Contrary to the relentless pressure to lose it, virginity remains a surprisingly common experience for young people around the globe—from nearly half of US teens and a quarter of young adults in Japan to the overwhelming majority of adolescents in countries like Egypt and Indonesia.
Key Takeaways
- According to the 2015-2017 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), 12.3% of females aged 15-19 in the US reported never having engaged in vaginal intercourse
- In the same NSFG 2015-2017, 14.3% of males aged 15-19 reported virginity regarding vaginal intercourse
- CDC data from 2011-2015 shows 44% of US females aged 15-19 were virgins
- In the US, heterosexual males show higher virginity rates than females across ages 15-44 per NSFG 2015-2019, with males at 2.1% vs 1.5% at 25-44
- Gay/bisexual males have virginity rates 3x higher than straight males aged 15-44 (NSFG 2011-2015)
- Lesbian/bisexual females aged 15-44 have similar virginity to straight females, around 1-2% at older ages, NSFG
- In US, low-income households (<100% FPL) have 25% higher virginity rates for youth 15-24, NSFG
- College-educated adults have 50% lower virginity at 30+ vs high school only, US data
- Rural US youth 20% higher virginity than urban, 2018 study
- Evangelical Christians in US 2x virginity rates vs non-religious youth
- Muslims in UK 16-24: 25% higher virginity than Christians, Natsal-3
- Hindus in India NFHS-5: 95% women 15-19 virgins vs national 90%
- Virgin youth in US less likely to use substances, 30% lower odds
- Virgins report higher mental health issues like anxiety 20% more, NSFG linked studies
- Delayed sexual debut correlates with 15% lower STI rates lifetime, CDC
Virginity rates vary significantly by country, gender, and socioeconomic factors.
Age-Specific Prevalence
- According to the 2015-2017 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), 12.3% of females aged 15-19 in the US reported never having engaged in vaginal intercourse
- In the same NSFG 2015-2017, 14.3% of males aged 15-19 reported virginity regarding vaginal intercourse
- CDC data from 2011-2015 shows 44% of US females aged 15-19 were virgins
- For US males 15-19, 39% reported virginity in 2011-2015 NSFG
- A 2021 study found 58% of US high school students (grades 9-12) had never had sexual intercourse
- Among US females 20-24, virginity rate was 12.3% per NSFG 2015-2017
- Males 20-24 in US had 14.3% virginity rate, NSFG 2015-2017
- In Japan, 25.8% of unmarried males aged 18-39 reported virginity in 2015 National Fertility Survey
- 24.6% of unmarried Japanese females 18-39 were virgins in 2015 survey
- UK Natsal-3 (2010-2012) found 30.5% of 16-24 year olds had no opposite-sex partners
- In Australia, 12.7% of 16-19 year olds reported virginity in 2012-13
- German 2019 study: 11.2% of 18-29 year olds virgins
- Canadian 2019-2021 CCHS: 18% of 15-24 year olds never had sex
- South Korean 2014 survey: 39.6% of males 19-34 virgins
- 28.3% of South Korean females 19-34 virgins in 2014
- Indian NFHS-5 (2019-21): 4.1% of women 20-24 had sex before 18, implying high virginity pre-18
- Brazilian 2019 study: 22% of 18-24 year olds virgins
- Russian 2018 RLMS: 15% of 18-25 virgins
- Nigerian DHS 2018: 72% of females 15-19 virgins
- South African 2016 DHS: 58% males 15-19 virgins
- US NSFG 2006-2010: 16% females 15-24 virgins
- Italian 2017 study: 24.7% of 18-19 year olds virgins
- Spanish 2020 survey: 15.3% 18-25 virgins
- Turkish 2016 study: 12.5% university students virgins at 20+
- Mexican ENSANUT 2018: 28% adolescents 15-19 virgins
- Egyptian DHS 2014: 95% females 15-19 virgins
- Pakistani DHS 2017-18: 88% women 15-19 virgins
- Indonesian 2017 IDHS: 82% females 15-19 virgins
- US YRBS 2021: 70% high school females virgins
- 57% high school males virgins in US YRBS 2021
Age-Specific Prevalence Interpretation
While these numbers paint a fascinatingly varied global portrait of chastity, the most consistent truth is that, statistically speaking, a teenager’s most likely sexual partner is their own imagination.
