Q: What’s the average age in high school for losing your virginity?
A: First, let’s define what “losing your virginity” means. For most people this means to have vaginal sexual intercourse for the first time. Some people’s definitions of virginity also include anal sexual intercourse. Fewer people’s definitions of virginity include having oral sex. I’m going to assume you’re using the traditional (vaginal intercourse) definition of losing your virginity.
According to a national survey of American teens conducted in 2002, the average age when males first reported having sexual intercourse was 17 years old The average age for women was slightly higher at 17 and a half years old.
When you look at the national averages for adolescent sexual activity, you find that most 9th graders have not lost their virginity by the end of their 9th grade year. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (a group that collects reliable data on sexual activity), about 6% of girls and 8% of boys have had intercourse by age 14. According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute (another organization that collects reliable data on sexual activity), By age 15, only 13% of teens have ever had sex. However, by the time they reach age 19, seven in 10 teens have engaged in sexual intercourse. As you can see, the majority of 9th graders have not had vaginal intercourse by the end of their 9th grade year.