February 2025
This new study continues a series of surveys conducted by Discurv on French people and sexuality, as well as on the sexiest celebrities in France.
Making love in an exotic place is the top fantasy among the French: 2 out of 3 mention it among their fantasies. Being woken up by sex comes second, with nearly 1 in 2 saying they fantasize about it.
On average, the French report 6 fantasies from the list provided.
Pools/jacuzzis, deserted beaches, and cars are the top three fantasized locations: 7 out of 10 French people have fantasized about having sex in one of these places. Forests and kitchens follow, with 2 out of 3 having fantasized about them.
On average, the French have fantasized about 7 of these locations. However, only 1 in 10 have imagined places of worship or religious sites for sex. This is the least cited location by far.
Fantasies are less divisive when it comes to character types or professions. Nurses remain the number one fantasy, with 46% of French people having fantasized about this profession. They top the classic fantasies of flight attendants and neighbors.
Family members such as in-laws or siblings-in-law have been the subject of fantasies for fewer than 1 in 5, as well as plumbers and bodybuilders.
On average, the French have fantasized about 6 of these character types.
Broadly speaking, 1 in 4 French people feel at least a little ashamed of their fantasies. They think about them at different moments throughout the day, including outside of sexual activity. One-third say they think about their fantasies randomly during the day. Similarly, one-third think about their fantasies while masturbating.
Regarding their partner, 1 in 3 French people feel very or extremely comfortable discussing their fantasies. Also notable: more than half of French people have already thought about someone else while having sex with their partner.
French fantasies are notably diverse, with an average of 6 fantasies reported per person, revealing a strong preference for certain themes. Among the most common, having sex in an exotic location comes first, with 2 out of 3 respondents fantasizing about it. Other scenarios, like being woken up by sex, appeal to nearly half. However, more daring acts like roleplay or group sex, though present in the imagination of a third of the French, are less consistently fantasized about.
When it comes to locations, there is a clear attraction to private yet non-routine spaces. Pools, jacuzzis, deserted beaches, and cars are the most fantasized places, with half of respondents saying they think about them regularly. These locations combine sensuality with a hint of taboo—central themes in the collective imagination. Conversely, more transgressive places like religious sites or public restrooms are far less popular, showing clear boundaries in expressed desires.
Regarding characters, fantasies tend to center around classic, symbolic figures. Nurses top the list, fantasized about by 46% of respondents, followed by flight attendants and neighbors. In contrast, family members (in-laws, siblings-in-law) or less romanticized jobs like plumbers evoke little desire, reflecting the cultural and moral boundaries of French erotic imagination.
Emotionally, 1 in 4 French people admit feeling some shame about their fantasies. Yet these fantasies seem to be an essential private refuge, with a third of participants thinking about them at random moments or during solo pleasure. Overall, the French think about their fantasies both during and outside of sexual activity. Lastly, half of the French have imagined being with someone else during intimacy with their partner, highlighting the important role fantasies play in their inner life and relationship balance.
Men vs. Women: Persistent Myths
Differences between men and women appear both in the nature and intensity of their fantasies. Men report more openness, averaging 7.1 fantasies compared to 4.9 for women, and are more drawn to public scenarios or involving celebrities (39%) or domination (39%). Women, on the other hand, prefer more intimate fantasies, such as being woken up by sex (38%). Fantasized locations vary less by gender. Both are drawn to cars and beaches, though men show more attraction to forests and kitchens. The nurse myth remains strong among men, along with fantasies involving neighbors, flight attendants, and secretaries. Meanwhile, women continue to fantasize about firefighters, still appealing to nearly half of them.
Workers Share Similarities
Executives and blue/white-collar workers show a richer imagination than the average French person, averaging 6.8 fantasies for executives and 6.7 for workers. Executives are more inclined to fantasize about group sex or voyeurism, while workers favor domination or filming themselves. Workers are more attracted to cars and kitchens, while 2 out of 3 executives have fantasized about sex at work. Executives tend to stick to classic fantasy characters. Workers, however, lean toward uniformed professions like firefighters, police, or military personnel.
Urban and Rural Fantasies Align
Living area ultimately has little impact on experienced or imagined fantasies. Rural residents are, however, less likely to engage in swinging or non-consensual scenarios than urbanites.
Couples Are Average
There are relatively few differences between people in relationships and the rest of the population regarding fantasies. However, singles are more likely to fantasize about sex with a stranger, a celebrity, or multiple partners. They also fantasize more about character types like nurses, flight attendants, neighbors, or uniformed professions like police/military.
Younger People Are More Adventurous
Younger individuals are more imaginative and bold in their fantasies than their elders, with higher averages in both number and variety. They explore modern practices like bondage or filming themselves. Seniors are more traditional in their fantasies and settings, but show a slightly stronger preference for adultery. Interestingly, although they think about fantasies less often than younger people, seniors feel less shame about them—perhaps due to the more provocative nature of younger people's fantasies.
The North-South Divide Remains
The north-south divide persists even in fantasies. Northern regions are generally less responsive to various fantasies, with the notable exception of Île-de-France. Residents of Île-de-France have very vivid imaginations, with more varied fantasies than the national average. They are particularly drawn to roleplay, sports teachers, and domination practices, with one-third fantasizing about filming themselves, and 1 in 4 about babysitters, their boss, or cheating on their partner. In Hauts-de-France, fantasies about submission are more common, while residents of Pays de la Loire and Centre-Val de Loire fantasize more about adultery.
In the south, people have more fantasies than average, with Occitanie leading the way. The region shows a strong attraction to cinemas and workplaces, fantasized about by half the population. Notably, 1 in 4 people there admit to fantasizing about their brother- or sister-in-law—twice the national average. In Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, flight attendants and public gardens are common fantasy themes, while those in Nouvelle-Aquitaine prefer trains and planes. The PACA region, though less diverse in fantasy themes compared to the rest of the south, stays true to its Mediterranean vibe, with 8 out of 10 fantasizing about pools and jacuzzis.
A study led by:
Audrey Mandefield, Senior Account Manager
Pauline Poché, Insights Team Lead
TO CITE THIS STUDY, YOU MUST AT LEAST USE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT
“Discurv study for XloveCam conducted via self-administered online questionnaire in December 2023 with a sample of 1,000 people representative of the French population aged 18 and over.”