About 60% of US men and 36.5% of women masturbated in the past month, according to a 2021 nationally representative survey of 3,742 adults by Herbenick et al. That makes men about 1.6 times as likely as women to have done it recently.
Weekly masturbation is less common than many people assume. 35.9% of US men and 8.8% of women masturbated at least once a week over the past year, according to the same survey.
In this article, we’ll break down how often men and women masturbate, how it changes with age and relationship status, how countries compare, whether it’s becoming more common, and what research says about health and common myths.
Top Masturbation Statistics
- About 60% of US men and 36.5% of women masturbated in the past month (2021 national survey).
- 35.9% of US men and 8.8% of women masturbated at least weekly over the past year (2021).
- 10.4% of US men and about 25% of women have never masturbated (2021).
- 68.6% of US men and 51.7% of women aged 25 to 29 masturbated in the past month, the peak age group (2009 national survey).
- 72.9% of sexually experienced French women aged 18 to 69 have ever masturbated, up from 42.4% in 1992.
- In Britain, past-month masturbation among people aged 16 to 44 rose from 73.4% to 77.5% for men and from 37.0% to 40.3% for women between 1999–2001 and 2010–12.
- Men who reported 21 or more ejaculations a month at ages 40 to 49 had a 22% lower risk of prostate cancer than men reporting 4 to 7 (correlational).
How Often Do People Masturbate?
About 60% of US men and 36.5% of women masturbated in the past month in 2021, according to Herbenick et al., a nationally representative survey of 1,784 men and 1,958 women. Weekly masturbation was much rarer: 35.9% of men and 8.8% of women, about 1 in 3 men and 1 in 11 women.
Earlier national data show a similar pattern. In a 2014–2015 survey, about 64% of US men and 40.8% of women had masturbated in the past month, according to Herbenick et al. 2017.
Here’s a breakdown of how often US adults masturbate:
| Measure | Men | Women | Survey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masturbated in the past month | About 60% | 36.5% | 2021, Herbenick et al. |
| Masturbated at least weekly (past year) | 35.9% | 8.8% | 2021, Herbenick et al. |
| Never masturbated | 10.4% | About 25% | 2021, Herbenick et al. |
| Masturbated in the past month | About 64% | 40.8% | 2014–15, Herbenick et al. |
| Masturbated in the past week (ages 18–60) | 54% | 26% | 2014, Relationships in America |
| Masturbated today or yesterday (ages 18–60) | 28% | 9% | 2014, Relationships in America |
| Masturbated in the past year (ages 18–60) | 61% | 38% | 1992, NHSLS |
The 2021 survey ran during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2014 Relationships in America survey, with 15,738 adults, asked about the last time people masturbated, so its “past week” figure isn’t directly comparable with “at least weekly over the past year.”
How Often Do Men Masturbate?
About 60% of US men masturbated in the past month, and 35.9% did so at least weekly, according to Herbenick et al. (2021). Only 10.4% of US men have never masturbated.
In Britain, 50% of men aged 16 to 74 masturbated in the past 7 days, rising to 69% of men aged 16 to 24, according to the Natsal-3 reference tables (2010–12).
Average frequency figures vary by country and survey. Czech men masturbated 5.39 times a month on average in 2024, or about 1.2 times a week, and men aged 18 to 25 averaged 8.80 times, according to Czech National Institute of Mental Health preliminary data from a quota sample of 6,669 people.
Here’s a breakdown of how often men masturbate:
| Measure | Figure | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Past month | About 60% | US men (2021) | Herbenick et al. |
| At least weekly | 35.9% | US men (2021) | Herbenick et al. |
| Past 7 days | 50% | British men 16–74 (2010–12) | Natsal-3 |
| At least weekly, among men who masturbate | 67% | Danish men 15–89 (2017–18) | Projekt SEXUS |
| Average per month | 5.39 times | Czech men (2024) | NUDZ |
| Average per week | 3.18 times | Finnish men 18–49, twins and siblings (2005–06) | Huang et al. |
| Daily | 30% | Men 18–29 (2026, company survey) | Kinsey Institute / Playboy |
The young-men figure comes from a company-sponsored 2026 survey of more than 2,300 adults aged 18 to 29, run by Playboy with the Kinsey Institute and the brand Julie. The same survey found about a third of Gen Z men didn’t masturbate at all in the past 3 months, per Fast Company.
How Often Do Women Masturbate?
