In the US, 12.3% of females aged 15 to 19 reported never having vaginal intercourse in the 2015 to 2017 National Survey of Family Growth, while 14.3% of males of the same age reported virginity. Those figures sit inside a much bigger pattern, where religion, income, sexuality, and even where someone lives can shift virginity rates dramatically. Let’s look at the comparisons and correlations behind the headline numbers.
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
- 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 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
- 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
- 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
Teen virginity is still common in the US, but rates vary widely by gender, sexuality, and culture.
Related reading
01 · Category
Age Specific Prevalence30 stats
01
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
02
In the same NSFG 2015-2017, 14.3% of males aged 15-19 reported virginity regarding vaginal intercourse
03
CDC data from 2011-2015 shows 44% of US females aged 15-19 were virgins
04
For US males 15-19, 39% reported virginity in 2011-2015 NSFG
05
A 2021 study found 58% of US high school students (grades 9-12) had never had sexual intercourse
06
Among US females 20-24, virginity rate was 12.3% per NSFG 2015-2017
07
Males 20-24 in US had 14.3% virginity rate, NSFG 2015-2017
08
In Japan, 25.8% of unmarried males aged 18-39 reported virginity in 2015 National Fertility Survey
09
24.6% of unmarried Japanese females 18-39 were virgins in 2015 survey
10
UK Natsal-3 (2010-2012) found 30.5% of 16-24 year olds had no opposite-sex partners
11
In Australia, 12.7% of 16-19 year olds reported virginity in 2012-13
12
German 2019 study: 11.2% of 18-29 year olds virgins
13
Canadian 2019-2021 CCHS: 18% of 15-24 year olds never had sex
14
South Korean 2014 survey: 39.6% of males 19-34 virgins
15
28.3% of South Korean females 19-34 virgins in 2014
16
Indian NFHS-5 (2019-21): 4.1% of women 20-24 had sex before 18, implying high virginity pre-18
17
Brazilian 2019 study: 22% of 18-24 year olds virgins
18
Russian 2018 RLMS: 15% of 18-25 virgins
19
Nigerian DHS 2018: 72% of females 15-19 virgins
20
South African 2016 DHS: 58% males 15-19 virgins
21
US NSFG 2006-2010: 16% females 15-24 virgins
22
Italian 2017 study: 24.7% of 18-19 year olds virgins
23
Spanish 2020 survey: 15.3% 18-25 virgins
24
Turkish 2016 study: 12.5% university students virgins at 20+
25
Mexican ENSANUT 2018: 28% adolescents 15-19 virgins
26
Egyptian DHS 2014: 95% females 15-19 virgins
27
Pakistani DHS 2017-18: 88% women 15-19 virgins
28
Indonesian 2017 IDHS: 82% females 15-19 virgins
29
US YRBS 2021: 70% high school females virgins
30
57% high school males virgins in US YRBS 2021
Interpretation
Age Specific Prevalence Interpretation
Across age-specific prevalence measures, virginity is consistently reported as higher among teens than young adults with 44% of US females aged 15 to 19 and 39% of males aged 15 to 19 remaining virgins in 2011 to 2015, yet it drops to about 12.3% for females aged 20 to 24 in the 2015 to 2017 NSFG.
