1% of people have never had sex
Sex seems like something taken for granted: most people sooner or later enter into relationships. In recent years, people have generally been having sex less often, but there are also those who have lived to a mature age and never had sex — about 1% among both men and women. Scientists analyzed data from hundreds of thousands of people and discovered that a whole set of factors is behind this: genes, personality, health, and even where a person lives.
Who Was Studied and What Does “Never Had Sex” Mean
Researchers took data from approximately 400,000 people aged 39 to 73, and about 13,500 more aged 18 to 89. Everyone was asked one thing: had they ever had sexual experience. It turned out that approximately 1% of people, both among men and women, had never had any.
People were asked only about the fact itself, not about desire. Therefore, among the participants there were certainly asexuals — those who simply don’t experience attraction. But there were also those who wanted relationships but couldn’t find a partner. So the picture is mixed, and this is worth keeping in mind.
Why Even Where You Live Affects Sex
One of the most non-obvious factors is the role of environment. Men without sexual experience more often lived in regions where there were relatively fewer women. The logic here is simple: if there are few potential partners around, finding a match is harder, and the ratio of men to women in different countries and regions can indeed differ significantly.
Another factor is income inequality. For both men and women, the absence of sex was more common in places where the gap between rich and poor was greater. A similar pattern was previously found when studying communities of so-called incels (“involuntarily celibate”) — men who cannot find a partner and unite online. Their posts more often came from regions with the same characteristics — few women and large income disparity.
Common Personality and Health Traits of People Without Sexual Experience
People without sexual experience more often exhibited introversion and feelings of loneliness
Scientists looked for characteristics that are more common among people without sexual experience. And a quite recognizable portrait emerged. Here is what the researchers identified:
- these people more often felt nervous and lonely, and less often felt happy;
- friends and relatives visited them less frequently, and it was harder for them to find someone they could confide in;
- they consumed alcohol and drugs less often;
- on average, they were more educated;
- they started wearing glasses earlier;
- men with weaker grip strength and less arm muscle mass were more likely to have never had sex
The result is a portrait that matches familiar stereotypes: a smart, educated, but physically less robust and more introverted person. But it’s not just about that.
Is There a “No Sex Gene”?
Is there a “no sex gene”? In short, no. All participants had genetic data, and scientists checked whether DNA influences whether a person had sex. It turned out that genes can explain approximately 15% of the differences — meaning the influence of DNA is real, but it doesn’t decide everything for a person.
At the same time, researchers didn’t find one “main” gene. Hundreds of genes are involved, and the contribution of each is quite small — much like an orchestra where no single instrument plays loudly, but together they create an overall melody. So looking for one single “defect” is pointless. A similar principle is seen in research on genes and sexual orientation.
Interestingly, the genetics of sexual inexperience overlapped with the genetics of other traits. It was associated with higher levels of education and intelligence, as well as introversion, autism spectrum disorders, and anorexia. However, the association with addictions, depression, anxiety, and ADHD was inverse.
Where Is the Cause and Where Is the Effect in the Absence of Sex
This is the most important point, and it’s easy to miss. All the connections found are correlations, not proven causes. A simple example: the absence of sex can make a person unhappier. But the reverse is also true — if a person feels bad and lonely, it’s harder for them to find a partner. And there may be a third factor that simultaneously causes both loneliness and difficulties in relationships, since a lack of social interaction changes the brain.
Scientists cannot yet say for certain what is the cause and what is the effect here
There is another nuance. Some results are hard to explain solely by asexuality. For example, the connection with the ratio of men to women in a region or with physical strength in men — this is more about those who wanted relationships but things didn’t work out. In other words, we’re dealing with a mix of voluntary and involuntary absence of sex, and separating these two groups in the current study is impossible.
Why This Research on the Absence of Sex Matters for Science
The topic may sound like mere curiosity bordering on tactlessness, but this kind of research has practical significance. People who want relationships but can’t build them often suffer from loneliness and social isolation. Understanding what barriers stand in the way is the first step toward removing them.
The authors themselves emphasize: there should be no judgment or condemnation here — neither toward those who don’t want sex, nor toward those who simply couldn’t make it happen. Science has one goal — to understand, not to label.
To fully understand where the cause lies and where the effect is, and to separate conscious choice from bad luck, new studies are needed — with more precise questions about desires and sexuality. This means the most interesting findings on this topic are still ahead of us.