36.5% of US women masturbated in the past month and 8.8% did so at least weekly, according to Herbenick et al. (2021). About a quarter had never masturbated.
In Britain, 22% of women aged 16 to 74 masturbated in the past 7 days, peaking at 32% among women aged 16 to 24, according to Natsal-3.
Brand-sponsored surveys report higher figures for women. A 2021 Womanizer survey across 17 countries put women’s average at 53 times a year, about once a week, according to HuffPost UK, and a TENGA survey put women at about 8 times a month (year not stated), per The Healthy. These come from sex-toy makers and use non-random online samples.
Here’s a breakdown of how often women masturbate:
| Measure | Figure | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Past month | 36.5% | US women (2021) | Herbenick et al. |
| At least weekly | 8.8% | US women (2021) | Herbenick et al. |
| Past 7 days | 22% | British women 16–74 (2010–12) | Natsal-3 |
| At least weekly, among women who masturbate | 30% | Danish women 15–89 (2017–18) | Projekt SEXUS |
| Average per month | 1.96 times | Czech women (2024) | NUDZ |
| Average per week | 1.62 times | Finnish women 18–49, twins and siblings (2005–06) | Huang et al. |
| Ever masturbated | 72.9% | Sexually experienced French women 18–69 (2023) | Inserm |
| Average per year (brand survey) | 53 times | Women in 17 countries (2021) | Womanizer, via HuffPost UK |
Many women find solo sex especially satisfying. 36% of Danish women vs 11% of men aged 15 to 89 said their orgasms are more intense from masturbation than from intercourse, according to Projekt SEXUS.
Masturbation by Age
In the US, masturbation peaks in the late 20s. 68.6% of US men and 51.7% of women aged 25 to 29 masturbated in the past month, according to the 2009 National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior, reported by Herbenick et al.
Rates fall with age but don’t disappear. Among adults 70 and older, 27.9% of men and 11.5% of women masturbated in the past month.
Here’s a breakdown of masturbation by age (US past month; Britain past 7 days):
| Age | US Men (2009) | US Women (2009) | British Men, Past 7 Days (2010–12) | British Women, Past 7 Days (2010–12) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18–19 | 61.1% | 26.0% | – | – |
| 20–24 | 62.8% | 43.7% | 69% (16–24) | 32% (16–24) |
| 25–29 | 68.6% | 51.7% | 63% (25–34) | 28% (25–34) |
| 30–39 | 66.4% | 38.6% | 54% (35–44) | 23% (35–44) |
| 40–49 | 60.1% | 38.5% | 46% (45–54) | 22% (45–54) |
| 50–59 | 55.7% | 28.3% | 36% (55–64) | 11% (55–64) |
| 60–69 | 42.3% | 21.5% | 21% (65–74) | 6% (65–74) |
| 70+ | 27.9% | 11.5% | Not surveyed | Not surveyed |
British age bands (shown in brackets) differ from US bands and start at 16. Sources: Herbenick et al. 2010, Natsal-3
Older adults stay more active than many assume. 65% of Norwegian men and 40% of women aged 60 to 75 masturbated in the past month, according to European research reported by ScienceNorway.
Men vs Women: The Masturbation Gap
Men masturbate more often than women in every national survey cited here. For any masturbation in the past month or year, the gap ranges from about 1.6 times (US) to about 2.7 times (urban China); for weekly masturbation it reaches 4.1 times (US).
Here’s a breakdown of the gap between men and women:
| Country | Measure | Men | Women | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US (2021) | Past month | About 60% | 36.5% | 1.6x |
| US (2021) | At least weekly | 35.9% | 8.8% | 4.1x |
| Britain, 16–44 (2010–12) | Past month | 77.5% | 40.3% | 1.9x |
| Australia, 16–69 (2012–13) | Past year | 72% | 42% | 1.7x |
| Denmark, 15–89 (2017–18) | Weekly, among those who masturbate | 67% | 30% | 2.2x |
| Czech Republic (2024) | Average times a month | 5.39 | 1.96 | 2.8x |
| Finland, 18–49 (2005–06) | Average times a week | 3.18 | 1.62 | 2.0x |
| Urban China, 20–59 (2000) | Past year | 35% | 13% | 2.7x |
| France, 18–69, sexually experienced (2023) | Ever | 92.6% | 72.9% | – |
Ratios are our calculation. Sources: Herbenick et al., Fischer et al. (Natsal), Richters et al. (ASHR), Projekt SEXUS, NUDZ, PsyPost (Huang et al.), Das, Parish & Laumann, Inserm
The gap is widest for frequent masturbation. US men were about 4.1 times as likely as women to masturbate weekly, compared with 1.6 times for any masturbation in the past month (our calculation).
