Recently, a portion of a global study on sexual wellbeing—The Durex Global Sexual Wellbeing Survey 07/08—was published, involving more than 26,000 participants from 26 countries. Clearly, even the best sociologists can't hold a candle to the bedrooms of thousands of respondents. We have to rely on the survey.
But this is no less an important indicator. For assessing social mores, it's even more interesting to see how many people are willing to admit to an unknown sociologist that they use a vibrator or masturbate weekly…
Our country, by comparison, looks quite decent (or should I say, indecent?). For example, at the time of the survey, Russians had had sex with an average of 22.5 partners. Only Austrians had more. We have sex 143 times a year, while Americans, for example, only 85.
We indulge in sexual fantasies, buy erotic toys, and watch pornography just as much as anyone else. Even those whose ideas about sex were formed under the puritanical Soviet morality do this. Exactly half of Russian citizens over 55 say they view erotic magazines or films, and 27% of older adults report engaging in oral sex.
Some moral zealot, looking at these figures, might become indignant: we're descending into an abyss of depravity. But the scale of Russian sex is hardly a catastrophe. We've simply begun to live a more fulfilling life and talk about it calmly. And moral zealots often suffer from some kind of sexual deviation themselves, but prefer not to admit it, instead preaching abstinence as the highest good.
On average, our citizens have 143 sexual acts per year. Only Greeks and Brazilians have more sex than Russians.
37% feel uncomfortable discussing sex-related issues. They are unsure whether they will be understood correctly or are afraid of offending their partner.
Mexicans rank first in orgasm frequency. 66% of Mexicans admitted to constantly or very frequently experiencing orgasm during sex. In Russia, the same figure is 54%. Singapore (36%), Japan (27%), and China (24%) are the worst performers.
78% of Nigerians consider their sex life “exciting.” Among Russians, the same figure is 42%.
Five times —that's the difference in the number of orgasms experienced by women and men in Hong Kong. According to a survey, 41% of men regularly reach this state, while only 8% of women do. In Western countries (the US, Germany, and Canada), 70–80% of women experience orgasm, compared to 30–35% of women. The ratio is roughly the same in Russia—75% to 37%.
According to a survey, Nigerians spend 22.5 minutes on sexual intercourse. They rank first in the world. Surprisingly, citizens of such “sexual” countries as France and India trail behind, reporting just over 13 minutes of sexual intercourse. Russia ranks in the middle, with 18 minutes. Tellingly, estimates of how long sex takes differ between men and women. The widest gap is in Australia: women estimate 15 minutes, while men estimate almost 20. The reason for this discrepancy is unclear. Perhaps men overestimate the duration of their activity, or perhaps women don't immediately realize that intercourse has begun.