Austria: Land of Music, Mountains, and the Best Sex in the World

The results of an international study just released in the Archives of Sexual Behavior, revealed some fascinating—but not too surprising—data about where in the world people are enjoying sex more. The study was conducted at the University of Chicago, led by sociologist Edward Laumann, a top researcher and authority on the sociological aspects of sex. The research team studied 27,500 people between the ages of 40 and 80 in 29 nations around the globe. Naturally, the study was funded by Pfizer, the company that makes Viagra.

The results of the study proved that sex is generally more satisfying in countries where men and women are closer to being equals, whereas cultures that are male-centered show less satisfaction with sex lives. Laumann believes the findings are a clear indicator that relationships based on equality lead to more satisfaction for both spouses. "Male-centered cultures where sexual behavior is more oriented toward procreation tend to discount the importance of sexual pleasure for women," Laumann said. "When Mama’s not happy, nobody’s happy."

Austria was found to be home to the most sexually pleased people in the world, with more than 71% of those surveyed reporting that they were perfectly happy with their sex lives. The least satisfied country was Japan, with just over 25% of all people surveyed saying that they were satisfied.

TOP FIVE sexually satisfied countries:
1. Austria, 71.4%
2. Spain, 69%
3. Canada, 66.1%
4. Belgium, 64.6%
5. United States, 64.2%

BOTTOM FIVE not-so-satisfied nations:
25. Thailand, 35.9%
26. China, 34.8%
27. Indonesia, 33.9%
28. Taiwan, 28.6%
29. Japan, 25.7%

Researchers conducted the survey by phone, in person, or by mail, depending on the local practices of the country being studied. The difference in questioning methods was one of the limitations of the study. John DeLamater, a University of Wisconsin professor and editor of the International Journal of Sex Research, said that how educated a country is about health in general could be one of the contributing factors to the findings. "It’s conceivable that people in developed countries have more information about sexuality," DeLamater said. "And they’re also healthier. Being better informed and being in better shape, they may be more able to maintain a satisfying sex life."