New Embracing Minimal Clothing: How Many Would Bare
(Almost) All?
Nudism vs. Minimal Clothing – Understanding the Difference
In discussions about clothing freedom, it’s useful to distinguish full nudism/naturism (no
clothing at all) from “minimal clothing” – wearing only enough to cover the primary genital
areas (penis/testicles for males, vulva for females) while leaving the rest of the body bare.
In other words, minimal clothing might mean just underwear, a small sarong or loincloth,
swim briefs, etc., with breasts and other non-genital parts exposed. Surveys suggest that
while only a minority of people are willing to go fully nude in public, a significantly larger
segment might embrace this nearly-nude, genitals-covered style if it were socially
acceptable.
Prevalence of Naturism (Full Nudity) in Developed Countries
Fully embracing nudism is still relatively uncommon, though not as rare as one might
think. For example, a 2022 Ipsos survey in the UK – part of the developed world – found
14% of British adults now describe themselves as naturists or nudists, which equates to
roughly 6.75 million people in the UK[1]. This was a marked increase from an earlier era (a
2008 poll put the figure closer to 6% of Britons). Other data points from developed
countries and global surveys reinforce that roughly 1 in 10 to 1 in 7 people have engaged
in social nudity or identify with the naturist lifestyle: for instance, an international travel
survey by Expedia found about 12% of people worldwide report having sunbathed nude
at a beach[1]. Naturally, this varies by region – in some European countries the rates are
higher (more on that below), whereas in more conservative cultures it’s lower.
It’s worth noting that men are generally more likely than women to go fully nude in public
settings like beaches. The Expedia survey indicated 18% of men worldwide say they’ve
sunbathed naked, compared to only 6% of women[2]. This gap reflects cultural norms and
comfort levels – women often face greater societal discouragement from full nudity.
However, many women are more comfortable with partial nudity (e.g. going topless) even if
they don’t go fully nude.
Embracing “Minimal Clothing” – Willingness to Bare Almost All
When we talk about the “remaining 40%” embracing minimal clothing, it appears to
reference those who might not go fully nude, but would be comfortable only covering their
genitalia (and leaving breasts, torso, etc. visible). While exact percentages for this specific
behavior are hard to pin down (few surveys ask “Would you go about wearing only
underwear in public?” directly), related indicators suggest a substantial minority – on
the order of a few tenths of the population – would embrace such minimal attire given
social acceptance. In other words, significantly more people are open to near-nudity than
to complete nudity.
Beach and recreation surveys are a useful proxy to gauge this. Public beaches are one
environment where varying degrees of undress are normalized in many developed nations,
and they reveal a gradient of comfort levels:
• Toplessness for women (which falls under “minimal clothing” by our definition)
has relatively high acceptance in parts of the developed world. A recent French poll
(2019) found that 22% of French women had sunbathed topless at least once[3].
The figures were even higher in some other European countries: 34% of women in
Germany and 48% of women in Spain have gone topless on beaches[3]. Even in
more modest cultures, there is a notable minority – e.g. 19% of British women and
15% of Italian women have tried topless sunbathing[4]. These numbers show that
anywhere from about one-fifth to nearly half of women (depending on the country)
are willing to bare their chests in a public setting when it’s socially permitted – a
strong indicator that a large share of the public, beyond dedicated nudists, is
comfortable with minimal clothing (since only the bottom piece is worn).
• “Only genitals covered” for men is essentially the norm on beaches already – men
routinely go shirtless. The question is how many men would minimize their bottom
covering if acceptable. While specific stats on men wearing very skimpy bottoms
are scarce, the Expedia survey noted growing acceptance of men’s brief swimwear:
74% of global respondents said Speedo-style swim briefs are acceptable beach
attire, up from 65% the year before[5]. In some countries (Brazil, Australia, much of
Europe) over 90% find men’s tiny swim briefs OK[6]. This suggests that culturally,
people are broadly fine with men covering just the bare essentials at the beach. The
actual behavior aligns in places like Europe – e.g. at clothing-optional beaches,
many men will wear just a small bathing suit if not fully nude. In Germany and
Austria, about 28% of people (male and female) said they have spent a day at the
beach completely nude[7]; an even larger proportion presumably have done
“partial” nudity like a topless or minimalist swimsuit day. So it’s not a stretch to
imagine on the order of 30–40% of the public might opt for minimal clothing
(covering only genitals) at a beach or pool if it’s normalized – significantly more than
those who’d go fully nude, but still a minority of the whole population.
• General public settings: Beyond beaches, fewer hard numbers exist, but we do
have hints that many people find the idea of some clothing more comfortable than
none. For example, in France’s 2009 “Women and Nudity” survey, 37% of women
said they were disturbed by publicly exposed breasts or buttocks[8] – meaning
conversely, about 63% were not bothered by seeing toplessness or bare bottoms.
