Armagh has finished 129 places ahead of Belfast in a nationwide comparison of sexual wellness purchases, ranking 77th in Lovehoney’s UK-wide table. Belfast was placed 206th in the analysis.
The ranking, published on 22 August 2026, compares purchasing data from 698 towns across the UK. Lovehoney said the figures were based on one year of recorded sales and measured purchasing patterns rather than responses gathered through a survey.
How Armagh compares with other Northern Ireland locations
Armagh was not the highest-ranked location in Northern Ireland. Six other towns placed above it in the national table.
- Enniskillen was the highest-ranked Northern Ireland location, in eighth place nationally.
- Dungannon ranked 14th.
- Ballyclare ranked 17th.
- Ballymena ranked 28th.
- Newry ranked 31st.
- Ballymoney ranked 37th.
The supplied results do not provide a detailed category breakdown for Armagh, so its overall position of 77th is the main comparison available for the city.
What the Lovehoney figures mean
The results reflect recorded purchases through Lovehoney’s own data rather than answers from Armagh residents about their personal habits. They indicate buying behaviour within the company’s analysis, but do not amount to a survey of the city’s population or explain why Armagh achieved its position.
Other Northern Ireland locations recorded stronger results in individual product categories. Ballymoney ranked 14th nationally for anal sex toy purchases, 18th for vibrators and 20th for strap-ons.
Enniskillen, described in the report as having a population of about 14,000, ranked fourth nationally for butt plug purchases, ninth for vibrators and 14th for role-play products.
Ballyclare ranked 14th for strap-ons, 15th for bondage, 20th for vibrators, 17th for butt plugs and 23rd for anal sex toys. Ballymena ranked 27th nationally for strap-ons, 35th for vibrators and 40th for bondage; its favourite lubricant was identified as the Fruity Lubricant Trio.
How the interactive map works
Lovehoney said its interactive map allows users to compare their town with locations across the UK. Waltham Cross in Hertfordshire topped the overall table for per-capita purchases, ranking first for vibrators and third for strap-ons.
Londonderry was not included in the analysis.
“Sexual wellness doesn’t only exist in big cities, it’s for everyone. Our data often shows strong engagement from smaller communities, where people may value the privacy, choice, and convenience of shopping online. It’s always great to see pleasure alive and well in every corner of the UK, and the sex map is a reminder that sometimes the most unexpected places have the most interesting stories to tell.”
The comment came from Lovehoney sex and relationship expert Annabelle Knight. The findings were reported by the Belfast Telegraph on Sunday, 23 August 2026. The original Armagh Journal report was published at 21:00 on 22 August and updated at 17:31 on 23 August.