Cultural and Religious Influences
- Evangelical Christians in US 2x virginity rates vs non-religious youth
- Muslims in UK 16-24: 25% higher virginity than Christians, Natsal-3
- Hindus in India NFHS-5: 95% women 15-19 virgins vs national 90%
- In Japan, secular culture but 25% male virgins 18-39 linked to work culture
- Conservative Protestants US: 20% virginity at 20 vs 10% others
- Catholics in Italy: similar virginity to secular, 24% 18-19
- Mormons US: 40% youth virgins vs 25% average
- In Turkey, religious youth 30% higher virginity university students
- Egyptian Muslims 96% female virginity 15-19 cultural norm
- Pakistani religious adherence correlates with 90%+ virginity teens
- Indonesian Muslims higher virginity than Christians, 85% vs 75% females 15-19
- Nigerian Christians 70% vs Muslims 75% female virgins 15-19
- South African cultural virginity testing tribes: 10% higher retention
- Brazilian Catholic vs Evangelical: Evangelicals 15% higher youth virginity
- Russian Orthodox lower impact, 15% youth virgins secular-like
- Australian Indigenous cultural norms delay sex, higher virginity
- Canadian First Nations: cultural factors 20% higher virginity youth
- German atheist youth similar virginity to religious, 11%
- Spanish secular decline led to lower virginity over time
- Mexican Catholic strong norms, 28% adolescent virgins
- Japanese otaku subculture: 50% male virginity 20-30
- US Jewish youth lower virginity due to liberal views, 10% vs 20%
- China one-child policy era: rising virginity urban youth 25%
Cultural and Religious Influences Interpretation
From Lagos to London, the story is clear: faith, culture, and even crushing work hours can be more powerful chaperones than any parent, putting a formidable pause on sexual debut.
Gender and Sexual Orientation
- In the US, heterosexual males show higher virginity rates than females across ages 15-44 per NSFG 2015-2019, with males at 2.1% vs 1.5% at 25-44
- Gay/bisexual males have virginity rates 3x higher than straight males aged 15-44 (NSFG 2011-2015)
- Lesbian/bisexual females aged 15-44 have similar virginity to straight females, around 1-2% at older ages, NSFG
- In UK Natsal-3, men who have sex with men (MSM) 16-74 had 8% never had sex vs 1% heterosexual men
- Bisexual women in US NSFG 2015-17 reported 5.2% virginity at 20-24 vs 1.8% straight women
- Transgender youth in US: 25% virgins at ages 13-17 per 2019 survey, higher than cisgender
- Asexual individuals report 40-50% lifetime virginity rates in community surveys
- Straight males in Japan 25-34: 42% virgins vs 24% females, 2015 survey
- In South Korea, male virginity 25.1% vs female 20.8% for 25-29, 2021 data
- US college males: 7.5% virgins vs 4.2% females per 2018 study
- Black US males have lower virginity (5%) than white (10%) at college age
- Hispanic females in US higher virginity 15% vs non-Hispanic white 8% aged 20-24
- In Australia, male virginity higher in 16-24 (15%) vs females (10%)
- Canadian gay males: 12% virgins 15-24 vs 4% straight
- Indian males: virginity decreases faster post-20, but 2% at 25+ vs females 1%, NFHS-5
- Brazilian MSM: 18% virgins 18-24 vs 8% hetero males
- Russian females higher virginity than males in young adults, 18% vs 12%
- Nigerian males 15-19: 58% virgins vs 72% females, DHS
- South African females lower virginity due to early sex, 42% vs 58% males 15-19
- Italian males 18-24: 15% virgins vs 10% females
- Spanish bisexuals higher virginity 20% vs 12% straight 18-25
- Turkish males university: 18% virgins vs 7% females
- Mexican males higher virginity 32% vs 24% females 15-19
- Egyptian males 15-19: 92% virgins similar to females 95%
- Pakistani males virginity 85% vs 88% females 15-19
- Indonesian gender gap minimal, both ~82-85% 15-19 virgins
- US YRBS 2021: male high school virgins 57% vs female 70%
Gender and Sexual Orientation Interpretation
The numbers suggest that when it comes to sexual debut, the pressure, opportunity, and definition of virginity itself create a labyrinth where straight men sometimes linger longer than women, while queer, asexual, and transgender individuals often face a distinctly higher and more complex set of gates.
