The proportion of young Americans abstaining from sex has doubled over the past 15 years
A recent national survey has indicated that Americans are experiencing a “sex recession,” marked by a decrease in adults reporting consistent intimacy compared to previous decades. This drop is most pronounced among younger demographics, who show a significant increase in celibacy.
Individuals aged 18 to 29 reporting no sexual activity for a full year more than doubled from 12% to 24% between 2010 and 2024, according to the Institute for Family Studies (IFS), which referenced recent data from the General Social Survey (GSS).
The report states, “Young adults are allocating less time to dating, forming relationships, and marrying, which clearly impacts sexual activity. In fact, the absence of marriage is a primary reason why young adults bear the brunt of this sex recession.” It also observes that even though married individuals typically engage in sex more often than single ones, their frequency has also consistently decreased.
Furthermore, the report indicates that weekly sexual engagement among adults between 18 and 64 years old fell from 55% in 1990 to only 37% last year.
The IFS document connects the reduction in marital intimacy with the proliferation of digital technology, suggesting that devices such as smartphones, computers, and streaming services are encroaching upon the time couples dedicate to each other.
This trend has also been influenced by a notable decrease in social interaction, attributed to the proliferation of smartphones and social media. Young adults in 2024 spent significantly less than half the time with friends compared to 2010 – an average of 5.1 hours per week versus 12.8 hours, respectively.
Similar patterns to those emphasized by the IFS have been observed in other nations too. For instance, research from France in November indicated that one-fourth of French individuals aged 18-29 reported having no sexual contact whatsoever during the preceding year.