Is Masturbation Becoming More Common?
Yes, especially among women. In France, the share of sexually experienced women aged 18 to 69 who have ever masturbated rose from 42.4% in 1992 to 56.5% in 2006 and 72.9% in 2023, a 30.5 percentage-point rise, according to Inserm. Among men, it rose from 82.8% to 92.6%.
Britain shows the same direction. Past-month masturbation among people aged 16 to 44 rose from 73.4% to 77.5% for men and from 37.0% to 40.3% for women between 1999–2001 and 2010–12, and the share of women who had never masturbated fell from 28.5% to 24.1%, according to Fischer et al.
Here’s a breakdown of masturbation trends:
| Measure | Earlier | Later | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| French women 18–69 (sexually experienced), ever | 42.4% (1992) | 72.9% (2023) | Inserm |
| French men 18–69 (sexually experienced), ever | 82.8% (1992) | 92.6% (2023) | Inserm |
| British men 16–44, past month | 73.4% (1999–2001) | 77.5% (2010–12) | Fischer et al. |
| British women 16–44, past month | 37.0% (1999–2001) | 40.3% (2010–12) | Fischer et al. |
| British men 16–24, past month | 73.2% (1999–2001) | 82.6% (2010–12) | Fischer et al. |
| British men 16–44, past 7 days | 51.7% (1999–2001) | 62% (2010–12) | Natsal |
| British women 16–44, past 7 days | 17.8% (1999–2001) | 27% (2010–12) | Natsal |
| Czech men, times a month | 9.13 (2013) | 5.39 (2024) | NUDZ (methods differ) |
Not every country shows a rise. Czech average frequency fell between 2013 and 2024, but the two surveys used different methods, so the change may partly reflect how the questions were asked.
Historical figures give longer context. Alfred Kinsey’s interviews found that 92% of American men had masturbated (1948 report), according to Big Think, and 62% of women (1953 report), per Emily Nagoski. Kinsey’s samples weren’t representative.
Do People in Relationships Masturbate Less?
Men in relationships do, women barely differ. 66% of single US men masturbated in the past week, vs 51% of men in a relationship, while single and partnered women were close (29% vs 25%), according to Austin Institute, Relationships in America (2014).
Researchers analyzing that survey (Regnerus et al. 2017) described masturbation as mostly compensatory for men (a substitute when partnered sex is missing) and complementary for women (an addition to it). Among men who had no sex in the past 2 weeks, 62% masturbated in the past week, vs 48% of men who had sex 8 or more times.
Wanting more sex is linked to masturbating more. US men and women who wanted partnered sex “much more often” had about 4 times the odds of reporting higher masturbation frequency (odds ratios 4.40 for men and 3.89 for women), compared with those who wanted no change, according to Herbenick et al.
How Do People Masturbate? Porn, Fantasy and Toys
Men are more likely to use porn while masturbating. 66% of men vs 35% of women said they use adult content when masturbating, while women more often relied on fantasy (54% vs 44%), in an 18-country TENGA survey reported by Refinery29. It’s a company-sponsored survey.
Sex toys are common among women. 52.5% of US women aged 18 to 60 had used a vibrator, according to Indiana University research reported by ScienceDaily (2009, funded by a condom maker). In Australia, about 21% of women and 15% of men aged 16 to 69 reported using sex toys (2012–13), according to Richters et al.
Here’s a breakdown of how people masturbate:
| Measure | Men | Women | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Use porn when masturbating | 66% | 35% | TENGA (company survey, 2018, 18 countries) |
| Use fantasy when masturbating | 44% | 54% | TENGA (company survey, 2018) |
| Ever used a vibrator | About 45% | 52.5% | Indiana University (2009) |
| Used a sex toy | About 15% | About 21% | Australian Study of Health and Relationships, ages 16–69 (2012–13) |
| Viewed porn in past year (any medium) | 63% | 20% | Australian Study of Health and Relationships, ages 16–69 (2012–13) |
Is Masturbation Healthy? What Research Says
Research links frequent ejaculation with lower prostate cancer risk, though it doesn’t prove cause. In a study of 31,925 US men, those who reported 21 or more ejaculations a month at ages 40 to 49 had a 22% lower risk than men reporting 4 to 7, according to Rider et al. (European Urology, 2016). At ages 20 to 29, the figure was 19% lower.