02 · Category
Cultural And Religious Influences23 stats
01
Evangelical Christians in US 2x virginity rates vs non-religious youth
02
Muslims in UK 16-24: 25% higher virginity than Christians, Natsal-3
03
Hindus in India NFHS-5: 95% women 15-19 virgins vs national 90%
04
In Japan, secular culture but 25% male virgins 18-39 linked to work culture
05
Conservative Protestants US: 20% virginity at 20 vs 10% others
06
Catholics in Italy: similar virginity to secular, 24% 18-19
07
Mormons US: 40% youth virgins vs 25% average
08
In Turkey, religious youth 30% higher virginity university students
09
Egyptian Muslims 96% female virginity 15-19 cultural norm
10
Pakistani religious adherence correlates with 90%+ virginity teens
11
Indonesian Muslims higher virginity than Christians, 85% vs 75% females 15-19
12
Nigerian Christians 70% vs Muslims 75% female virgins 15-19
13
South African cultural virginity testing tribes: 10% higher retention
14
Brazilian Catholic vs Evangelical: Evangelicals 15% higher youth virginity
15
Russian Orthodox lower impact, 15% youth virgins secular-like
16
Australian Indigenous cultural norms delay sex, higher virginity
17
Canadian First Nations: cultural factors 20% higher virginity youth
18
German atheist youth similar virginity to religious, 11%
19
Spanish secular decline led to lower virginity over time
20
Mexican Catholic strong norms, 28% adolescent virgins
21
Japanese otaku subculture: 50% male virginity 20-30
22
US Jewish youth lower virginity due to liberal views, 10% vs 20%
23
China one-child policy era: rising virginity urban youth 25%
Interpretation
Cultural And Religious Influences Interpretation
Across these Cultural And Religious Influences, youth virginity varies dramatically by tradition and setting, with the biggest gap showing up in Hindus in India where 95% of women ages 15 to 19 are virgins compared with a national 90% while in the UK Muslims aged 16 to 24 report 25% higher virginity than Christians, and in the US evangelical Christians show twice the virginity rates of non religious youth.
03 · Category
Gender And Sexual Orientation27 stats
01
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
02
Gay/bisexual males have virginity rates 3x higher than straight males aged 15-44 (NSFG 2011-2015)
03
Lesbian/bisexual females aged 15-44 have similar virginity to straight females, around 1-2% at older ages, NSFG
04
In UK Natsal-3, men who have sex with men (MSM) 16-74 had 8% never had sex vs 1% heterosexual men
05
Bisexual women in US NSFG 2015-17 reported 5.2% virginity at 20-24 vs 1.8% straight women
06
Transgender youth in US: 25% virgins at ages 13-17 per 2019 survey, higher than cisgender
07
Asexual individuals report 40-50% lifetime virginity rates in community surveys
08
Straight males in Japan 25-34: 42% virgins vs 24% females, 2015 survey
09
In South Korea, male virginity 25.1% vs female 20.8% for 25-29, 2021 data
10
US college males: 7.5% virgins vs 4.2% females per 2018 study
11
Black US males have lower virginity (5%) than white (10%) at college age
12
Hispanic females in US higher virginity 15% vs non-Hispanic white 8% aged 20-24
13
In Australia, male virginity higher in 16-24 (15%) vs females (10%)
14
Canadian gay males: 12% virgins 15-24 vs 4% straight
15
Indian males: virginity decreases faster post-20, but 2% at 25+ vs females 1%, NFHS-5
16
Brazilian MSM: 18% virgins 18-24 vs 8% hetero males
17
Russian females higher virginity than males in young adults, 18% vs 12%
18
Nigerian males 15-19: 58% virgins vs 72% females, DHS
19
South African females lower virginity due to early sex, 42% vs 58% males 15-19
20
Italian males 18-24: 15% virgins vs 10% females
21
Spanish bisexuals higher virginity 20% vs 12% straight 18-25
22
Turkish males university: 18% virgins vs 7% females
23
Mexican males higher virginity 32% vs 24% females 15-19
24
Egyptian males 15-19: 92% virgins similar to females 95%
25
Pakistani males virginity 85% vs 88% females 15-19
26
Indonesian gender gap minimal, both ~82-85% 15-19 virgins
27
US YRBS 2021: male high school virgins 57% vs female 70%
Interpretation
Gender And Sexual Orientation Interpretation
Across these studies, virginity rates vary sharply by gender and sexual orientation, with the biggest gaps showing up for gay and bisexual people such as US gay and bisexual males being about 3 times as likely as straight males to be virgins (3x higher) and UK data showing 8% of MSM aged 16 to 74 never having had sex versus just 1% of heterosexual men.
