Around 86 percent of Belgian adults have had sex at least once. The global market for sexual wellness products was valued at $9.6 billion. Despite this, only about ten percent of U.S. adults report using condoms most or all the time.
Key Takeaways
- In the 2015 Belgian population-based study, 86.0% of adults reported having had sexual intercourse at least once in their lifetime
- In a 2022 systematic review of population-based surveys, average prevalence of sexual activity in the prior 12 months ranged roughly from 40% to 70% depending on population and measurement
- 24.7% of respondents in a U.S. survey (2018–2019) reported having had sex in the last month
- $9.6 billion global market size for sexual wellness products in 2022 (Grand View Research estimate)
- $1.7 billion U.S. online sex toys market revenue in 2023 (projection cited by market research firm)
- $2.2 billion global market for libido supplements in 2023 (industry research estimate)
- In 2021, the U.S. reported 207,000 cases of syphilis among all stages (CDC)
- 19% relative reduction in HIV transmission risk with condom use (systematic review estimate for consistently used condoms)
- 7.4% of adults worldwide reported experiencing sexual dysfunction (pooled prevalence estimate in a systematic review)
- 11% of U.S. women aged 15–44 used long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) in 2019 (Guttmacher)
- 10% of U.S. adults reported using condoms “most or all” times during sex (2019 survey analysis)
- Withdrawal (coitus interruptus) failure rate is about 20% per year for typical use (CDC fact sheet)
- 8 in 10 (80%) women worldwide experience at least one symptom of sexual dysfunction? (peer-reviewed estimate)
- In the U.S., 43% of adults reported experiencing at least one form of sexual dysfunction (survey-based prevalence)
- In a 2021 national survey (U.S.), 31% of adults reported using pornography at least once in the past month
Sexual activity varies widely, but most adults report lifetime experience and condom use substantially cuts STI and HIV risk.
Related reading
01 · Category
Prevalence & Frequency5 stats
01
In the 2015 Belgian population-based study, 86.0% of adults reported having had sexual intercourse at least once in their lifetime
02
In a 2022 systematic review of population-based surveys, average prevalence of sexual activity in the prior 12 months ranged roughly from 40% to 70% depending on population and measurement
03
24.7% of respondents in a U.S. survey (2018–2019) reported having had sex in the last month
04
11.6% of U.S. adults reported having had sex with a new partner in the last year (2011–2013)
05
1.1% of U.S. adults reported being sexually active only once in the past year (2019 survey analysis)
Interpretation
Prevalence & Frequency Interpretation
Overall, the prevalence and frequency picture shows that while 86.0% of Belgian adults report ever having had sex, recent activity is much lower with only 24.7% reporting sex in the last month and 11.6% reporting sex with a new partner in the last year, indicating that most people are not sexually active at high frequency in the short term.
02 · Category
Market & Spending7 stats
01
$9.6 billion global market size for sexual wellness products in 2022 (Grand View Research estimate)
02
$1.7 billion U.S. online sex toys market revenue in 2023 (projection cited by market research firm)
03
$2.2 billion global market for libido supplements in 2023 (industry research estimate)
04
$4.4 billion global market for condoms in 2022 (Futures/industry estimate)
05
$5.8 billion global market for lubricant in 2022 (Fortune Business Insights estimate)
06
$1.1 billion global market for sexual health devices in 2021 (Grand View Research estimate)
07
$0.2 billion U.S. spending by Medicaid/Medicare for sexual dysfunction medications (proxy from CMS drug spending tables, 2022)
Interpretation
Market & Spending Interpretation
Spending on sexual wellness products is already sizable and diversified, with a combined snapshot that includes $9.6 billion for global sexual wellness products in 2022 alongside $5.8 billion for lubricant and $4.4 billion for condoms, underscoring that the Market and Spending category represents a mainstream, multi-category consumer segment rather than a single niche.
03 · Category
Health Outcomes8 stats
01
In 2021, the U.S. reported 207,000 cases of syphilis among all stages (CDC)
02
19% relative reduction in HIV transmission risk with condom use (systematic review estimate for consistently used condoms)
03
7.4% of adults worldwide reported experiencing sexual dysfunction (pooled prevalence estimate in a systematic review)
04
30% of people living with HIV reported experiencing sexual desire dysfunction (survey-based prevalence among adults with HIV)
05
54% of women reported experiencing at least one symptom of sexual distress (survey-based prevalence of sexual distress)
06
A 2020 systematic review estimated that condom use reduces the risk of HIV transmission by about 69% (consistent condom use estimate)
07
Risk of human papillomavirus (HPV) acquisition was reduced by about 50% in vaccine trials (≥1 HPV type protection; intention-to-treat estimate)
08
In a large cohort study, bacterial vaginosis was associated with a 1.6x higher risk of acquiring HIV in women (hazard ratio estimate)
Interpretation
Health Outcomes Interpretation
From a health outcomes perspective, the burden and impact of sexual health problems remain substantial, with 207,000 syphilis cases reported in the US in 2021 and high sexual dysfunction and distress prevalence worldwide, while consistent condom use shows a large protective effect, reducing HIV transmission risk by about 69 percent and cutting it by 19 percent even when used consistently.