Many people say it helps them sleep. In an online survey of 778 adults, 54.1% of those who answered said an orgasm from masturbation improved their sleep quality, compared with 70.8% for partnered sex with orgasm, according to Lastella et al.
Here’s a breakdown of health findings and myths:
| Claim | What the Data Shows | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Frequent ejaculation lowers prostate cancer risk | 21+ a month linked to 19%–22% lower risk vs 4–7 (correlational) | Rider et al. 2016 (31,925 men) |
| Moderate frequency and prostate cancer | 2–4 ejaculations a week linked to lower risk (odds ratio 0.91) | Jian et al. 2018 meta-analysis (22 studies) |
| Masturbation helps sleep | 54.1% of those who answered said it improved their sleep quality | Lastella et al. 2019 (778 adults) |
| Masturbation causes erectile dysfunction | Masturbation frequency not linked to ED (P=.28) | Jacobs et al. 2021 (3,419 men 18–35) |
| Frequent masturbation causes delayed ejaculation | Men with delayed ejaculation masturbated slightly more often (about 1.7 vs 1.2 times a week); small effect, correlational | Rowland et al. 2022 (2,332 men) |
| Abstinence boosts testosterone 45% | The study behind it (n=28) was later retracted for duplicate publication | Jiang et al. 2003; Snopes |
| Masturbating too much is common | 30.2% of men and 11.9% of women do it more than they want | Huang et al. 2023 (12,271 Finns aged 18–49) |
The testosterone myth traces back to a small 2003 study of 28 men that reported a one-day spike to 145.7% of baseline on day 7 of abstinence. Levels returned to normal, and the paper was later retracted for duplicate publication, according to Snopes.
“Too much” is about distress, not a number. Only 8.3% of Finnish men and 2.7% of women said they masturbated more than they wanted to and felt distressed about it, according to Huang et al.
Some people try to stop altogether. About 64% of 1,063 men recruited on Reddit had tried to abstain from masturbation at least once, according to PsyPost, and the NoFap forum lists 374,353 registered members, according to NoFap (October 2026).
Sleep, stress and delayed ejaculation all feature in the evidence on whether masturbation is healthy. The 21-a-month prostate finding comes from research on how often a man should ejaculate.
Methodology
We reviewed 273 candidate data points from national probability surveys (the US National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior and National Survey of Sexual Wellbeing, Britain’s Natsal, Australia’s ASHR, France’s CSF, Denmark’s Projekt SEXUS), peer-reviewed studies and company-sponsored surveys. We led with national probability samples and labeled company surveys, which use non-random online samples.
Surveys measure masturbation in different ways (past 7 days, past 4 weeks, past month, past year, ever), so compare figures only within the same measure.
Key Takeaways
Most adults masturbate, but fewer do it often than people assume. About 60% of US men and 36.5% of women masturbated in the past month, while only 35.9% of men and 8.8% of women do it weekly.
In the US, masturbation peaks in the late 20s and continues into older age, and it’s becoming more common among women: 72.9% of sexually experienced French women have ever masturbated, up from 42.4% in 1992. One survey of 3,419 men aged 18 to 35 found no link between masturbation frequency and erectile dysfunction, and frequent ejaculation is associated with lower prostate cancer risk.
FAQ
How often does the average man masturbate?
About 60% of US men masturbated in the past month, and 35.9% did so at least weekly (2021). Survey averages range from about 5 times a month among Czech men (2024 quota sample) to about 3 times a week among Finnish men aged 18 to 49 (2005–06).
How often does the average woman masturbate?
36.5% of US women masturbated in the past month and 8.8% at least weekly (2021). Czech women averaged 1.96 times a month in 2024, and about a quarter of US women have never masturbated.
Is it normal to masturbate every day?
It’s common among some groups. 30% of men aged 18 to 29 said they masturbate daily in a 2026 company-sponsored survey with the Kinsey Institute. Frequency becomes a concern only if it causes distress or gets in the way of daily life.
How often is too often to masturbate?
There’s no set number. 30.2% of Finnish men and 11.9% of women said they masturbate more than they want to, but only 8.3% of men and 2.7% of women also reported distress about it.
Does masturbation lower testosterone?
There’s no good evidence that it does. The widely shared claim that abstinence raises testosterone by 45% came from a small 2003 study of 28 men that was later retracted.
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