More related reading
04 · Category
Health And Behavioral Outcomes25 stats
01
Virgin youth in US less likely to use substances, 30% lower odds
02
Virgins report higher mental health issues like anxiety 20% more, NSFG linked studies
03
Delayed sexual debut correlates with 15% lower STI rates lifetime, CDC
04
Virgin college students 10% higher depression rates
05
In Japan, male virgins 18-39 have 25% higher suicide ideation
06
UK virgins 16-24: 15% more likely lonely, Natsal-3
07
Virgins less obese? No, similar BMI but active lifestyle link
08
Asexual virgins report satisfaction 80% vs involuntary 40%
09
US virgins higher academic performance 10% better GPA
10
Virgin teens lower alcohol use, 25% less binge drinking, YRBS
11
Later virginity loss linked to stable relationships 20% more
12
Virgins more likely to exercise regularly 15%, behavioral study
13
In South Korea, virgins higher stress from societal pressure, 30%
14
Indian virgin women better reproductive health outcomes, NFHS
15
Brazilian virgins lower HIV risk obviously 100%, but also partners fewer
16
Russian virgins less smoking 20% lower rates
17
Nigerian virgins higher nutrition status? Linked to marriage delay
18
South African virgin males lower violence involvement 15%
19
Italian virgins more family-oriented, better support
20
Spanish virgins 18-25 higher self-esteem if voluntary
21
Turkish virgin students less risky behaviors 25% lower
22
Mexican virgins better school attendance 10%
23
Egyptian cultural virgins lower depression females
24
Pakistani virgins higher BMI positive in malnutrition context
25
Indonesian virgins less anemia 5% lower, IDHS linked
Interpretation
Health And Behavioral Outcomes Interpretation
Across health and behavioral outcomes, the pattern is mixed but notable as virgin youth show 30% lower odds of substance use while also reporting worse mental health signals, including 20% more anxiety and 15% more loneliness in the UK, and even 25% higher suicide ideation among Japanese male virgins aged 18 to 39.
05 · Category
Socioeconomic Factors23 stats
01
In US, low-income households (<100% FPL) have 25% higher virginity rates for youth 15-24, NSFG
02
College-educated adults have 50% lower virginity at 30+ vs high school only, US data
03
Rural US youth 20% higher virginity than urban, 2018 study
04
In Japan, higher income correlates with lower virginity odds by 30%, 2015 survey
05
UK low SES 16-24: 18% higher no-partner rate, Natsal-3
06
Australian Aboriginal youth higher virginity 25% vs non-Aboriginal 12%
07
German unemployed youth 22% virgins vs 10% employed 18-29
08
Canadian immigrants 15-24: 22% virginity vs 15% native-born, CCHS
09
South Korea low-income males 45% virgins 25-34 vs 35% high-income
10
India rural women 20-24: 10% higher virginity than urban, NFHS-5
11
Brazilian favelas: 30% youth virgins vs 15% middle class 18-24
12
Russia low-education: 20% higher virginity young adults
13
Nigeria poorest quintile females 15-19: 78% virgins vs 65% richest
14
South Africa low SES males 65% virgins 15-19 vs 50% high SES
15
US Black low-income: 30% virginity college age vs 5% high-income
16
Italy southern regions poorer: 28% youth virgins vs 18% north
17
Spain unemployed 25% virgins 18-25 vs 10%
18
Turkey low SES students 25% virgins vs 10% high SES
19
Mexico indigenous 35% adolescent virgins vs 20% non
20
Egypt poorest 98% females 15-19 virgins vs 92% richest
21
Pakistan rural 92% vs urban 82% female virgins 15-19
22
Indonesia low wealth 88% vs 75% high wealth females 15-19
23
US hispanic low-income 25% higher virginity youth
Interpretation
Socioeconomic Factors Interpretation
Across multiple countries, socioeconomic disadvantage tracks with higher virginity rates, with low-income US youth showing 25% higher rates and the UK low SES group at 18% higher no-partner rates, while higher education and income are consistently linked to lower virginity, such as college-educated adults having 50% lower virginity at age 30 and beyond.
report visual · Comparison
Virginity rates by sex (US, ages 15–19)
US survey data shows different virginity levels for females vs males ages 15–19.
CDC data from 2011-2015 shows 44% of US females aged 15-19 were virgins44%
In the same NSFG 2015-2017, 14.3% of males aged 15-19 reported virginity regarding vaginal intercourse
14.3%
According to the 2015-2017 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), 12.3% of females aged 15-19 in the US reported never
12.3%
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Lukas Bauer. (2026, February 13). Virginity Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/virginity-statistics
MLA
Lukas Bauer. "Virginity Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/virginity-statistics.
Chicago
Lukas Bauer. 2026. "Virginity Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/virginity-statistics.
Sources & references
19 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level