And about 45% of French respondents said they’d prefer to see less flesh in
public[8], implying the majority don’t mind skimpy attire. While this French study
highlighted a trend of younger women becoming more modest, it still indicates a
good segment of the public is tolerant of minimal clothing on others. Tolerance
doesn’t directly equal personal willingness, but social acceptance is a prerequisite
for personal adoption. In the UK, a 2014 YouGov poll found 65% of Britons agree
that people are too easily offended by sex or nudity[9] – a signal that many Brits
wouldn’t object to others dressing with very little on.
• Private vs public comfort: It’s also telling to see how people behave in private as a
gauge of potential public behavior. That same UK survey showed 42% of adults
“generally feel comfortable naked” (at least in private settings)[10]. Over 1 in 4
Britons (27%) have gone skinny-dipping (swimming nude) at least once in their
lives[11]. These are significant minorities. If nearly a third have voluntarily shed all
clothes in a recreational context, we can infer an even larger share would not mind
wearing just underwear or a towel if it were socially normal. In fact, 22% of Brits
said they often walk around their house naked when no one’s home[12] – again,
indicating a comfort with one’s body that could translate into wearing only minimal
covering if it became publicly acceptable.
Bottom line: Across the developed world, it’s plausible that on the order of 20–40% of
people might embrace “minimal clothing” (only covering sexual organs) in at least some
situations, given permissive social norms. This doesn’t mean all of them would stroll down
a city street in a loincloth on a regular basis – personal modesty and context play a role –
but it suggests a much larger fraction would choose minimal attire over full nudity when
those are the two options. The “remaining 40%” mentioned in the question likely stems
from the idea that, aside from the minority willing to be fully nude, there’s another chunk of
society that prefers at least a little coverage (for comfort or modesty), even if that’s just
underwear or a swimsuit. Real-world data supports the existence of this sizable middle
group: many more people are happy to bare almost everything (as long as something
covers their genitals) than are comfortable baring it all.
Age Group Differences in Attitudes
Age can significantly influence comfort with nudity or minimal clothing – though the
patterns aren’t entirely linear. In broad strokes, younger generations in developed
countries today tend to be more open-minded about others’ lifestyle choices, but they may
also have greater body-image anxieties or privacy concerns that make them personally
hesitant to expose much skin. Older generations, on the other hand, may have grown up
with stricter norms but some have “seen it all” and are comfortable in their own skin. Here
are a few insights by age:
• Youth and young adults (teens, 20s): Surprisingly, some surveys find today’s
young adults less likely to embrace toplessness or nudity than their parents’
generation. In France – once a pioneer of topless sunbathing – only 19% of women
under 50 now say they regularly sunbathe topless, a drop from 43% in the
1980s[13]. Pollsters attribute this decline to factors like fear of harassment,
constant social media (the risk of someone snapping a photo), and a shift in values
where exposing one’s body is no longer seen as a bold statement of
liberation[14][15]. Younger French women especially cited concerns of leering or
safety – over half of women under 25 feared being targeted or judged if they went
semi-nude on the beach[14]. This indicates many younger women currently shy
away from minimal attire in public due to social pressures, even if legally allowed.
Similarly, an earlier study found 88% of young French women described
themselves as “modest/prudish” about nudity, and 22% felt that even wearing
just underwear is effectively being naked[16] – underscoring that a large portion
of youth might not rush to strip down to minimal clothes unless attitudes shift.
However, youth in other countries might differ. In more socially liberal milieus (or events
like festivals), it’s often college-aged and 20-somethings seen experimenting with dress
codes. For instance, American younger men have been slightly more supportive of
public toplessness for women (45% of men age 18–44 in one poll favored allowing it) than
older men[17]. And anecdotal evidence from events (e.g. clothing-optional gatherings,
protests like “Free the Nipple”) shows young adults do participate in pushing boundaries.
In short, younger people today outwardly voice support for minimal-clothing rights, but
many are personally cautious about participation – likely until such attire becomes more
normalized and free of stigma.
• Middle-aged adults (30s–50s): This group often balances liberalizing views with
practical concerns. By this age, many have families or professional images to
maintain, which might make them less inclined to publicly bare (they may worry
“what if someone from work sees me in just my underwear?”). On the flip side,
surveys suggest some in this bracket have less body confidence than both younger
and older groups – possibly due to social pressures or physical changes. For
example, the UK YouGov data from 2014 intriguingly showed 25–39 year-olds were
least likely to feel comfortable naked (only about 31% in that age range said they
generally feel comfortable nude, vs 53% of 18–24 year-olds and ~44% of
seniors)[18]. That could imply many Gen X/Y folks might actually be more hesitant
to strip to minimal clothing than either their elders or the very young. It’s a reminder
that comfort with near-nudity isn’t purely a linear function of age – it’s cultural and
personal. Many in their 40s and 50s in Western countries today came of age in the
more open 1970s–90s, so some are certainly part of naturist and topless traditions
(for instance, the older women still going topless on European beaches tend to
be those who did so in their youth while younger women cover up[19]). Thus,
within the “minimal clothing” embracers, you likely have a contingent of middle
aged folks who have been doing it for years (on beaches, etc.), even as others in this
cohort remain reserved.
