Harris / XloveCam Survey on the habits of the French
Survey conducted online from May 6 to 11, 2023.
Sample of 1,518 people representative of the French population aged 18 and over.
Quota method and data adjustment applied to the following variables: gender, age, socio-professional category, and interviewee’s region.
The French overwhelmingly feel there has been a liberation of speech around sex: nearly 7 in 10 people say it’s easier to talk about sexuality today than in the past.
Today, sex is part of everyday conversation in France—not just within couples: 60% of the population say they often or occasionally discuss this topic outside the relationship, a behavior more common among younger generations than older ones. Is this simply an age effect or a true generational shift?
Probably a combination of both.
Still, the topic remains somewhat sensitive: only 35% of French people find it “very easy” to talk about sex within their couple (and just 16% outside of it), and it can also be a source of insecurity.
More than 3 out of 4 French people say they’ve already felt insecure about some aspect of their sex life—most often their body (especially among women), performance (especially among men), or sexual dysfunction (in both genders).
Yet, even if sex is not entirely free from taboo, the French widely view sexuality as a space of tolerance and freedom: 87% believe that nowadays, everyone is free to live their sexuality as they wish.
To what extent are the French satisfied with their love life and sexuality?
However, in terms of intensity, the French are slightly more fully satisfied with their love life (53% rate it between 8/10 and 10/10) than their sex life (45%).
These perceptions differ greatly depending on relationship status, with people in couples expressing significantly higher satisfaction—especially regarding their love life. Over time, however, sexual satisfaction in couples tends to decline slightly.
Overall, the French perceive their desires and sexual fantasies as “normal”: 73% describe their sexuality as “classic,” a term used more often than “fulfilling” (69%) or “liberated” (63%), and this view spans across generations.
When it comes to past experience, 2/3 of French people consider themselves sexually experienced, and only a minority (38%) wish to try new sexual practices. While men are more likely than women to see themselves as experienced, they are also more interested in expanding their sexual repertoire (49% vs. 28%). Young people and young couples are the most curious about new practices (50%), ahead of singles (42%). Singles, on the other hand, primarily seek new partners (53%).
Among the most frequent practices, penetration ranks first (87% have already experienced it), followed by oral sex (about 7 in 10 have engaged in fellatio or cunnilingus), and partnered masturbation (63%).
These practices regularly lead to orgasm for 85% of people in couples, though there's a significant gender gap: 92% of men say they reach orgasm every time or often, compared to 79% of women. This male-female difference also shows in libido: in couples, women more often say their partner has higher sexual desire (70%), while men say they themselves are the most desirous (78%).
Even among those in relationships, solo masturbation is common: 1 in 2 people say they masturbate at least once a month. Again, the gender gap is large—86% of men have masturbated versus 64% of women. Overall, the frequency of orgasms from solo masturbation is similar to that experienced in couples.
Women’s sources of sexual pleasure differ significantly depending on whether they’re alone or with a partner: alone, orgasm is most often achieved through external clitoral stimulation (69%), while with a partner, vaginal stimulation is more commonly the source of pleasure (37%, compared to 39% for clitoral).
In relationships, men are much more likely to identify as the partner with the higher libido, and the reverse is true for women. However, 3 in 10 women report wanting sex more often than their partner.
As for dating sites and apps, 38% of the population say they’ve used them, with that figure rising to 52% among those under 35. Still, for the vast majority of French people—even among users—these platforms are seen as just one more option for meeting people (85%) and not a necessity (14%). While these tools make encounters easier for many (60%), they may complicate other aspects of love life—especially fidelity, which 46% of the population say is harder to maintain today.
Less well-known than dating sites, “live cam” platforms are nonetheless gaining recognition: nearly 1 in 2 French people say they’ve heard of them. These sites are significantly more familiar to men (65%) than women (35%). Among newcomers, 12% express some interest in these platforms (18% among men, and even more among younger men), especially in the Paris metropolitan area.
After a brief explanation of how “live cam” sites work, French people acknowledge a few benefits: notably, the broad diversity of models available and the ability for users to freely express their desires. However, they remain much more skeptical about the concept of genuine interaction between model and user, often doubting the authenticity of the exchanges and the potential for real connection.
