The 2025 Sex Census conducted by Body+Soul reveals that Australians are being intimate less often than expected, with only half reporting weekly sexual encounters. However, solo sex has emerged as the most common activity, with 51% of respondents engaging in masturbation at least once a week.
The survey, which interviewed more than 2,000 Australians, provided an unfiltered snapshot of intimacy, pressures, and pleasures shaping modern relationships. According to Content Director Jacqui Mooney, this year’s findings show a shift from last year’s top fantasy of threesomes to a stronger preference for slow, romantic seduction.
The census also highlighted that sex is viewed by many as a form of self-care: 40% said they engage in sex to relax or relieve stress, while 28% reported it boosts mood and confidence. Despite reduced frequency, 64% of Australians expressed satisfaction with their sex lives.
Beyond solo sex, 40% said they regularly engage in “outer-course” activities such as erotic massage, mutual masturbation, and intimate touching, while one in three reported weekly oral sex. Interestingly, one in 10 men admitted to pleasuring themselves daily, compared with 38% of women who reported weekly self-pleasure.
Experts noted that masturbation remains popular because it is reliable, private, and free of performance pressure. Relationship coach Sera Bozza emphasized that frequency alone does not define fulfillment, as intimacy depends more on emotional connection, safety, and communication.
Other findings showed that one in four sexual encounters typically lasts six minutes or less (excluding foreplay), while one in six reported sex lasting 20 minutes or more. Men were also found to be three times more likely to orgasm during penetrative sex compared with women.
Generational differences emerged, with Millennials and Gen Z being the most sexually active, while 40% of Boomers reported weekly penetrative sex. Across all age groups, nine in 10 respondents said their partner’s pleasure is a top priority, with women more likely than men to value emotional intimacy.
The census also revealed that most Australians are either married or in committed relationships, although one in five Gen Z respondents were single or dating, reflecting shifting attitudes toward commitment.
