(WELLINGTON, New Zealand) -- The United States remains the sexual superpower of the world with Americans making love more often and with more partners than any other nationality, according to a survey by a leading condom manufacturer.

Durex said on Tuesday that its annual poll of 18,500 people in 28 countries showed the world was having more sex and starting earlier than ever before, and the United States was leading the field in all departments.

The survey--carried out in May and published ahead of World Aids Day on December 1--showed respondents averaging sex 97 times a year, up from 96 last year.

But those Americans questioned averaged sex 124 times a year and were also starting earlier than anyone else at an average age of 16. Americans also had the highest average number of lifetime sex partners, at 14.

The Greeks made love the second most frequently--117 times a year on average--while the Germans were the second youngest to get started at 16.6 years.

France's reputation as a nation of lovers took something of a hit with frequency dropping from 121 times a year to 110 and slumping from top of the number of partners table to second with 13 compared to 17 a year ago.

Japan remained bottom of the lovers league with an average 36 sexual encounters a year.

Overall, 60% of respondents said they had sex at least once a week and 4% claimed to make love daily.

But single people had the least sex--86 times a year--and the libido of married couples (100 times) also trailed those living together (145 times).

One in 10 people said they never had sex.

The global average age of first sex moved down slightly to 18.0 years from 18.1, while the number of partners dropped to 7.7 from 8.2.

Men appeared to be more sexually active than women, claiming a frequency of 102 times a year against 91. Men also claimed an average 10.7 partners, versus 4.6 for women.

Almost one third of all people said they had been faithful to one partner, while 16% claimed more than 10 partners.

There were also considerable regional variations with Westerners starting their sex lives much earlier than Asians.

The United States, Germany, France, Britain and New Zealand began at around 17, while in India, Malaysia, Taiwan and China the average was age 20 or more.

The beach was the most popular venue for love making, with 27% of respondents putting it ahead of a runner-up hot tub.

Taiwanese people prefer doing it in their cars, people in Hong Kong prefer the office for their romance, while Nigerians splash out in the swimming pool.