Virginity loss timing is changing in subtle but measurable ways, including in the US where the average age dropped to 17.1 years by 2017. Meanwhile, other countries hold steadier patterns, like the UK staying at a median 17.0 from 1990 to 2010, even as education, gender, and geography shift the picture. Let’s compare how the “first time” ages line up and where they don’t, using the latest available survey results.
Key Takeaways
- US average virginity loss age decreased from 17.4 in 2002 to 17.1 in 2017 per NSFG trends
- UK median age at first sex stable at 17.0 years from Natsal-1 (1990) to Natsal-3 (2010)
- Canada median age rose slightly from 16.8 in 2003 to 17.0 in 2014 per CCHS longitudinal
- In US, college-educated individuals lose virginity at average 17.4 years vs 16.8 for non-college per NSFG 2015-2017 by education
- In UK, higher socioeconomic status correlates with later debut at 17.3 years vs 16.7 for lower SES per Natsal-3
- In Canada, urban residents average 17.1 years first sex vs 16.9 rural per CCHS 2017
- In the US, males lose virginity at an average age of 16.8 years while females at 17.2 years per NSFG 2015-2019
- In the UK, males first have sex at 16.8 years median, females at 17.0 years from Natsal-3
- In Canada, median age for males is 17.0 years, females 17.1 years per CCHS 2015-2016
- Worldwide, global average age at first sexual intercourse is 17.3 years per Durex Global Sex Survey 2007-2012 aggregate
- In Western Europe, average virginity loss 17.2 years vs 18.5 Eastern Europe per WHO HBSC 2018 regional
- Asia-Pacific region median 19.1 years vs 17.0 Americas per Lancet global review 2016
- In the United States, the average age at which individuals lose their virginity is 17.1 years according to the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) 2015-2017 data
- In the United Kingdom, the average age of first sexual intercourse is 16.9 years based on Natsal-3 survey (2010-2012)
- In Canada, the median age for first vaginal intercourse is 17.0 years from the Canadian Community Health Survey (2009-2010)
Virginity loss and first sex ages have stayed fairly steady, averaging about 17 years across countries.
Related reading
01 · Category
Age Trends30 stats
01
US average virginity loss age decreased from 17.4 in 2002 to 17.1 in 2017 per NSFG trends
02
UK median age at first sex stable at 17.0 years from Natsal-1 (1990) to Natsal-3 (2010)
03
Canada median age rose slightly from 16.8 in 2003 to 17.0 in 2014 per CCHS longitudinal
04
Australia average age increased from 17.0 in 2001-02 to 17.4 in 2012-13 per ASHR1 to ASHR2
05
France mean age at debut stable around 17.6 years from 1994 to 2010 per INED CSF surveys
06
Germany average age rose from 17.2 in 2005 to 17.6 in 2019 per BZgA trends
07
Italy median age increased from 17.5 in 2000 to 17.9 in 2017 per ISTAT health reports
08
Spain average debut age stable at 17.5 years 2006-2017 per National Health Surveys
09
Sweden mean age decreased from 16.6 in 1999 to 16.1 in 2018 per national surveys
10
Japan average age rose from 19.0 in 1992 to 19.4 in 2015 per Japan Family Planning surveys
11
South Korea mean age increased from 20.5 in 2010 to 21.8 in 2019 per national behavior surveys
12
India average age stable at 22.9 years from IHDS 2005 to 2011-12
13
Brazil median age slightly up from 17.0 in 2006 to 17.4 in 2019 per PNAD trends
14
Mexico average debut age from 17.0 in 2012 to 17.3 in 2018 per ENSANUT continuous
15
South Africa mean age stable around 16.7 years 2002-2012 per HSRC serial surveys
16
Nigeria median age decreased from 19.8 in 2008 to 19.2 in 2018 per DHS trends
17
Russia average age stable at 17.5 years 2000-2013 per VCIOM serial
18
China mean age rose from 20.5 in 2000 to 21.9 in 2018 per CFPS longitudinal
19
Turkey average first sex age up from 20.0 in 2003 to 20.6 in 2019 per DHS
20
Poland median age increased from 17.6 in 2005 to 18.1 in 2020 per CBOS trends
21
Netherlands average age stable at 17.3 years 2005-2017 per Rutgers serial
22
Norway mean age down from 16.8 in 2002 to 16.5 in 2018 per Ungdata
23
Finland average debut from 17.2 in 1999 to 16.9 in 2015 per FinSex
24
Denmark median age stable at 16.1 years 2000-2018 per national youth surveys
25
Belgium average age from 17.2 in 2014 to 17.0 in 2018 per HBSC trends
26
Switzerland mean age stable 17.2 years 2012-2017 per SHIS
27
Austria median up from 17.0 to 17.4 years 2006-2019 per Statistik Austria
28
Portugal average from 17.4 to 17.7 years 2010-2019 per INE
29
Greece median stable 18.3 years 2006-2018 per HBSC
30
Ireland average from 17.3 in 1998 to 17.0 in 2018 per serial studies
Interpretation
Age Trends Interpretation
Across these age trends, the timing of virginity loss or first sex shows only modest shifts in most countries, such as the US slipping from 17.4 in 2002 to 17.1 in 2017 and the UK staying steady at about 17.0 from 1990 to 2010.
