Americans 'have more sex'

The USA has a healthy market for condoms

Americans are having more sex than any other nation, a survey has said.

A poll of 18,000 people conducted by condom manufacturers Durex in 27 countries worldwide suggested that US citizens had sex an average of 132 times a year.

Sexual acts per year

Americans: 132

Russians: 122

French: 121

Greeks: 115

British: 109

Irish: 103

Australians: 98

Germans: 97

Dutch: 90

Chinese: 69

Superpower rivals the Russians came second in the sexual marathon with 122.

And the French and the Greeks, both renowned for their libido, surprisingly trailed in third and fourth with 121 and 115 respectively.

But all were well above the world average of 96, with the peoples of East Asia proving the least active in bed.

In fact, young Japanese people claimed to make love just 37 times a year.

Losing virginity

Jennifer Lopez topped the sexiest female category

The poll, which probably says as much about bragging as actual sexual behaviour, also put the Americans top of the virginity-losing league.

People there claimed to have their first sex at an average age of 16.4 years, pipping the Brazilians by just five weeks.

The French claimed to have the most sexual partners, an average of 16.7.

And Indians proved the most faithful, with 82% saying they had had sex with just one person.

Learn-as-you-go

The survey also asked people how they learnt about sex.

Dutch people said they found out from their mothers, Americans from their fathers.

But the French appear to have adopted a learn-as-you-go approach - most thanked their lovers for their sex education.

The young were more likely to practise safe sex than the over-45s

There was encouragement for the campaign against AIDS.

Among 16 to 20-year-olds, 92% said they used contraception and 61% said condoms were their preferred method.

But the over-45s are less inclined to hear the safe sex message - nearly a quarter use no protection at all.

Sexiest celebrities

Men and women were also asked to name who they thought were the sexiest celebrities.

Madonna and actress and pop star Jennifer Lopez were most popular among men, while Titanic heroine Kate Winslet and former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell scored just 2% each.

Actor Tom Cruise was the women's favourite.