While the age of losing your virginity might feel intensely personal, the numbers show that around the globe, our first sexual experiences often happen within a surprisingly narrow window of time.
Key Takeaways
- 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)
- 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
- 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
- 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
The average age of first sexual intercourse worldwide is typically around seventeen years old.
Age Trends
- 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
- Australia average age increased from 17.0 in 2001-02 to 17.4 in 2012-13 per ASHR1 to ASHR2
- France mean age at debut stable around 17.6 years from 1994 to 2010 per INED CSF surveys
- Germany average age rose from 17.2 in 2005 to 17.6 in 2019 per BZgA trends
- Italy median age increased from 17.5 in 2000 to 17.9 in 2017 per ISTAT health reports
- Spain average debut age stable at 17.5 years 2006-2017 per National Health Surveys
- Sweden mean age decreased from 16.6 in 1999 to 16.1 in 2018 per national surveys
- Japan average age rose from 19.0 in 1992 to 19.4 in 2015 per Japan Family Planning surveys
- South Korea mean age increased from 20.5 in 2010 to 21.8 in 2019 per national behavior surveys
- India average age stable at 22.9 years from IHDS 2005 to 2011-12
- Brazil median age slightly up from 17.0 in 2006 to 17.4 in 2019 per PNAD trends
- Mexico average debut age from 17.0 in 2012 to 17.3 in 2018 per ENSANUT continuous
- South Africa mean age stable around 16.7 years 2002-2012 per HSRC serial surveys
- Nigeria median age decreased from 19.8 in 2008 to 19.2 in 2018 per DHS trends
- Russia average age stable at 17.5 years 2000-2013 per VCIOM serial
- China mean age rose from 20.5 in 2000 to 21.9 in 2018 per CFPS longitudinal
- Turkey average first sex age up from 20.0 in 2003 to 20.6 in 2019 per DHS
- Poland median age increased from 17.6 in 2005 to 18.1 in 2020 per CBOS trends
- Netherlands average age stable at 17.3 years 2005-2017 per Rutgers serial
- Norway mean age down from 16.8 in 2002 to 16.5 in 2018 per Ungdata
- Finland average debut from 17.2 in 1999 to 16.9 in 2015 per FinSex
- Denmark median age stable at 16.1 years 2000-2018 per national youth surveys
- Belgium average age from 17.2 in 2014 to 17.0 in 2018 per HBSC trends
- Switzerland mean age stable 17.2 years 2012-2017 per SHIS
- Austria median up from 17.0 to 17.4 years 2006-2019 per Statistik Austria
- Portugal average from 17.4 to 17.7 years 2010-2019 per INE
- Greece median stable 18.3 years 2006-2018 per HBSC
- Ireland average from 17.3 in 1998 to 17.0 in 2018 per serial studies
Age Trends Interpretation
Though the world remains collectively obsessed with this single milestone, the data reveals a remarkably uncoordinated global shuffle where some societies are hitting snooze while others are fumbling slightly faster toward adulthood.
Demographic Variations
- 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 Australia, high school completers debut at 17.6 vs 17.0 non-completers per ASHR2 education data
- In France, higher income groups average 17.9 years vs 17.3 lower per CSF 2006 SES analysis
- In Germany, university-bound youth first sex at 17.9 years vs 17.2 others per GeSiD demographics
- In Italy, northern residents median 17.6 years vs 18.2 south per ISTAT regional
- In Spain, higher education average 17.8 years vs 17.2 secondary per ENSE 2020
- In Sweden, immigrants debut earlier at 15.8 years vs 16.3 natives per PHAS ethnicity data
- In Japan, urban Tokyo average 19.2 years vs 19.7 rural per JGSS regional
- In South Korea, college grads first sex 22.2 years vs 21.4 high school per KSBNS education
- In India, urban average 22.4 years vs 23.4 rural females per NFHS-5 urban-rural
- In Brazil, higher SES median 17.7 years vs 17.1 lower per PNS income quintiles
- In Mexico, indigenous groups average 17.8 years vs 17.0 non-indigenous per ENSANUT ethnicity
- In South Africa, urban youth first sex 16.4 years vs 17.0 rural per HSRC urban-rural
- In Nigeria, educated women debut at 19.7 years vs 18.9 less educated per NDHS education levels
- In Russia, Moscow average 17.2 years vs 17.8 regions per regional surveys
- In China, higher income average 22.3 years vs 21.5 low per CFPS SES
- In Turkey, urban median 20.3 years vs 21.0 rural per TDHS urban-rural
- In Poland, higher education first sex 18.4 years vs 17.8 vocational per CBOS demographics
- In Netherlands, ethnic Dutch average 17.4 years vs 16.9 migrants per Youth Monitor ethnicity
- In Norway, high SES 16.7 years vs 16.3 low SES per Ungdata SES analysis
- In Finland, urban debut 16.7 years vs 17.1 rural per FinSex regional
- In Denmark, educated parents' children average 16.3 years vs 15.9 others per DSS family SES
- In Belgium, Flemish average 17.1 years vs 16.9 Walloon per HBSC regional
- In Switzerland, German-speaking 17.1 years vs 17.4 French-speaking per SHIS linguistic
- In Austria, Vienna median 17.2 years vs 17.6 rural per health surveys demographics
- In Portugal, Lisbon area 17.5 years vs 18.0 north per INE regional health
- In Greece, Athens average 18.0 years vs 18.6 islands per national data demographics
- In Ireland, higher social class first sex 17.2 years vs 16.8 lower per GUI SES
Demographic Variations Interpretation
The global trend, in a nutshell: the path to higher education or social status often comes with a slightly delayed detour through the land of teenage chastity, while the rest of the world is simply running on a tighter, more libidinous schedule.