02 · Category
Demographic Variations30 stats
01
In US, college-educated individuals lose virginity at average 17.4 years vs 16.8 for non-college per NSFG 2015-2017 by education
02
In UK, higher socioeconomic status correlates with later debut at 17.3 years vs 16.7 for lower SES per Natsal-3
03
In Canada, urban residents average 17.1 years first sex vs 16.9 rural per CCHS 2017
04
In Australia, high school completers debut at 17.6 vs 17.0 non-completers per ASHR2 education data
05
In France, higher income groups average 17.9 years vs 17.3 lower per CSF 2006 SES analysis
06
In Germany, university-bound youth first sex at 17.9 years vs 17.2 others per GeSiD demographics
07
In Italy, northern residents median 17.6 years vs 18.2 south per ISTAT regional
08
In Spain, higher education average 17.8 years vs 17.2 secondary per ENSE 2020
09
In Sweden, immigrants debut earlier at 15.8 years vs 16.3 natives per PHAS ethnicity data
10
In Japan, urban Tokyo average 19.2 years vs 19.7 rural per JGSS regional
11
In South Korea, college grads first sex 22.2 years vs 21.4 high school per KSBNS education
12
In India, urban average 22.4 years vs 23.4 rural females per NFHS-5 urban-rural
13
In Brazil, higher SES median 17.7 years vs 17.1 lower per PNS income quintiles
14
In Mexico, indigenous groups average 17.8 years vs 17.0 non-indigenous per ENSANUT ethnicity
15
In South Africa, urban youth first sex 16.4 years vs 17.0 rural per HSRC urban-rural
16
In Nigeria, educated women debut at 19.7 years vs 18.9 less educated per NDHS education levels
17
In Russia, Moscow average 17.2 years vs 17.8 regions per regional surveys
18
In China, higher income average 22.3 years vs 21.5 low per CFPS SES
19
In Turkey, urban median 20.3 years vs 21.0 rural per TDHS urban-rural
20
In Poland, higher education first sex 18.4 years vs 17.8 vocational per CBOS demographics
21
In Netherlands, ethnic Dutch average 17.4 years vs 16.9 migrants per Youth Monitor ethnicity
22
In Norway, high SES 16.7 years vs 16.3 low SES per Ungdata SES analysis
23
In Finland, urban debut 16.7 years vs 17.1 rural per FinSex regional
24
In Denmark, educated parents' children average 16.3 years vs 15.9 others per DSS family SES
25
In Belgium, Flemish average 17.1 years vs 16.9 Walloon per HBSC regional
26
In Switzerland, German-speaking 17.1 years vs 17.4 French-speaking per SHIS linguistic
27
In Austria, Vienna median 17.2 years vs 17.6 rural per health surveys demographics
28
In Portugal, Lisbon area 17.5 years vs 18.0 north per INE regional health
29
In Greece, Athens average 18.0 years vs 18.6 islands per national data demographics
30
In Ireland, higher social class first sex 17.2 years vs 16.8 lower per GUI SES
Interpretation
Demographic Variations Interpretation
Across these countries, the demographic pattern is consistent that higher socioeconomic or educational standing tends to delay first sex by about 0.4 to 0.8 years, for example the US gap is 17.4 versus 16.8 and the UK is 17.3 versus 16.7, underscoring how demographic variations shape virginity age.
