Dutch have less sex, but love foreplay

12 October 2004

AMSTERDAM — The Dutch had less sex last year, sliding under the sheets on average 103 times compared with 120 occasions in 2002, the Global Sex Survey 2004 by condom maker Durex indicated Tuesday.

The Dutch performance equalled the global average (103 times), while French lovers do it more often than most, having sex 137 times. They were followed by the Greeks (133) and Hungarians (131).

The survey of 350,000 people across 41 countries revealed that people in Hong Kong and Singapore had sex on average just 79 times last year. But the Japanese were ranked the least enthusiastic lovers, with a score of just 46.

People in Asian countries devote less attention to foreplay than elsewhere. Thai nationals spend 11.5 minutes on foreplay, Hong Kong lovers 14.2 minutes and the Vietnamese devote 15 minutes.

UK nationals spent the most time on foreplay: 22.5 minutes, followed by the Germans with 22.2 minutes. The Netherlands was ranked fifth with 21.5 minutes, news agency ANP reported.

In many countries, Durex said foreplay is increasingly likely to include sexual enhancers such as pornography, vibrators, pleasure enhancing condoms and lubricants.

Young people in the Netherlands lose their virginity at age 16.4 on average, compared with 15.7 in Iceland. The average age worldwide is 17.7, but the trend is for people to begin having sex at a younger age.

Durex was concerned that one third of survey respondents said they had unprotected sex without knowing the sexual history of their partner. The same was true among 64 percent of Danes and Swedes.

Hollywood stars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie top the sexiest celebrity charts taking over from last year’s winners, English footballer David Beckham and US singer-actress Jennifer Lopez.

Subject: Dutch news