Swedes’ sex lives are rated positively by around half of the population, but a new national survey also points to persistent gaps in desire, consent, sexual pain and exposure to violence, especially among women and young people.
The findings come from the Swedish Public Health Agency (Folkhälsomyndigheten), which has published its report Sexual and reproductive health and rights in Sweden 2024 (Sexuell och reproduktiv hälsa och rättigheter i Sverige 2024). The study is based on responses from 15,838 people aged 16 to 84 and provides one of the most detailed recent pictures of sexual health in Sweden.
Half of Swedes say they are satisfied with their sex lives
According to the report, around half of both women and men in Sweden say they are very or fairly satisfied with their sex lives. The overall picture is therefore not one of widespread dissatisfaction, but of uneven experiences across gender and age groups.
Younger and middle-aged women report slightly higher levels of satisfaction than men in comparable age groups. At the same time, the survey shows that sexual satisfaction does not necessarily mean the absence of problems. The report also records significant levels of low sexual desire, pain during sex and difficulties in setting boundaries.
The agency says the population’s sexual and reproductive health is generally good. However, the results also show that sexual health remains shaped by social expectations, gender norms, age, family life and access to support.
Low sexual desire is common among women aged 30 to 44
One of the most striking findings concerns lack of sexual desire among women. Almost half of women aged 30 to 44 reported that they had experienced a lack of interest in sex during the past year.
Maria Granvik Saminathen, an investigator at the Swedish Public Health Agency and one of the report’s authors, said this age group often overlaps with a period of family responsibility, including caring for young children. This may affect energy, time and interest in sex.
The report does not reduce low desire to a single explanation. Instead, it places it within a broader public health context, where stress, parenthood, relationship dynamics and social expectations can all influence sexual wellbeing.
The findings also matter because Sweden often has an international image as a sexually liberal country. The survey suggests a more complex reality: openness and formal rights coexist with persistent pressures, unequal experiences and unmet needs.
Older men report less freedom to say no to sex
The report also examines whether people feel able to control their own sex lives. Most respondents say they can decide whether to have sex, choose their partner and say no. Yet important differences remain.
Men generally report a lower ability than women to set boundaries in sexual situations. This is particularly visible among older men, who are more likely to say they cannot always say no to sex or decide what kind of sex they want.
Granvik Saminathen said the reasons are not fully known, but traditional masculine norms may play a role. Older men may feel pressure to be sexually available or to conform to expectations that men should always want sex. The agency notes that these gender differences appear less pronounced among younger generations, where norms around consent and sexuality may be changing.
This part of the survey broadens the public debate on consent. It shows that sexual autonomy is not only about legal protection from coercion, but also about the everyday ability to express limits, preferences and discomfort.
Young women face pain, harassment and sexual violence
The report highlights serious concerns among young women. One in three young women reported experiencing physical pain during or after sex. This points to a public health issue that can involve physical, psychological and relational factors, and may require better access to information, care and counselling.
Young women are also much more likely than men to report sexual violence and harassment, including in digital environments. Nearly one in six women said they had experienced attempted sexual intercourse against their will. A similar share said someone had intercourse with them, or did something sexual to them, while they were in a vulnerable or helpless situation.
These findings underline that sexual and reproductive health and rights are not only about contraception, pregnancy or access to healthcare. They also include protection from violence, the ability to set boundaries, and the right to seek support after abuse.
Despite the scale of the problem, only one in ten people who had been subjected to sexual violence reported seeking support or treatment. Granvik Saminathen said this pattern looks similar to the previous comparable survey from 2017, suggesting that barriers to support remain difficult to overcome.
Sweden’s sexual health debate moves beyond satisfaction
The Swedish survey shows that asking whether people are satisfied with their sex lives captures only part of the issue. Around half of Swedes describe their sex lives positively, but the same report identifies persistent inequalities in desire, autonomy, pain and exposure to violence.
For Sweden, the results are relevant not only for healthcare services, but also for schools, youth clinics, digital safety policies and public health work at local and national level. The Swedish Public Health Agency says the data are intended to help authorities and healthcare actors provide better support where it is needed.
The broader Nordic and European relevance is clear. Sweden is often associated with progressive sexual education and strong gender equality policies. Yet the new data show that formal rights do not automatically remove social pressure, violence or unmet health needs. The next challenge is to turn high levels of awareness into more effective prevention, earlier support and more equal sexual wellbeing.
