Survey Reveals 43% Of Zimbabwean Girls Lose Virginity Before High School Ends
A national health survey has revealed that 43% of Zimbabwean women lose their virginity before completing high school, and nearly 70% become sexually active before the age of 20.
The statistics come from the 2023–24 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS), which paints a detailed picture of when Zimbabwean women begin sexual activity. The survey is conducted every five years to inform public health planning and policy.
“The median age at first intercourse for women aged 25 to 49 is 18.5 years,” the report states.
“Six percent of women in this age group lost their virginity before age 15, and 43 percent had lost it before turning 18. By age 20, 69 percent of Zimbabwean women had lost their virginity.”
Girls lose virginity earlier than boys
The ZDHS data highlights a significant gender gap in the age at which people lose their virginity. Girls tend to become sexually active earlier than boys.
“Among men aged 25 to 49, the median age at first intercourse is 19.9 years, compared with 18.5 years among women of the same age,” the report notes.
“Only three percent of men had lost their virginity before age 15, and 25 percent before 18. By the age of 20, 51 percent of men had had sexual intercourse.”
This shows that by age 20, more women than men had lost their virginity, raising questions about societal expectations, sexual health education, and access to reproductive services.
Conducted by ZIMSTAT and USAID-backed partners
The survey was conducted by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Child Care, with technical support from ICF International through the DHS Program. The programme is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Trained field workers collected the data between late 2023 and early 2024, interviewing thousands of individuals in randomly selected households across all ten provinces. The ZDHS focused on individuals aged 15 to 49, using questionnaires, health check-ups, and biometric data collection to produce nationally representative results.
ZIMSTAT said the data is vital for understanding population trends, fertility, virginity loss, marriage patterns, and gender-based issues.
“This is one of the most comprehensive surveys to guide health planning in Zimbabwe,” said a ZIMSTAT spokesperson.
Why losing virginity before school completion matters
Health experts say that early loss of virginity — especially before completing secondary school — increases the risk of unintended pregnancies, school dropouts, and early motherhood.
“When girls lose their virginity at an early age, often before finishing school, the risk of teen pregnancy rises,” a Harare-based reproductive health expert told Kukurigo.
“This impacts education and future income.”
The Zimbabwean education system does not automatically accommodate pregnant girls or young mothers, and many drop out entirely. This perpetuates cycles of poverty, especially for girls from rural and low-income backgrounds.
According to the UNICEF Zimbabwe office, the country has a high adolescent fertility rate, meaning many girls fall pregnant while still teenagers — often within a year or two of losing their virginity.
There are also concerns around safety and consent.
“Some girls lose their virginity in relationships with older men, sometimes in exchange for money or gifts. This makes them vulnerable,” said a youth welfare officer. “They may not be able to insist on condom use or contraceptives.”
The ZDHS data also indicates that many girls lose their virginity before marriage.
“The median age at first intercourse (18.5 years) is about one year younger than the median age at first marriage (19.4 years),” the report stated.
This means many young women are already sexually active — and possibly pregnant — before they get married. According to the data, this pattern has not changed much since 1999.
“Since 1999, the median age at which women aged 25 to 49 lost their virginity has remained stable, only declining slightly from 18.7 to 18.5 years in 2023–24.”
With 43% of women losing their virginity before completing high school, educationists and health professionals say there is a need for more comprehensive sexuality education, youth-friendly health services, and stronger protections against exploitation.
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