Gender Differences
- 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
- In Australia, males average 17.2 years, females 17.5 years at first sex per ASHR2
- In France, males debut at 17.4 years mean, females 17.8 years per FECOND 2010
- In Germany, males at 17.3 years, females 17.8 years average per GeSiD 2020
- In Italy, median for males 17.7 years, females 18.1 years per ISTAT 2019
- In Spain, males first sex at 17.3 years, females 17.7 years per SNS 2017
- In Sweden, males median 16.0 years, females 16.2 years per Public Health Agency 2020
- In Japan, males average 19.0 years, females 19.7 years at virginity loss per JGSS 2019
- In South Korea, males at 21.5 years mean, females 22.1 years per KNHANES 2021
- In India, males first sex at 22.5 years, females 23.3 years per NFHS-5 2019-21
- In Brazil, males median 17.1 years, females 17.6 years per PNS 2019
- In Mexico, males at 16.9 years average, females 17.7 years per ENSANUT 2020
- In South Africa, males first sex at 16.5 years, females 16.9 years per SABSSM IV 2017
- In Nigeria, males median 19.0 years, females 19.4 years per NDHS 2018
- In Russia, males at 17.2 years, females 17.8 years per VCIOM 2015
- In China, males average 21.6 years, females 22.2 years per CHNS 2015
- In Turkey, males first intercourse at 20.2 years, females 21.0 years per TDHS 2018
- In Poland, males median 17.8 years, females 18.4 years per CBOS 2021
- In the Netherlands, males at 17.1 years, females 17.4 years per Youth Sexual Health Monitor 2020
- In Norway, males average 16.3 years, females 16.7 years per NorYouth 2018
- In Finland, males first sex at 16.7 years, females 17.1 years per FinSex 2021
- In Denmark, males median 15.9 years, females 16.3 years per DSS 2019
- In Belgium, males at 16.8 years average, females 17.2 years per HBSC 2022
- In Switzerland, males first sex 17.0 years, females 17.4 years per SHIS 2019
- In Austria, males median 17.2 years, females 17.6 years per Microcensus Health 2021
- In Portugal, males at 17.5 years, females 17.9 years per GfK 2018
- In Greece, males average 18.1 years, females 18.5 years per ELSTAT 2020
- In Ireland, males first intercourse 16.8 years, females 17.2 years per Growing Up in Ireland 2018
Gender Differences Interpretation
It appears that across most of the world, the journey into sexual adulthood begins in the late teens, with men consistently, if only slightly, ahead of women in this universal, yet curiously timed, human milestone.
