Women on average have more sex partners than men in 11 states and Union Territories, according to National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data.

However, the percentage of men who had sexual intercourse with someone who was neither their spouse nor a person they lived with was 4 per cent, much higher than that of women at 0.5 per cent.

The NFHS, which was conducted among 1.1 lakh women and 1 lakh men, showed that the number of sex partners on average for women was higher than men in many states and Union Territories.

These states and UTs are Rajasthan, Haryana, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu. Rajasthan topped the list with women having 3.1 sex partners on an average, against 1.8 for men.

But the percentage of men who had sexual intercourse with someone who was neither their spouse nor live-in partner, in the 12 months preceding the survey, was 4 per cent. For women, the percentage was 0.5.

The National Family Health Survey-5 conducted during 2019-21 surveyed 707 districts in 28 states and eight UTs.

The national report also provides data on the basis of socio-economic and other background characteristics, useful for policy formulation and effective programme implementation.