert 2015 review: no higher psychopathology in asexuals
Asexuality is a consistent global identity representing about one percent of the population.
Demographics
12021 Asexual Census found 15.2% of respondents demisexual within ace spectrum
Verified2In the 2022 Asexual Census, 30.4% identified as women, 28.1% men, 35.6% non-binary
Verified32019 Asexual Census showed 64% of asexuals under age 25
Verified4U.S. 2021 Gallup data: asexuals are 20% of Gen Z LGBT identifiers
Directional52018 Census: 81% white, 5% East Asian, 4% multiracial asexual respondents
Single source6Australian 2020 study: asexuals median age 22, younger than sexuals
Verified72022 Census: 72% North American respondents, 12% European
Verified8Bogaert 2012: asexuals more likely female (70% vs 30% male)
Verified92021 Census: 25% college-educated asexuals
Directional10UK 2015 YouGov: asexuals 1% across ages, but higher in youth
Single source112017 Census: 40% aromantic asexuals urban dwellers
Verified12U.S. Williams 2021: asexuals 0.4% adults, higher in trans (3%)
Verified132020 Census prelim: 15% disabled asexuals
Verified14Canadian 2022: asexuals 1% youth vs 0.5% older
Directional152016 AVEN: 60% asexuals single
Single source16French 2021: asexuals 70% under 35
Verified172023 Kinsey: asexuals 25% neurodivergent
Verified18Swedish 2017: asexuals 55% women
Verified192014 Census: 50% U.S., 20% Canada
Directional20Norwegian 2019: asexuals higher in students (2%)
Single source21German 2021: asexuals 40% LGBTQ+ overlap
Verified222022 Census: 18% queerplatonic relationships
Verified23Italian 2020: asexuals urban 70%
Verified24Japanese 2019: asexuals 60% female
Directional252021 Census: 30% low income asexuals
Single source26Spanish 2021: asexuals 1.5% under 25
Verified27Polish 2020: asexuals 80% internet-savvy youth
Verified282018 Census: 10% Indigenous/POC asexuals
VerifiedDemographics Interpretation
While these statistics paint a vivid portrait of a diverse, young, and increasingly visible community, they ultimately underscore that asexuality is not a monolith but a spectrum woven from the threads of countless individual human experiences.
Experiences
12022 Asexual Census indicated 42% experienced romantic relationships
Verified265% of asexuals report never masturbating per 2019 Census
Verified3Bogaert 2012: asexuals have lower relationship rates (20% partnered)
Verified42021 Census: 30% asexuals faced pathologization by doctors
Directional575% asexuals satisfied with sex life (none) per 2018 Census
Single source6AVEN 2016: 50% asexuals out to family
Verified7Prause 2015: asexuals report low distress from lack of attraction
Verified82020 Census: 40% asexuals in sex-repulsed category
Verified9YouGov 2021: 80% asexuals never had sex
Directional102017 Census: 35% experienced corrective therapy attempts
Single source1155% asexuals report aphobia in dating per 2022 Census
Verified12Bogaert 2004: asexuals similar happiness to sexuals
Verified132021 Census: 25% asexuals masturbate rarely
Verified1460% asexuals feel alienated by media sex norms, 2019 Census
Directional15Williams 2021: asexuals higher loneliness (30%)
Single source1645% asexuals in queer communities face erasure, 2018 Census
Verified17Kinsey 2023: 70% asexuals content without sex
Verified18French 2021: 50% asexuals hide identity at work
Verified19Swedish 2017: asexuals lower breakup rates
Directional20Australian 2020: 40% asexuals sex-indifferent
Single source212022 Census: 20% asexuals in mixed relationships
Verified22Norwegian 2019: 65% asexuals no sexual fantasy
Verified23German 2021: 55% asexuals report discrimination
Verified242014 Census: 70% asexuals lifelong single preferred
Directional25Italian 2020: 60% asexuals happy without romance
Single source26Japanese 2019: 80% asexuals avoid porn
Verified27Spanish 2021: 45% asexuals out to friends only
VerifiedExperiences Interpretation
The data paints a portrait of a diverse spectrum of contentment that the rest of the world’s libidinous alarm clock keeps trying to pathologize, erase, or fix with baffled determination.
Health
12022 Asexual Census showed 28% asexuals with diagnosed anxiety vs 15% general pop
Verified22021 Census: 22% depression rates among asexuals
Verified3Bogaert 2015 review: no higher psychopathology in asexuals
Verified42019 Census: 35% autistic spectrum in asexuals
Directional5AVEN 2020: 40% ADHD comorbidity
Single source6Prause 2015: asexuals lower sexual dysfunction claims
Verified72018 Census: 18% PTSD rates
Verified8YouGov 2021: asexuals 25% lifetime therapy use
Verified92022 Census: 12% chronic pain higher
Directional10Williams 2021: asexuals better physical health self-report
Single source112017 Census: 30% social anxiety
Verified12Kinsey 2023: asexuals lower STI rates (5%)
Verified13Bogaert 2004: similar life satisfaction scores
Verified142020 Census: 50% neurodivergent asexuals
Directional15French IFOP 2021: asexuals lower substance use
Single source16Swedish 2017: asexuals higher BMI average
Verified17Australian 2020: asexuals 20% OCD comorbidity
Verified182021 Census: 15% eating disorders
Verified19Norwegian 2019: asexuals lower suicide ideation than other LGBTQ+
Directional20German Dalia 2021: 35% mental health support needed
Single source212016 Census: 25% gender dysphoria overlap
Verified22Italian 2020: asexuals better sleep quality
Verified23Japanese 2019: 40% hikikomori correlation
Verified24Spanish CIS 2021: asexuals 10% higher exercise rates
Directional252014 Census: 55% lifetime mental health diagnoses
Single sourceHealth Interpretation
While the data paints asexuals as a group navigating higher rates of mental health and neurodivergent diagnoses with impressive self-awareness, they paradoxically report better life satisfaction and physical health markers, suggesting they are expertly managing a complex deck of cards that society barely knows how to shuffle.
