Statistics Canada
Symbol of the Government of Canada

Teen sexual behaviour

Warning View the most recent version.

Archived Content

Information identified as archived is provided for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please contact us to request a format other than those available.

Teens are delaying intercourse and some are more likely to use condoms than in the past. Girls account for the changes.

The number of young women aged 15 to 19 who have had intercourse at least once fell from 51% in 1996/1997 to 43% in 2005. Young men remained steady at 43%. The female rate of condom use increased from 65% in 2003 to 70% in 2005, while the male rates remained unchanged at 80%.

The proportion who had intercourse before age 15 also declined, from 12% to 8%. One in three 15- to 17-year-olds has had intercourse, compared with two in three 18- to 19-year-olds.

Quebec teenagers are sexually active at younger ages. In 2005, 58% of Quebec teenagers aged 15 to 19 reported having sexual intercourse, compared with 43% of teens living outside of Quebec.