Top Countries Where People Start Being Sexually Active at the Youngest Ages

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2025 Global Trends: When Young Adults First Engage in Sexual Activity

Malaysia & India Lead the Way
Young adults in Malaysia and India tend to become sexually active at an average age of 23 and 22.9 years, respectively. This trend highlights a gradual shift towards later sexual debut, possibly influenced by cultural, religious, and educational factors that emphasize delayed initiation.

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Singapore and China Follow Close Behind
Singaporeans average their first sexual experience at 22.8, while Chinese young adults come in slightly later at 22.1 years. Urbanization and increased access to comprehensive sexual education are factors contributing to these statistics.
Southeast Asia’s Youth Become Sexually Active Earlier
Countries like Thailand (20.5 years), Vietnam (19.7), and Indonesia (19.1) report younger average ages, reflecting broader social and cultural shifts towards openness and awareness around sexuality.
African and Asian Countries Exhibit Similar Patterns
Nigeria and Vietnam, both at 19.7 years on average, demonstrate a trend where young adults tend to initiate sexual activity before reaching their early twenties. Japan and Spain follow, with averages at 19.4 and 19.2, respectively.
European Nations Show Slightly Younger Averages
Poland (19), Italy (18.9), and Taiwan (18.9) are among European and Asian countries where young adults tend to become sexually active just before turning 19. Factors include cultural attitudes and proactive sexual education programs.
Eastern European and Russian Trends
Russia and Mexico have similar averages at 18.7 years, indicating that in these regions, sexual activity typically begins just before the age of 19. This could be linked to social norms and evolving cultural discourse.
South African and North American Insights
South Africa shares the same average (18.7 years) as Mexico, with the United States and Canada slightly lower, at 18 and 18.1 years, respectively—highlighting a broadly similar pattern across Western and Southern Hemisphere nations.
Western European and Scandinavian Data
France and the UK report average initiation ages of 18.5 and 18.3, while Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Greece are close behind at just over 18. These numbers reflect a relatively liberal stance toward adolescent sexuality, coupled with accessible education.
Australia and Turkey Divide the Spectrum
Australia’s average debut age is just under 18 (17.9), while Turkey’s is slightly earlier at 17.8—showing regional variations influenced by cultural traditions and policies.
Eastern European and Scandinavian Countries
Slovakia, Iceland, and Norway show younger averages, with 17.8 and 15.6 years for Iceland, highlighting diverse social norms regarding sexuality education and acceptance.

Visual Overview

Notable Takeaways:

The worldwide average age of first sexual activity in 2025 generally hovers around 18 to 19 years, with some differences based on regional cultural and educational influences.
Countries with comprehensive sex education and open dialogues tend to report slightly higher ages at sexual debut.
Traditional and conservative societies often see later ages, although there are growing shifts toward earlier engagement among youth.