South Africans are among the top in the world when it comes to having orgasms, the Durex Sexual Wellbeing Global Survey has found.

In all, 66 percent of South Africans orgasmed almost every time they had sex, a figure equalled only by Spaniards, Mexicans and Italians and which beat Brazilians into second place at 65 percent.

"The survey shows that having a fulfilling sex life contributes to our overall sense of wellbeing and general health, and that orgasms can play an important part in achieving this," said Durex South Africa brand manager Byron Bekker.

People from Hong Kong and China were least likely to orgasm at 24 percent, followed by the Japanese at 27 percent.

The research was conducted among 26000 people in 26 countries, and questioned aspects of people's sex lives, their health, general wellbeing, education, beliefs, sex and relationships, attitudes to sex and social circumstances.

According to the survey, 58 percent of all people who usually achieved orgasm were content with the emotional aspects of their sex life, compared with 29 percent of those who rarely climaxed.

In addition, eight out of 10 (77 percent) of those who frequently orgasmed felt close to their partners during sex, as opposed to 54 percent of those who had difficulty having orgasms.

In South Africa, nine out of 10 people who usually orgasmed felt at ease with themselves sexually and 60 percent were psychologically healthy compared with 50 percent of the British.