According to new research, couples enjoy better sex lives in countries where sex equality is best. Austria and Spain seem to have the most satisfied couples, while the Middle-East and parts of Asia have the least.

The study researched into the sex lives of 27,000 people from 29 countries. Western European countries which had greatest sex equality, and the USA and Canada, seemed to come out on top.

You can read about this study in the journal Archives of Sexual Behaviour.

According to the researchers, most couples are sexually active well into their eighties. Participants had to fill in a questionnaire.

The findings revealed vast differences between satisfaction rates of men and women.

Lack of foreplay seems to be more of a problem for women who live in male dominated societies. In order to reach a climax, foreplay is more important for women than for men.

Women who are in a relationship where things are not going well tend to switch off more from sex than men. The researchers suggested this may be a way of regulating pregnancy and protecting children.

Men’s perceptions of women’s level of satisfaction seems over-optimistic. 45% of the men in this study thought their partners always had an orgasm. However, only 26% of the women confirmed this.

The study revealed that Austria has the most satisfied couples in the world. 80% of Austrian men and 63% of Austrian women were either extremely or very satisfied with their sex lives. Spain came second. Japan came bottom.

60-80% of couples who live in countries with greatest equality were satisfied with their sex lives. In male-dominated societies, such as parts of the Middle East and some parts of Asia, satisfaction rates ranged from 20-50%.

As you can see from the lists below, Mexico came up among the top ten. Even though it is known as a male dominated society, satisfaction rates are high. Spain used to be very male dominated, over the last thirty years Spanish society has changed a great deal.

Top Ten Countries
% of people satisfied with their sex lives

— Austria – 71.4%
— Spain – 69.0%
— Canada – 66.1%
— Belgium – 64.6%
— United States – 64.2%
— Australia – 63.6%
— Mexico – 63.2%
— Germany – 62.0%
— Sweden – 60.5%
— United Kingdom – 59.8%

Bottom Five Countries
% of people satisfied with their sex lives

— Thailand – 35.9%
— China – 34.9%
— Indonesia – 34.0%
— Taiwan – 28.7%
— Japan – 25.8%

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today