A new report shows that young people in Denmark are not having less sex than previous generations, nor do they have a poor relationship with sex. On the contrary. Most thrive sexually and take responsibility for consent. But behind the positive figures lies another picture: many still have no one to talk to, and far too many use unreliable contraception.
Sex & Samfund's new report SexLiv 2025 paints a nuanced picture of young Danes' attitudes toward sex and sexuality. A total of 1,354 respondents completed the questionnaire, and data collection was carried out between May 12 and June 21, 2025. The target group for the survey is young Danes aged 15–25.
The report covers everything from sexual debut and contraception to knowledge about sexually transmitted diseases and understanding of consent. The results provide a rare insight into how young people in Denmark experience their sexuality, and the conclusion is encouraging.
Sixty-one percent of young people rate their sex lives as good or very good. The average age of sexual debut is 16, exactly as it was in the 1970s. There is therefore no sign that the younger generation is having less sex than before.
"Contrary to what some may believe, our new study shows that young people in Denmark actually have a fundamentally healthy and positive attitude toward sex," says Sex & Samfund Secretary General Majbrit Berlau in the organization's own news release.
But even though there is good reason for optimism, the report also shows that well-being and knowledge do not always go hand in hand.
One of the most positive findings in the report concerns consent. Young people rate their knowledge of consent and boundaries as the highest of all topics in the study. A full 69 percent feel that they are able to ensure consent, and among those who have had sex, the figure rises to 80 percent.
This shows that efforts to promote a culture of consent are working. Young people are generally aware of the importance of voluntariness, reciprocity, and respect. But when the study takes a closer look, gaps in understanding are also revealed: 17 percent of men and 6 percent of women do not believe that consent can be withdrawn during the act.
This misunderstanding emphasizes that the concept of "ongoing consent" is still not fully established.
As Berlau writes in the report's foreword: "Consent is not a point you reach, but an ongoing conversation. It is a dynamic process that requires communication throughout."
When young people learn to see consent as a dynamic process rather than a one-time decision, it not only strengthens their sexual well-being, but also their relationships and communication in general.
Although many young people feel comfortable with their sexuality, there are clear signs that sex education does not reach everyone. The report shows that the primary sources of knowledge are still friends and sex education. Between 40 and 60 percent get their knowledge about sex, contraception, consent, and boundaries from friends, while 40 to 50 percent mention sex education.
Nevertheless, more than half of those surveyed feel that they have not received the necessary education on topics such as contraception, sexually transmitted diseases, and boundaries. This means that many young people form their understanding through peers and social media, with all the variations and misunderstandings that this can entail. Chatbots and artificial intelligence, on the other hand, play virtually no role: only 3 to 6 percent mention ChatGPT as a source of knowledge about sex.
Another finding in the report is how many young people have no one to talk to about sex, contraception, or boundaries. Depending on the topic, between 14 and 25 percent say they do not talk to anyone about it, and among young people with parents of foreign origin, the figure rises to 30 percent.
More men than women are left without confidential conversations, and fathers in particular play a very small role. Only 9 percent of young men and 7 percent of young women mention their father as someone they talk to about sex. In comparison, 38 percent of women talk to their mother about contraception, while only 15 percent of men do the same.
Sex & Samfund believes that this silence may be due to loneliness, a lack of language, and cultural shame.
"Parents play a key role in young people's knowledge, security, and attitudes toward sex. But many do not know how to broach the subject, which means that too many young people are left with no one to talk to," the organization writes in the report.
Most young people are aware of contraception, but far from all of them use it consistently. Among young people who have had sex, 18 percent of men and 10 percent of women say they did not use any form of contraception. Coitus interruptus, often called "pull out" or "pull and pray," is the third most commonly used method among young people and is used almost equally by both sexes.
At the same time, 36 percent of women and 26 percent of men say they are concerned about unwanted pregnancy when they are with a new partner.
Condoms, which protect against both pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, are used by 45 percent, but here too there is a gender difference: 54 percent of men and only 37 percent of women have used condoms in the past six months. Women are more likely to use birth control pills and hormonal IUDs, which may explain the difference, but it also raises the question of how much responsibility for contraception still lies with women.
"We must therefore raise young people's knowledge of contraception without pointing fingers. We must not return to the scare campaigns and fear of the past, but rather reach young people with the message that safe sex, and in particular condom use, is actually sexy." (SexLiv 2025, p. 4)
When it comes to sexually transmitted diseases, young people rate their knowledge as the lowest of all topics. Only about half have received education on the subject, and 40 percent have ever been tested.
Women are generally more concerned than men. 30 percent of women and 20 percent of men say they are concerned about being infected by a new partner. Men, on the other hand, are more concerned about pregnancy than sexually transmitted diseases.
The main motivation for getting tested is the desire to be sure that one is not infected, which is an expression of responsibility, but also of uncertainty about risks and symptoms.
One of the most obvious patterns in the report is the difference between young people with Danish parents and young people with parents of foreign origin. The latter group has a lower level of knowledge, uses contraception less often, and has far fewer confidential conversations about sex.
This shows that sexual well-being depends not only on age and gender, but also on culture, access to information, and social settings. Here, the report emphasizes the need for diverse and inclusive sex education that takes into account different backgrounds and experiences.
Sex & Samfund concludes that young people generally thrive sexually and have a healthy relationship with consent, but that this does not mean that everything is working optimally. The organization emphasizes that the path to real sexual well-being lies through knowledge, education, and open dialogue, and that society still has a responsibility to ensure that no young people are left alone.
"All young people must have access to knowledge, because knowledge is freedom. When all young people have access to qualified knowledge about sex, consent, and contraception, they are better equipped to make informed choices and act with respect for themselves and others." (SexLiv 2025, p. 4)
Sex & Samfund's recommendations are therefore not only about education, but about creating a coherent network of support where young people encounter the same messages at school, at home, and in the healthcare system.
Among other things, they propose a fixed number of hours for sex education and a professional coordinator at each school so that students receive continuous and qualified teaching rather than random theme days. In addition, they recommend better access to contraception and free testing for sexually transmitted diseases to remove barriers to safe sex, as well as support for parents to give them the tools to have the conversation at home, especially with sons, where silence is often greatest.
Essentially, it is about creating a common language around sex. Many young people know what is right and wrong, but lack the words to talk about it. Both parents and schools play a central role here.
"When parents dare to have the conversation, young people gain a stronger foundation of knowledge and confidence, and fewer are left feeling alone," writes Majbrit Berlau in the report.
The goal is not to lecture, but to normalize the conversation. To enable young people to ask questions, learn, and test their knowledge without fear of being judged. As the report concludes: sexual well-being does not come about on its own; it grows from the intersection of knowledge, security, and freedom.
SexLiv 2025 shows that young Danes both dare and want to talk about sex, and that the culture of consent is becoming a natural part of their everyday lives. But the study also points to clear blind spots: knowledge does not reach everyone, many are left alone with questions, and some still use unsafe methods of protection.
The fact that young people "have a lot of sex and good sex" is therefore not the whole story, but the beginning of a new conversation about how we ensure that all young people have the opportunity for a safe, informed, and enjoyable sex life.
"Sexual well-being is not something that comes naturally; it grows on a solid foundation of knowledge, freedom, and security." (SexLiv 2025, preface)