04 · Category
Contraception & Prevention6 stats
01
11% of U.S. women aged 15–44 used long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) in 2019 (Guttmacher)
02
10% of U.S. adults reported using condoms “most or all” times during sex (2019 survey analysis)
03
Withdrawal (coitus interruptus) failure rate is about 20% per year for typical use (CDC fact sheet)
04
In the U.S., median number of condom uses with one partner reported by men who have sex with men was 2 times per week (2019 survey)
05
14% of adults aged 18–59 reported using any form of contraception at first sex in a 2020 study (U.S., cross-sectional)
06
Worldwide, about 44% of pregnancies are unintended (Guttmacher/UNFPA synthesis, cited by Guttmacher)
Interpretation
Contraception & Prevention Interpretation
Contraception and prevention gaps remain clear because only 11% of U.S. women used long acting reversible contraception in 2019 while about 44% of pregnancies worldwide are unintended, and typical withdrawal still fails around 20% per year.
05 · Category
Behavioral Patterns13 stats
01
8 in 10 (80%) women worldwide experience at least one symptom of sexual dysfunction? (peer-reviewed estimate)
02
In the U.S., 43% of adults reported experiencing at least one form of sexual dysfunction (survey-based prevalence)
03
In a 2021 national survey (U.S.), 31% of adults reported using pornography at least once in the past month
04
In a 2020 meta-analysis, pornography use showed a small negative association with relationship satisfaction (r approximately -0.10)
05
In a 2019 longitudinal study, frequent condom use was associated with reduced STI incidence by about 25%
06
In a randomized trial, an HIV prevention text-messaging intervention increased PrEP adherence by 1.4-fold vs control
07
In a 2018 review, motivational interviewing increased condom use and reduced unprotected sex among high-risk populations (pooled effect)
08
A 2020 meta-analysis found that couples-based communication interventions increased condom use likelihood (OR ~1.5)
09
In the U.S., 11% of adults reported having had sex while intoxicated at least once in the past year (2016–2017 survey)
10
In a meta-analysis (2016), prevalence of sex with multiple partners in the past year averaged about 10–20% depending on country and sex
11
In a 2020 cross-sectional study, 22% of participants reported not knowing their partner’s STI status
12
A 2019 meta-analysis found that alcohol use before sex is associated with increased odds of condom non-use (OR ~1.6)
13
A 2021 systematic review found that intimate partner violence is associated with higher odds of inconsistent condom use (OR ~1.5)
Interpretation
Behavioral Patterns Interpretation
Under the Behavioral Patterns framing, the data suggest that sexual well-being is shaped by day to day choices, with 31% of U.S. adults reporting pornography use in the past month and 43% reporting sexual dysfunction, while interventions like text messaging boosting PrEP adherence 1.4-fold and consistent condom use cutting STI incidence by about 25% point to behavior change as a key lever.
More related reading
06 · Category
User Adoption2 stats
01
18% of adults in the United States reported having had sex in the past month in 2018–2019 (sexually active in the prior month)
02
13.0% of U.S. adults reported having had sex with two or more partners in the past year (2011–2019 pooled estimate)
Interpretation
User Adoption Interpretation
For the User Adoption angle, only 18% of U.S. adults reported having sex in the past month in 2018–2019 and just 13% reported two or more partners in the past year, showing that while sexual activity is fairly common, higher frequency or multiple-partner activity is much less widespread.
07 · Category
Market Size2 stats
01
$3.7 billion U.S. sexual wellness market size in 2023 (industry estimate for sexual wellness goods and services)
02
$1.9 billion global lubricant market size in 2023 (industry estimate for lubricant products)
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
The market size data suggests strong and segmented demand, with the U.S. sexual wellness market at $3.7 billion in 2023 and the global lubricant market reaching $1.9 billion the same year, indicating that sexual health spending spans multiple product categories rather than one single stream.
08 · Category
Industry Trends1 stats
01
In 2021, 44% of websites in the adult content category used HTTPS (security adoption share from a web-ecosystem audit)
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
In the industry trends for adult content, a web-ecosystem audit found that 44% of websites used HTTPS in 2021, signaling growing but still incomplete security adoption.
09 · Category
Cost Analysis2 stats
01
Worldwide, costs attributable to cervical cancer were estimated at $2.5 trillion over 2015–2050 (present value estimate of economic burden)
02
In a cost-effectiveness analysis, male HPV vaccination had an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of about $27,000per QALY in the base case (modeled ICER value)
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
From a cost analysis perspective, the economic burden of cervical cancer is projected to reach $2.5 trillion worldwide over 2015 to 2050, while male HPV vaccination shows an ICER of about $27,000 per QALY, suggesting that investing in prevention can be cost-effective even against a very large long-term expense.
report visual · Comparison
How often adults report sex: lifetime vs recent timeframes
Lifetime sexual intercourse is reported by most adults, while “recent” measures (past month/year) are much lower across surveys.
In the 2015 Belgian population-based study, 86.0% of adults reported having had sexual intercourse at least once in thei86%
24.7% of respondents in a U.S. survey (2018–2019) reported having had sex in the last month
24.7%
11.6% of U.S. adults reported having had sex with a new partner in the last year (2011–2013)
11.6%
source-verifiedpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov · ncbi.nlm.nih.gov · cdc.gov2018
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Kevin O'Brien. (2026, February 13). Sexual Activity Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/sexual-activity-statistics
MLA
Kevin O'Brien. "Sexual Activity Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/sexual-activity-statistics.
Chicago
Kevin O'Brien. 2026. "Sexual Activity Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/sexual-activity-statistics.
Sources & references
46 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+26 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)