People in Turkey are racking up the most sexual partners, data reveals.
The nation’s citizens have 14.5 partners on average, despite the vast majority of the country following more traditional Muslim practices.
This is a stark comparison to India, where the average citizen has three sexual partners – the least amount of all nations studied by researchers at World Population Review.
While the US is often seen as a nation with loose views on sexuality and dating, America didn’t even crack the top 10.
The US took 12th place, with Americans having 10.7 partners on average.
Data from World Population Review found that Turkey has the highest average of sexual partners, with 14.5. People in India, meanwhile, had just three
Figures compiled by the non-profit research firm analyzed the average number of partners in 46 countries.
Through surveys, the researchers found that most people around the globe have nine partners in their lifetime.
Australia and New Zealand came in second and third behind Turkey – with 13.3 and 13.2 partners, respectively.
And the UK came in surprisingly low, in the 21st spot, with Brits having sex with roughly 9.8 people throughout their lifetimes.
The findings come as Gen Z is having less sex than previous generations, which could be due to more of these adults living at home and steering clear of alcohol.
China and Slovakia followed closely behind India as nations with the least amount of sexual partners.
The researchers noted this could be due to many of India’s 1.4 billion residents following strict dating and marriage rules, such as arranged marriage and no pre-marital sex.
The findings come as Gen Z is said to be having less sex than previous generations, which could be due to more of these adults living at home and steering clear of alcohol.
The findings was based solely on respondents’ accounts of their own sexual history, meaning it is possible they may over or underestimate.
Turkey, a nation of 85 million famous for centuries old historical sites and relaxing bath houses, averages 14.5 sexual partners.
The researchers did not give an explain for Turkey’s promiscuity, and the finding goes against Turkey’s generally traditional approach to sex and relationships.
More than 99 percent of the country’s residents are Muslim, a religion which typically comes with strict dating rules.
According to Muslim matchmaking site Muzz, customs include dating with the aim of finding a life partner, no sex before marriage, and dating with a chaperone.
However, research suggests that dating apps for casual flings are becoming more widespread in the country.
Australia and New Zealand both followed closely behind Turkey, with an average of 13.3 and 13.2 partners, respectively.
Unlike Turkey, both nations tend have a more casual approach to dating, with young people in particular meeting partners on apps and in settings like bars or coffee shops.
A 2023 report from insurance marketplace Choosi, for example, found that 62 percent of Aussies use online dating, and 40 percent prefer this method over others.
Additionally, 67 percent of adults said they were active dating app users, and 77 percent had used them before.
Research from AppMagic found that in January 2024 alone, 12,000 people in New Zealand downloaded the dating app Bumble.
Iceland and South Africa rounded out the top five most sexually promiscuous countries.
Americans have 10.7 partners on average, putting the US in 12th place.
Similar to Australia and New Zealand, this could be due to the rise of dating apps. Recent data shows that the number of Americans meeting their spouses on apps like Hinge and Tinder, for example, has increased by nearly 20 percent over the last decade.
When it comes to dating apps and sites, a few reign supreme. Some of the most popular ones include Tinder, Match, Bumble, OkCupid, eHarmony, Hinge and Grindr
However, the team at World Population Review noted that the number of sexual partners varies drastically by state due to local cultures and religious preferences.
For example, Louisiana residents reported an average of 15.7 partners, while people in the largely Mormon state of Utah had just 2.6.
‘The age at which someone loses his or her virginity can also impact the number of sexual partners he or she has. In the United States, people tend to lose their virginity at 17 years of age, on average,’ the team wrote.
Brits, meanwhile, have roughly 9.8 partners in their lifetime.
While the US and UK have similar rates of dating app usage and similar cultural approaches to sex, the UK could have ranked lower due to the nation having far fewer people.
The UK has about 67 million residents, while the US have over 330 million.
India took last place with an average of just three sexual partners over time. This could be due to the country’s very traditional dating practices, including arranged marriage.
In fact, one survey found that more than 93 percent of Indians are in arranged marriages, strictly limiting their sexual prospects.
China and Slovakia followed closely behind, with matchmaking from parents being more common in both countries.