• Older adults (60+): One might assume older people are most conservative, but
interestingly many seniors in developed countries are very comfortable with nudity
or minimal wear in appropriate settings. They may have fewer cares about “what
people think,” and a good number are active in naturist communities or don’t mind
baring skin at beaches/spas. The UK poll indicated those over 60 were fairly at ease – about 44% of seniors 60+ felt comfortable naked (higher than the 40–59
group)[18]. Likewise, older generations in Europe pioneered nude beaches; they
haven’t all stopped. Of course, physical limitations or modesty instilled from youth
can play a role – not every elder will don a loincloth and head to the market. But it’s
notable that retirement-age folks make up a solid share of naturist club
memberships and nude cruise attendees in the West. They might well represent a
portion of that “40% minimal clothing” group – preferring a little coverage (perhaps
a bottom wrap) when not fully nude, but overall quite unbothered by states of
undress.
In summary, age-group preferences vary: younger adults today support the idea of
minimal clothing freedom but face social anxieties that may limit participation; middle
aged adults are split, with some veterans of the nude/topless scene and others more self
conscious; older adults can be surprisingly open due to experience and confidence. If one
had to generalize, the most enthusiastic adopters of minimal clothing might be adults
in their 20s and 30s once the practice is normalized, since they tend to be fashion
forward and less tied to formal dress codes – but they’ll do so only if the social
environment (and their peers) make it feel safe and accepted. Meanwhile, a steady subset
of older people would quietly participate as they have in semi-nude recreation for years.
Conclusión
While it’s impossible to pinpoint an exact percentage without more direct polling, existing
research lets us make an educated estimate. In the developed world, only a small
minority (perhaps 10–15%) would fully embrace total nudity as a lifestyle or regular
choice – but a much larger share (possibly on the order of 30–40%) might embrace
“minimal clothing,” covering just the sexual organs and otherwise baring their bodies, at
least in certain contexts. This includes those who are comfortable going topless or nearly
nude on beaches, at pools, or even in some day-to-day situations if society permits.
Numerous surveys back this up: globally about one in five women has already gone topless
in public recreation[1][3], around a quarter of people have skinny-dipped nude[11], and
large majorities in many countries don’t object to skimpy attire on others[8][5].
However, it’s also clear that not everyone in that remaining group is eager to parade
around nearly naked all the time – social context, personal comfort, and safety concerns
mean many would embrace minimal clothing only in appropriate settings (e.g. beaches,
private gatherings, hot weather in one’s yard, etc.). The “embrace” here is likely to be
partial or situational for a good chunk of people. Cultural differences are significant too:
Europeans, Australians, and some Latin Americans tend to be more blasé about casual
near-nudity (hence higher topless and nude beach participation), whereas Americans,
Asians, and others may be a bit more reserved on average – though even in the US, polls
find millions open to clothing-optional recreation[2].
In conclusion, there is strong evidence that the appetite for minimal clothing is much
larger than for full nudity in the developed world. Many people who balk at complete
nudism would still peel off most layers if only a minimal covering of genitals is required.
Whether that’s 40% of the population or some other figure, it’s safe to say a considerable
minority – likely tens of percent – would be willing to literally loosen their belts and
embrace a nearly-nude lifestyle if it became normalized. The trend will ultimately depend
on social attitudes: as norms continue to liberalize (or perhaps become more modest, as
in France’s recent youth), the exact percentage could shift. But as of now, from young
adults through seniors, a notable portion of society in developed nations appears ready to
cover just the “essentials” and little more, when given the chance. The remaining fully
clothed majority may still prefer traditional attire, but they are increasingly outnumbered
by those who don’t mind a bit of bare skin – or even a lot of it.
Sources: Surveys and polls on public nudity and toplessness – e.g. Expedia’s international
beach survey[2][20], YouGov UK poll on nudity comfort[10][11], French IFOP studies on
topless sunbathing[13][3], and others – all corroborate the statistics and trends discussed
above. The data spans dozens of developed nations, reflecting general attitudes in North
America, Europe, Oceania and beyond. Each study reinforces the gap between the full
nudist minority and the larger group willing to go nearly nude so long as a minimal garment
is in place.
[1] [2] [5] [6] [7] [20] Beach trends survey: Where to find nude sunbathers, Speedo
acceptance up - WTOP News
https://wtop.com/news/2014/07/beach-trends-survey-where-to-find-nude-sunbathers
speedo-acceptance-up/
[3] [4] [13] [14] [15] Why French women are abandoning topless sunbathing
https://www.thelocal.fr/20190724/why-french-women-are-abandoning-topless
sunbathing
[8] [16] [19] In France, a New Generation of Women Says Non to Nude Sunbathing | TIME
https://time.com/archive/6689156/in-france-a-new-generation-of-women-says-non-to
nude-sunbathing/
[9] [10] [11] [12] [18] Survey Report
https://cdn.yougov.com/cumulus_uploads/document/v6yn19q9a6/Internal_Results_1410
29_Nudity_Website.pdf
[17] Men support women going topless in public more than ... - Audacy
https://www.audacy.com/987thespot/latest/men-support-women-going-topless-in
public-more-than-women