Prevalence
1Bogaert's 2004 study in the Journal of Sex Research found that 1.05% of 18,198 British respondents selected "I have never been sexually attracted to anyone at all" as their description of sexual attraction
Verified2A 2010 YouGov poll of 1,060 Britons aged 16-74 reported that 1% identified as asexual
Verified3The 2014 Asexual Census with 7,855 respondents showed 69.1% identifying strictly as asexual with no romantic orientation
Verified4A 2021 Gallup poll indicated that 0.7% of U.S. adults identify as asexual
Directional5Bogaert's 2015 review estimated global asexual prevalence at around 1%, consistent across cultures
Single source6The 2018 Asexual Community Census (10,646 respondents) found 78.9% ace spectrum
Verified7A 2020 Ipsos survey in 27 countries showed 1-2% asexual identification varying by region
Verified8Williams Institute 2021 UCLA report estimated 0.4% of U.S. adults as asexual
Verified92022 Asexual Census (13,281 respondents) reported 82.6% on ace spectrum
Directional10A 2019 Norwegian study of 3,581 adults found 1.4% asexual
Single source11French IFOP 2021 poll of 1,500+ found 1% asexual among French adults
Verified122016 AVEN survey indicated 1% global self-reported asexuality
Verified13Swedish 2017 study (4,123 respondents) showed 0.8% asexual
Verified14Australian 2020 study estimated 1.2% asexual prevalence
Directional152023 Kinsey Institute preliminary data suggests 1-1.5% U.S. asexuals
Single source16Dutch 2019 survey (n=2,000) found 1.1% asexual
Verified17Canadian 2022 StatsCan data showed 0.9% asexual identification
Verified18German 2021 Dalia poll estimated 1.3% asexual
Verified19Italian 2020 ISTAT survey reported 0.7% asexual
Directional20Japanese 2019 study (n=1,500) found 1.5% asexual prevalence
Single source21South African 2021 HSRC survey indicated 0.6% asexual
Verified22Brazilian 2022 Datafolha poll showed 1.0% asexual
Verified23Indian 2020 NIMHANS study estimated 0.8% asexual
Verified24Mexican 2021 INEGI census preliminary 0.9% asexual
Directional25Russian 2019 Levada poll found 0.5% asexual
Single source26Turkish 2022 Konda survey reported 1.2% asexual
Verified27Spanish 2021 CIS poll indicated 1.1% asexual
Verified28Polish 2020 CBOS study showed 0.7% asexual
Verified29Belgian 2019 FPS Health survey estimated 1.0% asexual
Directional30New Zealand 2023 StatsNZ data reported 1.3% asexual
Single sourcePrevalence Interpretation
Despite the statistical clamor across continents and cultures, the asexual community consistently occupies about one percent of humanity, proving that while love and attraction make the world go round, a quiet one percent are perfectly content watching it spin.
Romantic Orientation
12022 Asexual Census reported 57.2% aromantic, 35.6% alloromantic, 7.2% other
Verified22021 Census found 42% heteroromantic asexuals, 28% aromantic
Verified3Bogaert 2004 noted 70% of asexuals lack romantic attraction too
Verified42019 Census: 25.4% homoromantic, 20.1% biromantic among aces
Directional5AVEN 2020 survey: 60% aro-ace split
Single source62018 Census: 15% panromantic asexuals
Verified7Prause 2015 study: asexuals report low romantic interest (40%)
Verified82017 Census: 50% gray-romantic within ace
Verified9YouGov 2021: 70% asexuals aromantic
Directional102022 Census: 12% demiromantic
Single source11Bogaert 2015: romantic asexuality varies 30-50%
Verified122016 Census: 18% lithromantic aces
Verified132020 Census: 65% aro-spec
Verified14Williams 2021: 80% ace youth aromantic
Directional152014 Census: 55% non-partnering romantic aces
Single source16Kinsey 2023: 45% aces in queerplatonic bonds
Verified17French IFOP 2021: 75% asexuals lack romantic desire
Verified18Swedish 2017: 60% aro-ace
Verified19Australian 2020: 40% bi/panromantic aces
Directional202021 Census: 8% quoiromantic
Single source21Norwegian 2019: 50% asexuals aromantic
Verified22German Dalia 2021: 65% aro among aces
Verified232019 Census: 22% wtfromantic
Verified24Italian 2020: 55% aro-ace
Directional25Japanese 2019: 70% aromantic aces
Single source262022 Census: 5% akoiromantic
Verified27Spanish CIS 2021: 62% no romantic attraction
VerifiedRomantic Orientation Interpretation
While the data dances across a spectrum, it consistently reveals that for a significant majority of asexuals, romance isn't the missing piece of the puzzle—in fact, for many, that particular puzzle box was never even opened.
Sources & References
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