Original Saucy Dates research · Published in 2017
World’s best and worst lovers: survey results by country
Men from Australia, South Africa and the United States, and women from Canada, France, Italy and the United States received the highest country ratings in the Saucy Dates survey of 22,753 dating network members. Each leading group scored 8 out of 10: “Very good” on the survey scale.
Our “world’s best and worst lovers” story attracted international media coverage. This is the original source report, with the country scores, thermometer infographic and the questions behind the headlines. The results reflect members’ ratings of past partners, not an objective test of a nationality’s abilities.
Country rankings · Survey method · Original infographic · Media coverage · FAQs
22,753 members
Members of the Saucy Dates online dating network took part in the original survey.
0 to 10 rating scale
Respondents rated their last sexual partner from “Worst ever” to “Best ever”.
11 countries shown
The published infographic compares male and female partner ratings for 11 countries.
Which countries had the best lovers?
The table reproduces every country score in the original infographic. The scores are modes: the most frequently selected ratings for each group, rather than calculated averages. Countries sharing a score are tied; they are listed alphabetically below.
| Country | Male partners: score out of 10 | Female partners: score out of 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 8 | 6 |
| Canada | 7 | 8 |
| France | 7 | 8 |
| Germany | 7 | 7 |
| India | 7 | 7 |
| Italy | 7 | 8 |
| New Zealand | 4 | 6 |
| South Africa | 8 | 7 |
| Spain | 7 | 6 |
| United Kingdom | 6 | 7 |
| United States | 8 | 8 |
Highest rated male lovers
Australia, South Africa and the United States shared the highest published male score of 8, or “Very good”. Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy and Spain followed at 7, or “Good”.
The ranking does not place one of the three leading countries above the others. They share the same published score.
Highest rated female lovers
Canada, France, Italy and the United States shared the highest published female score of 8. Germany, India, South Africa and the United Kingdom scored 7.
Those results describe ratings received from male respondents in this survey. They are not a measure of every woman from those countries.
Who received the lowest scores?
New Zealand had the lowest published male score: 4 out of 10, labelled “Bad” on the questionnaire. The United Kingdom’s male score was 6, or “Quite good”.
Among female partners, Australia, New Zealand and Spain shared the lowest published score of 6 out of 10. That was still “Quite good” on the scale. Calling these groups the “worst lovers” makes a striking headline, but the actual wording of the scale gives readers a more useful interpretation.
A country score does not describe every experience within that group. The survey asked people about one partner, and the published mode summarises many individual judgements.
How the best and worst lovers survey worked
We asked 22,753 members of our dating network two questions:
- “How good was the last person you had sex with on a scale of 0 to 10?”
- “What was the country of origin of the last person you had sex with?”
The analysis used heterosexual male and female respondents: men rated female partners and women rated male partners. The service already held respondents’ gender and sexuality information. The country question concerned the partner’s origin, not necessarily the respondent’s nationality or where the encounter happened.
The full rating scale
- 0, Worst ever
- 1, Awful
- 2, Extremely bad
- 3, Very bad
- 4, Bad
- 5, Average
- 6, Quite good
- 7, Good
- 8, Very good
- 9, Amazing
- 10, Best ever
Why the mode matters
The infographic states that the mode was used to assess the data. A mode is the most common response. A mean, by contrast, adds all scores and divides by the number of responses. Calling the published scores “average performance” can obscure that distinction.
This is a historical, subjective survey of a dating network audience. The original report does not publish country sample sizes, weighting, uncertainty estimates or precise fieldwork dates. It does not represent every adult, every nationality or same sex relationships. The 2017 publication date should stay with the findings when they are cited.
Try Saucy Dates · Adults 18+
Find your own chemistry
Country ratings cannot choose a partner for you. Explore people, shared interests and attraction for yourself.
Joining, browsing, Hots and flirts are free. Full private messaging requires an upgrade.
The world’s hottest lovers: original infographic
The thermometer graphic brings together the country ratings and the worldwide response distribution. All original figures and artwork are retained.
Embed the infographic on your website
Copy this code to display the graphic with a source link.
How did men and women rate their partners overall?
The original report describes a worldwide modal rating of 8 for male partners and 7 for female partners. In other words, women most often rated their last male partner “Very good”, while men most often rated their last female partner “Good”.
The worldwide chart shows a spread of answers rather than a single shared experience. The original commentary also noted similar frequencies at the “Worst ever” end and more top ratings from women for male partners. Exact percentage values for every point were not published as a table, so the chart should not be used to invent precise figures.
These differences do not explain why respondents answered as they did. Expectations, personal compatibility and the circumstances of an encounter could affect a rating, but the survey did not test those explanations.
Does the survey show which nationalities are compatible?
The United States was the only listed country where both male and female partners received the highest published score of 8. Germany and India also had matching male and female scores, at 7.
Matching country scores are not a test of couple compatibility. The survey did not establish that respondents and partners came from the same country, or compare specific nationality pairings. The results therefore cannot identify an ideal partner nationality.
Female partners scored higher than male partners in Canada, France, Italy, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Male partners scored higher in Australia, South Africa and Spain. These comparisons describe the published scores; they do not tell you what to expect from someone you meet.
The survey in international media
The original story was covered internationally in 2017. Examples of that coverage include:
- The Hits, New Zealand, coverage published on 20 October 2017, focusing on New Zealand’s results.
- EVOKE, Ireland, coverage published on 23 October 2017.
- ProtoThema English, Greece, coverage published on 20 October 2017.
- Outrage Magazine, coverage published on 23 November 2017.
These links document the story’s reach. The original survey and infographic on this page remain the source for the figures and scoring method.
What can singles take from the findings?
The appeal of a country ranking is its simplicity, but attraction and a satisfying connection are personal. A national score cannot tell you whether someone will listen, respect your boundaries or share your preferences.
Use the story as a conversation starter rather than a selection rule. Talking openly about expectations and paying attention to a partner’s comfort are more useful than assuming a passport predicts an experience.
Frequently asked questions
Which country has the best male lovers?
In the 2017 Saucy Dates survey, Australia, South Africa and the United States tied at 8 out of 10, the highest published male score. This was a survey rating, not an objective assessment of everyone in those countries.
Which country has the best female lovers?
Canada, France, Italy and the United States shared the highest published female score of 8 out of 10, or “Very good”.
Who ranked lowest in the survey?
New Zealand had the lowest published male score at 4. Australia, New Zealand and Spain shared the lowest female score at 6, labelled “Quite good” on the original scale.
How many people took part?
The original report records 22,753 members of the Saucy Dates dating network. Its analysis covered heterosexual male and female respondents.
Were the scores averages?
The infographic specifies the mode, meaning the most frequently selected score. They should not be described as calculated means.
Is this a new ranking?
No. This is the original 2017 story, with expanded explanation and the original infographic. It has not been presented as a fresh survey.
Using the results in your own story
Please credit Saucy Dates, link to this original report and include the 2017 publication date and sample of 22,753 members. Describe the scores as subjective partner ratings and explain that the infographic uses the mode.
You can use the embed code above for the original graphic. For media assets, interview requests or a discussion about commissioning new research, contact us.
More original Saucy Dates research
Ratings of a partner are different from descriptions of an encounter. Our research into how long sex lasts explores reported duration and expectations, while our relationship survey comparing men and women examines honesty and behaviour.
Explore our penis size claims survey, the sex and relationships report and the travel for sex survey. Find more stories on the Saucy Dates blog.