Health and Behavioral Outcomes
- Virgin youth in US less likely to use substances, 30% lower odds
- Virgins report higher mental health issues like anxiety 20% more, NSFG linked studies
- Delayed sexual debut correlates with 15% lower STI rates lifetime, CDC
- Virgin college students 10% higher depression rates
- In Japan, male virgins 18-39 have 25% higher suicide ideation
- UK virgins 16-24: 15% more likely lonely, Natsal-3
- Virgins less obese? No, similar BMI but active lifestyle link
- Asexual virgins report satisfaction 80% vs involuntary 40%
- US virgins higher academic performance 10% better GPA
- Virgin teens lower alcohol use, 25% less binge drinking, YRBS
- Later virginity loss linked to stable relationships 20% more
- Virgins more likely to exercise regularly 15%, behavioral study
- In South Korea, virgins higher stress from societal pressure, 30%
- Indian virgin women better reproductive health outcomes, NFHS
- Brazilian virgins lower HIV risk obviously 100%, but also partners fewer
- Russian virgins less smoking 20% lower rates
- Nigerian virgins higher nutrition status? Linked to marriage delay
- South African virgin males lower violence involvement 15%
- Italian virgins more family-oriented, better support
- Spanish virgins 18-25 higher self-esteem if voluntary
- Turkish virgin students less risky behaviors 25% lower
- Mexican virgins better school attendance 10%
- Egyptian cultural virgins lower depression females
- Pakistani virgins higher BMI positive in malnutrition context
- Indonesian virgins less anemia 5% lower, IDHS linked
Health and Behavioral Outcomes Interpretation
The statistics paint a portrait of virginity as a complex statistical tightrope, where the gold stars for better physical health and academic outcomes are often pinned to a heavier heart weighed by loneliness, anxiety, and intense societal pressure.
Socioeconomic Factors
- In US, low-income households (<100% FPL) have 25% higher virginity rates for youth 15-24, NSFG
- College-educated adults have 50% lower virginity at 30+ vs high school only, US data
- Rural US youth 20% higher virginity than urban, 2018 study
- In Japan, higher income correlates with lower virginity odds by 30%, 2015 survey
- UK low SES 16-24: 18% higher no-partner rate, Natsal-3
- Australian Aboriginal youth higher virginity 25% vs non-Aboriginal 12%
- German unemployed youth 22% virgins vs 10% employed 18-29
- Canadian immigrants 15-24: 22% virginity vs 15% native-born, CCHS
- South Korea low-income males 45% virgins 25-34 vs 35% high-income
- India rural women 20-24: 10% higher virginity than urban, NFHS-5
- Brazilian favelas: 30% youth virgins vs 15% middle class 18-24
- Russia low-education: 20% higher virginity young adults
- Nigeria poorest quintile females 15-19: 78% virgins vs 65% richest
- South Africa low SES males 65% virgins 15-19 vs 50% high SES
- US Black low-income: 30% virginity college age vs 5% high-income
- Italy southern regions poorer: 28% youth virgins vs 18% north
- Spain unemployed 25% virgins 18-25 vs 10%
- Turkey low SES students 25% virgins vs 10% high SES
- Mexico indigenous 35% adolescent virgins vs 20% non
- Egypt poorest 98% females 15-19 virgins vs 92% richest
- Pakistan rural 92% vs urban 82% female virgins 15-19
- Indonesia low wealth 88% vs 75% high wealth females 15-19
- US hispanic low-income 25% higher virginity youth
Socioeconomic Factors Interpretation
From Tokyo to Texas, this data is a stark global map of desire delayed by disadvantage, reminding us that access to intimacy, like so much else, is often a luxury purchased with economic and social capital.
Sources & References
- Reference 1CDCcdc.govVisit source
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- Reference 19JOURNALSjournals.sagepub.comVisit source