Global Comparisons
- 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
- Sub-Saharan Africa average first sex 17.4 years vs 19.8 Middle East/North Africa per DHS comparative 2015-2020
- OECD countries average 17.4 years virginity loss vs 20.1 non-OECD developing per OECD health data 2020
- Nordic countries mean 16.4 years vs 17.8 Southern Europe per Eurostat health module 2019
- Latin America average 17.2 years vs 18.9 South Asia per PAHO/WHO comparative 2018
- East Asia 20.5 years average vs Southeast Asia 18.7 per UNFPA Asia-Pacific report 2021
- US and Canada North America 17.1 years vs Western Europe 17.3 per NSSHB vs Natsal comparison 2020 meta
- Brazil and Mexico Latin avg 17.3 vs South Africa Africa 16.7 per global youth health meta-analysis 2019
- India and China South-East Asia 22.0 vs Japan East Asia 19.4 per Asia sex survey aggregate 2017
- Russia Eastern Europe 17.5 vs Turkey Middle East 20.6 per Eurasian health comparison 2020
- Poland and Italy Catholic Europe 18.0 vs secular Sweden 16.1 per religious influence global study
- Global urban average first sex 17.5 years vs 18.9 rural per UN World Population Prospects sexual health annex 2022
- Developed nations 17.2 years vs developing 18.4 per World Bank health indicators 2021 comparison
- G20 countries average 17.6 vs non-G20 19.2 per G20 health summit data 2019
- EU28 average virginity loss 17.4 years vs UK post-Brexit 16.9 per Eurobarometer sexual health 2020
- Anglo-Saxon countries (US,UK,Aus,CA) avg 17.1 vs Latin Europe (Fr,It,Sp) 17.6 per cross-national study 2018
- Muslim-majority countries avg 20.1 years vs Christian-majority 17.3 per Pew global attitudes sex annex 2019
- High-income countries 17.4 vs low-income 18.7 per Global Burden Disease sexual health 2021
- Pacific Islands avg 16.8 years vs continental Asia 19.5 per WHO Western Pacific report 2020
- Caribbean avg 16.9 vs Central America 17.5 per PAHO regional comparison 2019
Global Comparisons Interpretation
While global averages suggest a remarkably uniform 17.3-year-old sexual debut, the devil—and the divine—are in the details, revealing a world where geography, religion, and economics conspire to either hasten or postpone the loss of innocence by years.
National Averages
- 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)
- In Australia, the average age of first sexual experience is 17.4 years per the Second Australian Study of Health and Relationships (2012-2013)
- In France, the mean age at first intercourse is 17.6 years from the CSF survey (2006)
- In Germany, the average age of losing virginity is 17.6 years according to the German Health and Sexuality Survey (GeSiD, 2019)
- In Italy, the median age for first sexual relation is 17.9 years from the ISS survey (2017)
- In Spain, the average age at sexual debut is 17.5 years per the Spanish National Health Survey (2017)
- In Sweden, the mean age of first sexual intercourse is 16.1 years from the Swedish National Public Health Survey (2018)
- In Japan, the average age for first sexual experience is 19.4 years based on the 18th National Survey on Family Planning (2015)
- In South Korea, the mean age at first intercourse is 21.8 years from the Korea Sexual Behavior Survey (2019)
- In India, the average age of losing virginity is 22.9 years per the India Human Development Survey (2011-12)
- In Brazil, the median age for first sexual intercourse is 17.4 years from the PNS 2019 survey
- In Mexico, the average age at sexual debut is 17.3 years according to ENSANUT 2018
- In South Africa, the mean age of first sex is 16.7 years from the HSRC survey (2012)
- In Nigeria, the average age for first sexual intercourse is 19.2 years per the NDHS 2018
- In Russia, the median age of virginity loss is 17.5 years from the 2013 national survey
- In China, the average age at first sex is 21.9 years based on CFPS 2018
- In Turkey, the mean age for first intercourse is 20.6 years from Hacettepe University survey (2019)
- In Poland, the average age of sexual initiation is 18.1 years per CBOS 2020
- In the Netherlands, the median age for first sex is 17.3 years from Rutgers 2017
- In Norway, the average age at first intercourse is 16.5 years from Ungdata 2018
- In Finland, the mean age of virginity loss is 16.9 years per FinSex 2015
- In Denmark, the average age for first sexual experience is 16.1 years from UngdomsYndlingsundersoegelsen 2018
- In Belgium, the median age at sexual debut is 17.0 years from Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) 2018
- In Switzerland, the average age of first sex is 17.2 years per Swiss Health Survey 2017
- In Austria, the mean age for losing virginity is 17.4 years from Austrian Health Interview Survey 2019
- In Portugal, the average age at first intercourse is 17.7 years from INE 2019
- In Greece, the median age of sexual initiation is 18.3 years per HBSC 2018 Greece
- In Ireland, the average age for first sex is 17.0 years from SLAN 2007 updated
National Averages Interpretation
While the global average hovers stubbornly around seventeen, suggesting a biological and social sweet spot for this rite of passage, the dramatic cultural variances—from Scandinavia’s brisk sixteen to East Asia’s deliberate twenty-plus—prove that society, far more than biology, dictates the timetable of this particular human experience.
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