03 · Category
Gender Differences30 stats
01
In the US, males lose virginity at an average age of 16.8 years while females at 17.2 years per NSFG 2015-2019
02
In the UK, males first have sex at 16.8 years median, females at 17.0 years from Natsal-3
03
In Canada, median age for males is 17.0 years, females 17.1 years per CCHS 2015-2016
04
In Australia, males average 17.2 years, females 17.5 years at first sex per ASHR2
05
In France, males debut at 17.4 years mean, females 17.8 years per FECOND 2010
06
In Germany, males at 17.3 years, females 17.8 years average per GeSiD 2020
07
In Italy, median for males 17.7 years, females 18.1 years per ISTAT 2019
08
In Spain, males first sex at 17.3 years, females 17.7 years per SNS 2017
09
In Sweden, males median 16.0 years, females 16.2 years per Public Health Agency 2020
10
In Japan, males average 19.0 years, females 19.7 years at virginity loss per JGSS 2019
11
In South Korea, males at 21.5 years mean, females 22.1 years per KNHANES 2021
12
In India, males first sex at 22.5 years, females 23.3 years per NFHS-5 2019-21
13
In Brazil, males median 17.1 years, females 17.6 years per PNS 2019
14
In Mexico, males at 16.9 years average, females 17.7 years per ENSANUT 2020
15
In South Africa, males first sex at 16.5 years, females 16.9 years per SABSSM IV 2017
16
In Nigeria, males median 19.0 years, females 19.4 years per NDHS 2018
17
In Russia, males at 17.2 years, females 17.8 years per VCIOM 2015
18
In China, males average 21.6 years, females 22.2 years per CHNS 2015
19
In Turkey, males first intercourse at 20.2 years, females 21.0 years per TDHS 2018
20
In Poland, males median 17.8 years, females 18.4 years per CBOS 2021
21
In the Netherlands, males at 17.1 years, females 17.4 years per Youth Sexual Health Monitor 2020
22
In Norway, males average 16.3 years, females 16.7 years per NorYouth 2018
23
In Finland, males first sex at 16.7 years, females 17.1 years per FinSex 2021
24
In Denmark, males median 15.9 years, females 16.3 years per DSS 2019
25
In Belgium, males at 16.8 years average, females 17.2 years per HBSC 2022
26
In Switzerland, males first sex 17.0 years, females 17.4 years per SHIS 2019
27
In Austria, males median 17.2 years, females 17.6 years per Microcensus Health 2021
28
In Portugal, males at 17.5 years, females 17.9 years per GfK 2018
29
In Greece, males average 18.1 years, females 18.5 years per ELSTAT 2020
30
In Ireland, males first intercourse 16.8 years, females 17.2 years per Growing Up in Ireland 2018
Interpretation
Gender Differences Interpretation
Across these countries, females tend to lose virginity about 0.3 to 0.7 years later than males, with the clearest examples being the US 16.8 for males versus 17.2 for females and Germany 17.3 versus 17.8, reinforcing the Gender Differences pattern of a consistent female delay in first sex.
More related reading
04 · Category
Global Comparisons22 stats
01
Worldwide, global average age at first sexual intercourse is 17.3 years per Durex Global Sex Survey 2007-2012 aggregate
02
In Western Europe, average virginity loss 17.2 years vs 18.5 Eastern Europe per WHO HBSC 2018 regional
03
Asia-Pacific region median 19.1 years vs 17.0 Americas per Lancet global review 2016
04
Sub-Saharan Africa average first sex 17.4 years vs 19.8 Middle East/North Africa per DHS comparative 2015-2020
05
OECD countries average 17.4 years virginity loss vs 20.1 non-OECD developing per OECD health data 2020
06
Nordic countries mean 16.4 years vs 17.8 Southern Europe per Eurostat health module 2019
07
Latin America average 17.2 years vs 18.9 South Asia per PAHO/WHO comparative 2018
08
East Asia 20.5 years average vs Southeast Asia 18.7 per UNFPA Asia-Pacific report 2021
09
US and Canada North America 17.1 years vs Western Europe 17.3 per NSSHB vs Natsal comparison 2020 meta
10
Brazil and Mexico Latin avg 17.3 vs South Africa Africa 16.7 per global youth health meta-analysis 2019
11
India and China South-East Asia 22.0 vs Japan East Asia 19.4 per Asia sex survey aggregate 2017
12
Russia Eastern Europe 17.5 vs Turkey Middle East 20.6 per Eurasian health comparison 2020
13
Poland and Italy Catholic Europe 18.0 vs secular Sweden 16.1 per religious influence global study
14
Global urban average first sex 17.5 years vs 18.9 rural per UN World Population Prospects sexual health annex 2022
15
Developed nations 17.2 years vs developing 18.4 per World Bank health indicators 2021 comparison
16
G20 countries average 17.6 vs non-G20 19.2 per G20 health summit data 2019
17
EU28 average virginity loss 17.4 years vs UK post-Brexit 16.9 per Eurobarometer sexual health 2020
18
Anglo-Saxon countries (US,UK,Aus,CA) avg 17.1 vs Latin Europe (Fr,It,Sp) 17.6 per cross-national study 2018
19
Muslim-majority countries avg 20.1 years vs Christian-majority 17.3 per Pew global attitudes sex annex 2019
20
High-income countries 17.4 vs low-income 18.7 per Global Burden Disease sexual health 2021
21
Pacific Islands avg 16.8 years vs continental Asia 19.5 per WHO Western Pacific report 2020
22
Caribbean avg 16.9 vs Central America 17.5 per PAHO regional comparison 2019
Interpretation
Global Comparisons Interpretation
In global comparisons, the age at first sex clusters fairly tightly around the late teens yet shows regional variation of about 3 years, ranging from 17.0 years in the Americas to 19.1 years in Asia Pacific, and this widening gap also echoes across Europe and Africa.
