128,600 Germans live as swingers. But how often do you think about the person next to you in the supermarket maybe living a completely different side on weekends?
The first comprehensive German swinger study (published January 2025 in Archives of Sexual Behavior) shows: The community is older, more balanced, and significantly different than common stereotypes suggest. Researcher Oliver Maor from the University of Hagen analyzed 22,973 verified profiles and 82 events. His findings challenge several persistent misconceptions.
Swinger Demographics: The Study Contradicts Assumptions
Forget the stereotype of the older man with a much younger partner. In the German swinger scene, the median age is 44 (women) and 46 (men). The typical age gap in couples? Three years.
That's surprising. In popular portrayals, swinging is often associated with a 25 to 35 age bracket. Reality looks different: Fewer than 10% of the community are under 30. Swinging in Germany is primarily an activity of people who already have life experience, stable relationships, and (presumably) the self-confidence to speak openly about desires.
Learn more about what swinging means in practice in our comprehensive guide.
Solo Women: The Unicorn Myth Doesn't Hold
In the English-speaking scene, single women are called "unicorns." So rare you barely find them. In Germany? Complete nonsense.
According to the German swinger study, 12.4% of profiles belong to solo women. That's significantly more than in US or British studies. Solo men account for 30.4%, couples for 57.2%. The gender ratio is more balanced, the "unicorn" label simply doesn't fit here.
Why the difference? The study gives no definitive answer, but a more open culture around sexuality could give women more freedom to participate solo, without the social pressure or safety concerns more present in conservative countries.
Regional Differences: From 80 to 380 per 100,000 Inhabitants
This swinger statistics analysis reveals regional differences in Germany for the first time: Swinger density varies significantly by region. The Prignitz district shows 80.7 per 100,000 inhabitants, Ulm reaches 380.5.
Interesting city numbers: Berlin registers 106.2, Leipzig 246.2, and Cologne 298.6 per 100,000 inhabitants. Surprise: Economic factors play no role. Whether rich or poor, city or countryside – swinger density follows no recognizable economic pattern.
Pricing: Solo Women Pay 62% Less
Event admission prices show clear differences. Solo women pay an average of €34.47, solo men €89.90. (Nearly triple. Surprise? Not really.) Couples range from €94 to €103.
Surprising: The study found no correlation between lower prices for women and higher female attendance. Discounts don't automatically bring more women to events.
Germany vs. North America: More Liberal, Fewer Swingers
Here's the paradox: Germany is considered more sexually progressive than the US or Canada. Yet the swinger rate here is 0.21%, while North American studies cite 4 to 9% for consensual non-monogamy.
Researcher Oliver Maor has an explanation: "Germany's matter-of-fact sexual culture removes that rebellious appeal; swinging becomes just another leisure option."
In other words: Where sex isn't a big taboo, boundary-crossing loses its thrill. In more conservative cultures, the "forbidden" alone can be an additional kick, which simply doesn't exist in Germany. Less excitement, fewer participants.
Many couples wonder how to start open conversations about alternative relationship forms with their partner.
Event Preferences: Sex-Focused Across All Ages
The 82 analyzed events from German swinger clubs broke down into 52 standard swinger events, 21 sex-focused events, and a few food or combination gatherings.
What do participants want? Sex-focused events. Across all age groups. The idea of a "social evening with optional side benefits"? Not as popular as you'd think.
More than 20% of attendees traveled over 100 km to events. For combination events with social elements, that number climbed to 37.1%. The willingness to travel also shows in the growing popularity of swinger vacations and specialized resorts, which offer a complete lifestyle experience.
What the German Swinger Study Means
The data comes from JOYclub, Germany's leading platform with over 5 million users. The platform ranks as Germany's 66th most-visited website.
What remains? The German swinger scene is older, more balanced, and far more normal than stereotypes suggest. Not the wildly uninhibited twentysomethings, but people in their forties who know what they want and how to talk about it.
This balanced dynamic also shows in couple profiles on platforms like SparkChambers, where couples jointly search for like-minded people. Still, fear of loss in open relationships is a real challenge many couples experience when entering the lifestyle.
This data helps break down prejudices. It shows: Swinging isn't some fringe phenomenon of "the Others." These are neighbors, colleagues, people in the supermarket.
Looking for a community that lives openness and respect? Check out SparkChambers – a place for people seeking authentic connections without hiding behind stereotypes.
