THE SURVEY, based on 4,009 interviews with adults across Spain conducted in March, set out to measure how people live, date and have sex today.
In total, 24.6% said they had not had sexual relations in the last 12 months, meaning roughly one in every four adults falls into that category.
By contrast, 75.1% said they had been sexually active over the same period.
The figures give a clear benchmark for readers wondering how they compare, showing that not having sex for a year is relatively common.
The study also explains why, with the most frequent reason being a lack of interest or sexual desire, cited by 16.3%.
Life circumstances play a major role, with widowhood accounting for 13.5% and illness affecting either partner making up 11.2%.
Others said they simply had not found someone they were attracted to, representing 9.5% of responses.
Despite the headline figure, relationships remain central to many lives, with 73.5% saying a romantic partnership is important for overall happiness.
Around 69.2% of respondents said they are currently in a relationship, and nearly all of these are monogamous.
Only 1.2% described their relationship as open, although 12.9% said they had tried one at some point.
The data also lifts the lid on what happens beyond traditional relationships, with 7.9% saying they have explored dominance and submission and 6.8% reporting specific fetishes.
Meanwhile, 4.7% have taken part in group sex and 3.2% in partner swapping, showing a smaller but visible minority exploring different experiences.
Sex is not always limited to partners, with 58.5% saying they have used erotic products such as lubricants, toys or lingerie.
READ MORE: Andalucia is best place to have sex in Spain for fifth year in row, study finds
Curiosity, enjoyment and improving satisfaction were the most common reasons for using them.
When it comes to future trends, most Spaniards draw the line at technology, with 80.6% saying they would never consider sex with robots.
The research also reflects how attitudes are shifting, with 78.8% believing relationships today are more unstable than they were 50 years ago.
At the same time, 81.6% say they now offer greater personal freedom, suggesting a trade-off between stability and independence.
Among those who are single, nearly three quarters are not actively dating, reinforcing the idea that being without a partner and potentially without sex is often a choice.
In terms of identity, 85.7% of respondents identified as heterosexual, alongside 5.2% bisexual, 2.6% homosexual and 1.3% asexual.
Taken together, the findings show that while most adults in Spain are sexually active, a significant minority are not, making the “one in four” figure a useful point of comparison rather than an outlier.
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