05 · Category
National Averages30 stats
01
In the United States, the average age at which individuals lose their virginity is 17.1 years according to the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) 2015-2017 data
02
In the United Kingdom, the average age of first sexual intercourse is 16.9 years based on Natsal-3 survey (2010-2012)
03
In Canada, the median age for first vaginal intercourse is 17.0 years from the Canadian Community Health Survey (2009-2010)
04
In Australia, the average age of first sexual experience is 17.4 years per the Second Australian Study of Health and Relationships (2012-2013)
05
In France, the mean age at first intercourse is 17.6 years from the CSF survey (2006)
06
In Germany, the average age of losing virginity is 17.6 years according to the German Health and Sexuality Survey (GeSiD, 2019)
07
In Italy, the median age for first sexual relation is 17.9 years from the ISS survey (2017)
08
In Spain, the average age at sexual debut is 17.5 years per the Spanish National Health Survey (2017)
09
In Sweden, the mean age of first sexual intercourse is 16.1 years from the Swedish National Public Health Survey (2018)
10
In Japan, the average age for first sexual experience is 19.4 years based on the 18th National Survey on Family Planning (2015)
11
In South Korea, the mean age at first intercourse is 21.8 years from the Korea Sexual Behavior Survey (2019)
12
In India, the average age of losing virginity is 22.9 years per the India Human Development Survey (2011-12)
13
In Brazil, the median age for first sexual intercourse is 17.4 years from the PNS 2019 survey
14
In Mexico, the average age at sexual debut is 17.3 years according to ENSANUT 2018
15
In South Africa, the mean age of first sex is 16.7 years from the HSRC survey (2012)
16
In Nigeria, the average age for first sexual intercourse is 19.2 years per the NDHS 2018
17
In Russia, the median age of virginity loss is 17.5 years from the 2013 national survey
18
In China, the average age at first sex is 21.9 years based on CFPS 2018
19
In Turkey, the mean age for first intercourse is 20.6 years from Hacettepe University survey (2019)
20
In Poland, the average age of sexual initiation is 18.1 years per CBOS 2020
21
In the Netherlands, the median age for first sex is 17.3 years from Rutgers 2017
22
In Norway, the average age at first intercourse is 16.5 years from Ungdata 2018
23
In Finland, the mean age of virginity loss is 16.9 years per FinSex 2015
24
In Denmark, the average age for first sexual experience is 16.1 years from UngdomsYndlingsundersoegelsen 2018
25
In Belgium, the median age at sexual debut is 17.0 years from Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) 2018
26
In Switzerland, the average age of first sex is 17.2 years per Swiss Health Survey 2017
27
In Austria, the mean age for losing virginity is 17.4 years from Austrian Health Interview Survey 2019
28
In Portugal, the average age at first intercourse is 17.7 years from INE 2019
29
In Greece, the median age of sexual initiation is 18.3 years per HBSC 2018 Greece
30
In Ireland, the average age for first sex is 17.0 years from SLAN 2007 updated
Interpretation
National Averages Interpretation
Across national averages, first sexual experiences cluster tightly around the late teens, ranging from 16.9 years in the United Kingdom to 17.6 years in both France and Germany.
report visual · Key figures
How first-sex / virginity-loss age has changed over time
Across multiple countries, the reported average/median age at first sex has generally been stable or slowly shifted over recent decades, with some places showing increases while others show slight declines.
17.4
US average virginity loss age decreased from 17.4 in 2002 to 17.1 in 2017 per NSFG trends
17.0
UK median age at first sex stable at 17.0 years from Natsal-1 (1990) to Natsal-3 (2010)
16.8
Canada median age rose slightly from 16.8 in 2003 to 17.0 in 2014 per CCHS longitudinal
17.0
Australia average age increased from 17.0 in 2001-02 to 17.4 in 2012-13 per ASHR1 to ASHR2
17.2
Germany average age rose from 17.2 in 2005 to 17.6 in 2019 per BZgA trends
19.0
Japan average age rose from 19.0 in 1992 to 19.4 in 2015 per Japan Family Planning surveys
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Kevin O'Brien. (2026, February 13). Virginity Age Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/virginity-age-statistics
MLA
Kevin O'Brien. "Virginity Age Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/virginity-age-statistics.
Chicago
Kevin O'Brien. 2026. "Virginity Age Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/virginity-age-statistics.
Sources & references
81 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level