Valentine’s Day: Millennials most satisfied with their romantic/sex life

Key findings:

• The vast majority (83% on average across 31 countries) are satisfied with their relationship with their spouse/partner.
• Nearly three-quarters (74% on average globally) are satisfied with feeling loved. Among those with a spouse or partner this figure rises to 82%; for single people it’s 68%.
• Just over three in five (62% on average globally) are satisfied with their romantic/sex life. Millennials*, at 67%, tend to be more positive than everyone else.

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Love, sweet love

Love is in the air for most couples this Valentine’s Day.

Ipsos’s annual Global Love Life Satisfaction polling finds a strong majority (83% on average across 31 countries) of those who are in a romantic relationship said they were happy with their spouse/partner.

Married/partnered people in Thailand (92%), the Netherlands (91%), Indonesia (88%), Malaysia (88%), Peru (88%) and New Zealand (88%) are the most likely to be satisfied with their spouse/partner. While those in South Korea (68%), Japan (69%) and Italy (72%) are the least likely to say they’re satisfied with their spouse/partner.

Money may not buy love but those with more income are slightly more likely to report being satisfied with their relationship than those with less money. At a global level, people in higher-income households are the most likely (85%) to say they’re satisfied with their spouse/partner, followed by those in 82% in medium-income households and 78% of respondents in lower-income households.

Strong majorities of people in Thailand are satisfied with their spouse/partner (92%), feeling loved (80%) and their romantic/sex lives (75%).

Secret to relationship bliss is likely due to a mix of factors. In Thailand, a tapestry of cultural values, robust social networks, a positive mindset, balanced living, vibrant traditions and economic stability intertwine to cultivate a pervasive sense of satisfaction, encompassing feelings of love and fulfillment in both romantic and sexual aspects of life.

Usana Chantarklum, Managing Director, Ipsos Thailand.

Two might be better than one

Love — whether it’s familial, platonic or romantic — makes the world go round and most (74% on average globally) say they’re satisfied with feeling loved.

People in Colombia (86%), Peru (86%) and India (84%) are the most likely to be satisfied with feeling loved, while those in Japan (51%), South Korea (63%), Italy (63%), Brazil (68%) and Sweden (68%) are the least likely to be satisfied with feeling loved.

And while being in a committed romantic partnership certainly isn’t always filled with flowers and chocolates à la Valentine’s Day, our polling finds those who are married/partnered are significantly more likely to be satisfied with feeling loved (82% on average globally) versus just 68% of those who aren’t married/partnered.

Some can’t get no satisfaction

On another down note, almost one in three (30% on average globally) say they’re not satisfied with their romantic/sex life. On the upside, the majority (62%) are satisfied (62%) while the remaining 8% prefer not to say.

People in Mexico (76%) and India (76%) are the most likely to be satisfied with their romantic/sex life, followed closely by those in Thailand (75%), China (75%), Colombia (73%) and Indonesia (73%). On the flipside a mere 37% of people in Japan are satisfied with their romantic/sex life, followed by South Korea (45%), Canada (52%) and Italy (52%).

Zooming out, our polling finds the stereotype that unattached college students are having all the fun to be just that — a stereotype. Millennials once again are the most likely generation, on average globally, to say they’re satisfied (67%) with their romantic/sex life, with the younger (Generation Zers, 59%) and older (Generation Xers, 61%; Baby Boomers, 59%) generations saying they’re a little less satisfied.

Being in a committed relationship may lack the spontaneity of playing the field, but it turns out married/partnered people (74%) are significantly more likely than those who aren’t married/partnered (52%) to say they’re satisfied with their romantic/sex life.

About the study

These are the findings of a 31-country Ipsos survey conducted December 22, 2023 – January 5, 2024, among 24,269 adults aged 18 and older in India, 18-74 in Canada, Republic of Ireland, Malaysia, South Africa, Turkey, and the United States, 20-74 in Thailand, 21-74 in Indonesia and Singapore, and 16-74 in all other countries.

*Generation Z (born between 1996-2012), Millennials (born between 1980-1995), Generation X (born between 1966-1979) and Baby Boomers (born between 1945-1965).