Express News Service
NEW DELHI: Only two per cent of unmarried young adult women had sex in the last year compared to 13.4 per cent of men. Over 77 per cent of 23-24 years-old men never had sex compared to 95.3 per cent of women of the same age, according to the latest findings of the NFHS-5 survey.
The National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-21) also showed that more unmarried women practice safe sex than men.
The survey, which studied single men and women in the age group of 15-24 years, showed that 1.3 per cent of single girls in the age group of 15-19 had sex in the last 12 months preceding the survey, compared to 4.4 per cent of men.
The survey, which studied over 6 lakh households in 707 districts, also showed teenage boys are sexually more active as compared to girls.
While 0.9 per cent of teenage girls had sex as compared to 2.9 per cent of adolescent boys, it was 1.9 per cent for single women, who had sexual intercourse in the past 12 months in the age group of 18-19 years, the figure stood at 6.6 per cent for single men in the same age group.
For unmarried women in the age group of 20-24, the percentage stood at 1.9 per cent compared to 11.8 per cent of single men who had sex. Similarly, 1.9 per cent of women in the age group of 20-22 had sex, compared to men at 10.9 per cent.
The survey, which also studied condom use among unmarried men and women, clearly found women went for safe sex compared to single men – whether they were in their teens or adults.
In the age group of 15-19 years, only 57 per cent of men used condoms, compared to 61.2 per cent of women.
The usage of condoms went up slightly for men in the age group of 20-24 years. While nearly 64 per cent of single men practiced safe sex, 65.3 per cent of women in the same age group used condoms.
The NFHS-5, which conducted the survey in this category for the first time in India, also showed that more women were virgins compared to men in the age group of 15-24 years in India.
Over 97 per cent of single girls in the age group of 15-17 and 15-19 were virgins, as compared to single boys, who were more active sexually in this age group. While 93.8 per cent of boys in the age group of 15-19 were virgins, the figure went up to 96.1 for boys in the age group of 15-17 years.
Similarly, over 95 per cent of women in the age group of 20-24 were virgins, compared to men, which stood at around 80 per cent.
Interestingly, women living in rural India had slightly more sexual encounters (1.5 per cent) than their urban counterparts (1.4 per cent). A similar scenario was seen among men too. About 7.5 per cent of single men living in rural areas had sex, compared to 7.3 per cent of men living in urban pockets.
Men who were away from home were more active sexually as compared to women. While 10.7 per cent of single men had sex during their stay away from home – from one month to more – the figure was 3.4 per cent for unmarried women.
Key points from the survey
Only two per cent of unmarried young adult women had sex in the last year compared to 13.4 per cent of men, according to the NFHS-5 survey.
Over 77 per cent of 23-24 years-old men never had sex compared to 95.3 per cent of women of the same age.
Teenage boys are sexually more active as compared to girls.
Women went for safe sex compared to single men – whether they were in their teens or adults.
Women living in rural India had slightly more sexual encounters (1.5 per cent) than their urban counterparts (1.4 per cent).
Men who were away from home were more active sexually as compared to women.
The fifth round of NHFS-5 (2019-21) was conducted in two phases in 707 districts from June 2019 to April 2021, covering information from 6,36,699 households. Further detailed information was collected from 7,24,115 women and 1,01,839 men in eligible age groups.
NEW DELHI: Only two per cent of unmarried young adult women had sex in the last year compared to 13.4 per cent of men. Over 77 per cent of 23-24 years-old men never had sex compared to 95.3 per cent of women of the same age, according to the latest findings of the NFHS-5 survey.
The National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-21) also showed that more unmarried women practice safe sex than men.
The survey, which studied single men and women in the age group of 15-24 years, showed that 1.3 per cent of single girls in the age group of 15-19 had sex in the last 12 months preceding the survey, compared to 4.4 per cent of men.
The survey, which studied over 6 lakh households in 707 districts, also showed teenage boys are sexually more active as compared to girls.
While 0.9 per cent of teenage girls had sex as compared to 2.9 per cent of adolescent boys, it was 1.9 per cent for single women, who had sexual intercourse in the past 12 months in the age group of 18-19 years, the figure stood at 6.6 per cent for single men in the same age group.
For unmarried women in the age group of 20-24, the percentage stood at 1.9 per cent compared to 11.8 per cent of single men who had sex. Similarly, 1.9 per cent of women in the age group of 20-22 had sex, compared to men at 10.9 per cent.
The survey, which also studied condom use among unmarried men and women, clearly found women went for safe sex compared to single men – whether they were in their teens or adults.
In the age group of 15-19 years, only 57 per cent of men used condoms, compared to 61.2 per cent of women.
The usage of condoms went up slightly for men in the age group of 20-24 years. While nearly 64 per cent of single men practiced safe sex, 65.3 per cent of women in the same age group used condoms.
The NFHS-5, which conducted the survey in this category for the first time in India, also showed that more women were virgins compared to men in the age group of 15-24 years in India.
Over 97 per cent of single girls in the age group of 15-17 and 15-19 were virgins, as compared to single boys, who were more active sexually in this age group. While 93.8 per cent of boys in the age group of 15-19 were virgins, the figure went up to 96.1 for boys in the age group of 15-17 years.
Similarly, over 95 per cent of women in the age group of 20-24 were virgins, compared to men, which stood at around 80 per cent.
Interestingly, women living in rural India had slightly more sexual encounters (1.5 per cent) than their urban counterparts (1.4 per cent). A similar scenario was seen among men too. About 7.5 per cent of single men living in rural areas had sex, compared to 7.3 per cent of men living in urban pockets.
Men who were away from home were more active sexually as compared to women. While 10.7 per cent of single men had sex during their stay away from home – from one month to more – the figure was 3.4 per cent for unmarried women.
Key points from the survey
Only two per cent of unmarried young adult women had sex in the last year compared to 13.4 per cent of men, according to the NFHS-5 survey.
Over 77 per cent of 23-24 years-old men never had sex compared to 95.3 per cent of women of the same age.
Teenage boys are sexually more active as compared to girls.
Women went for safe sex compared to single men – whether they were in their teens or adults.
Women living in rural India had slightly more sexual encounters (1.5 per cent) than their urban counterparts (1.4 per cent).
Men who were away from home were more active sexually as compared to women.
The fifth round of NHFS-5 (2019-21) was conducted in two phases in 707 districts from June 2019 to April 2021, covering information from 6,36,699 households. Further detailed information was collected from 7,24,115 women and 1,01,839 men in eligible age groups.
