One percent of the world's people are asexuals

London, Aug 20 (IANS) Around one percent of the world's population or 70 million people are "asexuals" -- people who feel no sexual attraction at all, an expert has said.

Anthony Bogaert, an associate professor at Brock University in Canada, said the sexualisation of culture has turned people off sexual feelings to the extent that millions do not have physical attraction to others at all, the Daily Mail reported.

A book by Bogaert to be published next month, titled "Understanding Asexuality", even suggests that the growing number of asexuals should be classed as a "fourth sexual orientation".

Experts believe asexuals may have always existed but are only now starting to come out as society becomes more liberal.

Bogaert defines asexuality as a complete lack of sexual attraction.

"There are two forms -- people who have some level of sex drive, but don't direct this drive toward others, and other people who have no sex drive whatsoever," he said.

In 2004, Bogaert analysed the responses of 18,000 people in Britain to a 1994 survey on sexual attraction.

He found that one percent agreed with the statement "I have never felt sexually attracted to anyone at all".

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