Looking differently at some statistics regarding single dating sex, we discover that sex on the first date is quite common these days. How many of you can relate to these numbers?
A survey done in August 2023 by Forbes Health polled 5,000 U.S. respondents who dated actively in the past five years. Nearly 30% used online dating and the study found that 70% of individuals who met someone using that method said the meeting led to an exclusive relationship which was romantic. Another 28% said the date did not lead to anything.
It seems females still prefer a face-to-face meeting while males are more likely to use and find someone on a dating app. The top three places to find someone to date are online dating, at 45%, followed by an introduction through a friend, at 33%, and lastly connecting with someone at concerts or festivals, at 32%.
The U.S. Census Bureau says there are over 117 million people who are single in the U.S. This is nearly 47% of the total population.
According to a survey by The Harris Poll Thought Leadership Practice, 25% of the single population are not interested in a relationship. And in the same poll, they found 80% of the sample thought they could be happy not being married.
Looking at a world view, according to the International Union of Sex Workers, there are around 2.1 billion people in the world that are single.
If you have ever been out in the dating world, you know there are many reasons why a person does not date. These can range anywhere from not being able to flirt to being too picky.
Things that also play a role in dating can be children, money, education, politics, health problems, bad luck, and appearance, to name a few. The following tables gives us some numbers to put things into perspective.
Top Countries with Singles By Percentage
From: International Union of Sex Workers
| Ranking | Country | Percentage | Single People |
| 1 | Denmark | 24.1% | 2.93 million |
| 2 | France | 22.8% | 27.7 million |
| 3 | Finland | 19.6% | 5.4 million |
| 4 | Belgium | 19.5% | 5.9 million |
| 5 | Norway | 19.3% | 1.4million |
Surprisingly, the United States falls 21st in this table with 13.4% of adults being single and living alone. Coming in last is Turkey, at the bottom of the list, with only 3.9% of its adult population being single.
A further review shows that the culture of the country comes into play because you have a number of counties, like Turkey, where arranged marriages are common and there is no “dating,” as discussed in this article. Something to think about.
Continuing to look at the international data, we now analyze the percentage of individuals who have sex on their first date, and at what age this happens:
Percentage who had sex on a first date, by gender and sexuality: From: International Union of Sex Workers
| Gender and Sexuality | Percentage |
| straight men | 41% |
| straight women | 21% |
| gay men | 72% |
| gay women | 53% |
Looking at these statistics, gay men tend to be freer to have sex on the first date while straight women tend to be more cautious on the first date.
Percentage who had sex on a first date, by age groups: From: International Union of Sex Workers
| Age Group | Percentage |
| 18 to 24 | 22% |
| 25 to 34 | 39% |
| 35 to 44 | 39% |
| 45 to 54: | 39% |
| 54 to 64 | 34% |
| 65 and older | 25% |
The age group 25 to 54 seems to have more sex on the first date than any other bracket.
Returning to the U.S. data, we consider how race and income level might relate to sex on the first date:
Percentage who had sex on a first date, by race: From: Bedbible Research Center
| Race | Percentage |
| White | 38% |
| African-American | 33% |
| Hispanic | 39% |
| Asian | 16% |
Hispanics come in first while the whites are close behind with Asians coming in last. There have been other studies that suggest that the African-American percentage group could be higher, as much as 45%, a difference of 12% compared to this study.
The ‘real’ number could lie somewhere in between due to where the survey was taken.
Percentage who had sex on a first date by income: From: Bedbible Research Center
| Income | Percentage |
| Under $25,000 | 30% |
| $25,000 to $49,999 | 35% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 33% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 40% |
| $100,000 to $124,999 | 34% |
| $125,000 or higher | 34% |
Combining the data and just taking the highest percentage given in each category suggests this scenario: if you live in Denmark and are a Hispanic gay man between the ages of 25 to 54 with an income of $75,000 to $99,999, you have a very good chance of having sex on your first date.
It is very interesting how gender, sexuality, race, age, income, and yes, the country where you are from, can play a role in your dating habits.
But remember there are other influences like being too picky, health problems, being from the same demographic, and whether you have that spark for the other person.
Dating can be challenging in many aspects.
So, whether you are just looking for a one-night stand or you want that date to go to the next level, either way, dating takes work but it can be rewarding because you learn about yourself along the way. It is a process.
Have fun and always keep things consensual.