Sex Differences in Mate Preferences Across 45 Countries: A Large-Scale Replication
Authors: Walter Kathryn V. , Conroy-Beam Daniel , Buss David M. , Asao Kelly , Sorokowska Agnieszka , Sorokowski Piotr , Aavik Toivo , Akello Grace , Alhabahba Mohammad Madallh , Alm Charlotte , Amjad Naumana , Anjum Afifa , Atama Chiemezie S. , Atamtürk Duyar Derya , Ayebare Richard , Batres Carlota , Bendixen Mons , Bensafia Aicha , Bizumic Boris , Boussena Mahmoud , Butovskaya Marina , Can Seda , Cantarero Katarzyna , Carrier Antonin , Cetinkaya Hakan , Croy Ilona , Cueto Rosa María , Czub Marcin , Dronova Daria , Dural Seda , Duyar Izzet , Ertugrul Berna , Espinosa Agustín , Estevan Ignacio , Esteves Carla Sofia , Fang Luxi , Frackowiak Tomasz , Garduño Jorge Contreras , González Karina Ugalde , Guemaz Farida , Gyuris Petra , Halamová Mária , Herak Iskra , Horvat Marina , Hromatko Ivana , Hui Chin-Ming , Jaafar Jas Laile , Jiang Feng , Kafetsios Konstantinos , Kavčič Tina , Kennair Leif Edward Ottesen , Kervyn Nicolas , Khanh Ha Truong Thi , Khilji Imran Ahmed , Köbis Nils C. , Lan Hoang Moc , Láng András , Lennard Georgina R. , León Ernesto , Lindholm Torun , Linh Trinh Thi , Lopez Giulia , Van Luot Nguyen , Mailhos Alvaro , Manesi Zoi , Martinez Rocio , McKerchar Sarah L. , Meskó Norbert , Misra Girishwar , Monaghan Conal , Mora Emanuel C. , Moya-Garófano Alba , Musil Bojan , Natividade Jean Carlos , Niemczyk Agnieszka , Nizharadze George , Oberzaucher Elisabeth , Oleszkiewicz Anna , Omar-Fauzee Mohd Sofian , Onyishi Ike E. , Özener Baris , Pagani Ariela Francesca , Pakalniskiene Vilmante , Parise Miriam , Pazhoohi Farid , Pisanski Annette , Pisanski Katarzyna , Ponciano Edna , Popa Camelia , Prokop Pavol , Rizwan Muhammad , Sainz Mario , Salkičević Svjetlana , Sargautyte Ruta , Sarmány-Schuller Ivan , Schmehl Susanne , Sharad Shivantika , Siddiqui Razi Sultan , Simonetti Franco , Stoyanova Stanislava Yordanova , Tadinac Meri , Varella Marco Antonio Correa , Vauclair Christin-Melanie , Vega Luis Diego , Widarini Dwi Ajeng , Yoo Gyesook , Zat’ková Marta , Zupančič Maja 
Published: March 2020

Considerable research has examined human mate preferences across cultures, finding universal sex differences in preferences for attractiveness and resources as well as sources of systematic cultural variation. Two competing perspectives—an evolutionary psychological perspective and a biosocial role perspective—offer alternative explanations for these findings. However, the original data on which each perspective relies are decades old, and the literature is fraught with conflicting methods, analyses, results, and conclusions. Using a new 45-country sample ( N = 14,399), we attempted to replicate classic studies and test both the evolutionary and biosocial role perspectives. Support for universal sex differences in preferences remains robust: Men, more than women, prefer attractive, young mates, and women, more than men, prefer older mates with financial prospects. Cross-culturally, both sexes have mates closer to their own ages as gender equality increases. Beyond age of partner, neither pathogen prevalence nor gender equality robustly predicted sex differences or preferences across countries.