20 Funny Statistics About Men’s Toilet Use
A recent YouGov study found that sitting to urinate isn’t such a rarity among males, at least in some locales.
YouGov conducted a 13-country study on men’s peeing preferences in 2023. They surveyed at least 470 men in each country to show that sitting down to pee may be the new norm.
These 20 surprising facts reveal what really happens behind the bathroom door.
1: Germans Sit the Most
Forty percent of men polled in Germany say they sit every time to urinate. There’s even a German word for it: sitzplinker.
2: Maybe Japanese Men Do
An earlier poll of Japanese men showed that 70% chose to urinate sitting down when at home. Married men were more likely to sit down than single men.
3: Australians and Swedes Sit Too
In Australia and Sweden, many men have become total sitting converts. Twenty-five percent of Aussie men and 22% of Swedes say they always sit down to pee.
4: Mexicans Sit the Least
In Mexico, only 6% of men report sitting every time they have to go number one. Thirty-six percent said they are exclusive “standers,” more than any other country polled.
5: Americans Stand More Often
American men stand more often than they sit, but many admit to sitting now and then. Twenty-three percent of American males said they sat all the time or most of the time, and another 23% said they sat some of the time.
6: Older Men Prefer It in Some Areas
In Germany, Denmark, France, Sweden, Poland, and Canada, men over 55 years old were more likely to join the always-sitting club than their younger counterparts.
7: Younger Men Prefer It in Others
In Britain, Australia, Italy, and the US, younger men were more likely to say they always choose to sit.
8: There’s Such Thing as a Toilet Ghost
In Germany, you might run into a popular device called a WC-geist, which admonishes men for trying to stand when they go to lift the seat.
9: Germany Honors Standing as a Right
Sitting is so normal in Deutschland that one landlord sued his renter for harming the marble floors by standing to urinate. Ultimately, the court ruled in favor of the right to stand.
10: Sitting Might Be Healthier
For some men, sitting is the healthier alternative to standing. Research shows that men with certain prostate problems may do best by urinating from a seated position.
11: It’s Definitely More Hygenic
Whether or not it’s healthier, it’s certainly cleaner. Sitting prevents splashback caused by droplets. Though urine is sterile, splashing bacteria-harboring toilet water up and out of the bowl is unhygienic.
12: Sweden Tried To Outlaw Standing
The Left Party in Sormland, Sweden, tried to outlaw standing urination in municipal buildings. The feminist party said the practice was unclean and argued that sitting-only bathrooms should be the norm.
13: The Feminists Might Have Started It
In Europe, the push for men to sit rather than stand seems to have taken off with the latest rendition of the feminist movement. Feminists pointed out the potential for puddles and splashback, which should make sitting a more respectful choice.
14: Toilet Associations Could Also Be Responsible
In Japan and other parts of Asia, toilet associations are more likely to be responsible for the push to sit. Toilet associations are public advocacy groups for matters of public hygiene.
15: It’s a Newer Trend In Some Countries
In countries like Japan and Germany, the sitting trend is relatively new. Researchers believe it hit critical mass just over a decade ago.
16: In Others, It’s Tradition
Other cultures and countries have seen standing as unclean for a long time. In some interpretations of Islam, for example, men are advised, though not required, to squat rather than stand so as to avoid contact with unclean urine.
17: Standing Wins Outside the Home
While many men across the globe admit to sitting at home, few do so outside of it. In the greater world, where public urinals are the norm, most men still stand rather than wait for a stall.
18: And Probably Always Will
Standing is more convenient than sitting unless someone is on their home turf. It also means shorter public restroom lines, something women everywhere are envious of.
19: Men Spend More Time In the Bathroom Anyway
Surprisingly, though standing is faster than sitting, men spend more time in the bathroom over the course of their lives than women. One poll showed that men spend an average of 14 minutes per day in the bathroom, while women only spend eight.
20: There’s No Biological Need
The extra time in the bathroom isn’t because of biological differences between men and women. Instead, men say they want a reprieve from a busy home life.
When Women Stood To Pee
It’s hard to believe, but there was a time when women preferred to stand rather than sit. In Victorian England, women wore pantaloons, which bore a slit down the center. Their skirts were wide enough that women could urinate while standing.
It Might Have Been Better for Them
Pantaloons allowed for better airflow, which may have been better for women’s health. Today’s tightly worn synthetic fabrics harbor moisture, which can lead to health issues.
Shewee Sales on the Rise
Few women wear pantaloons today, but the desire to stand and urinate isn’t gone. During the 2020 lockdowns, Shewee (a funnel-shaped device that allows women to pee standing up) reported a 700% increase in sales.
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