The First Date Sex Myth: Which Countries Actually Top the List?

You've probably heard the claim that Australian women are statistically most likely to hop into bed after a first date. It's the kind of "fun fact" that gets passed around at parties, shared on social media, and generally accepted without question. There's just one problem: it's completely made up.

No credible survey or statistical study supports this claim about Australian women. In fact, when researchers actually looked at first-date sexual behavior across different countries, Australia didn't even crack the top three.

So Who Actually Tops the List?

According to a Victoria Milan study of 5,650 women from multiple countries, the nations where women are most comfortable with first-date intimacy are France, Denmark, and Norway. Women from these three countries showed the least reluctance to ending a first date in bed with their new romantic interest.

The breakdown gets even more interesting when you look at the details:

• French women: 57% prefer the encounter to take place at home
• Danish women: 57% prefer a hotel room setting
• Norwegian women: 68% prefer a hotel room

Researchers found that women from these countries generally don't go into dates expecting sex, but make the decision organically based on how the evening unfolds. It's a spontaneous choice, not a predetermined cultural norm.

The Cultural Context Matters

When it comes to sexually liberal attitudes, Iceland often takes the crown. The typical American "three-date rule" doesn't really exist there. Instead, Icelandic dating culture sometimes involves intimacy first, then deciding whether to pursue an emotional connection afterward. It's practically the reverse of what many Western cultures consider "normal."

Meanwhile, in Brazil, it's not unusual to kiss someone on the lips within five minutes of meeting them. Spain falls somewhere in the middle of the spectrum, with women typically waiting until the second date rather than the first.

Why This Myth Persists

So where did this Australian claim come from? It's likely a case of internet telephone—a factoid that someone invented or misremembered, which then spread because it sounded plausible and provocative. Australia has a reputation for laid-back attitudes and beach culture, which might make people more inclined to believe stereotypes about casual sexuality.

The truth is, comprehensive Australian sexuality surveys like the Australian Study of Health and Relationships (which interviewed over 20,000 Australians) and the Australian Women's Weekly Voice survey (covering 5,000+ women) don't even track first-date sexual behavior. It's simply not a metric that researchers have prioritized in Australian studies.

The Takeaway

This myth is a reminder that "statistics" without sources are usually fiction. Before accepting a claim about human behavior—especially one that stereotypes an entire nationality—it's worth asking: Where's the actual data?

When it comes to first-date intimacy, the real statistical leaders are in Northern and Western Europe, not the Land Down Under. And as always, individual behavior varies far more than national stereotypes would suggest.