Sex Recessions and the Generational Divide, Examined
As if they haven’t faced enough economic turbulence over the past 15 years, young adults are also experiencing another kind of downturn: a "sex recession." In 2018, The Atlantic highlighted that this generation is having significantly less sex than previous ones.
According to Jean M. Twenge, a psychology professor at San Diego State University, young adults in their 20s today are two and a half times more likely to be abstinent compared to Gen X at the same age. Additionally, young adults today are expected to have fewer sexual partners than previous generations.
A study published in 2019 found that the number of young adults engaging in casual sex dropped by 14% between 2007 and 2017. This trend primarily impacts Gen Z and younger millennials, who are having far less casual sex than older millennials and Gen X at their age. But this generational divide isn’t just limited to younger people.
The Broader Sex Decline Across All Ages
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), Americans as a whole are having less sex than they did 20 years ago. Between 2010 and 2014, Americans had sex about 54 times a year, compared to 60 times a year between 1989 and 1994. Marriage rates also dropped by 8% in that time, which the APA suggests might be one reason for the decrease in sexual frequency.
- Millennials vs. Older Generations: Millennials have sex six times less, on average, than the Silent Generation (when comparing both groups at the same age).
- Older Adults Still Active: Interestingly, adults over 70 are actually having slightly more sex compared to previous generations. For example, a study in 2015 revealed that about a third of sexually active men and women in their 70s had sex at least twice a month.
Who's Having the Most Sex?
When data isn’t controlled for age and time, younger people are currently having the most sex. According to the Kinsey Institute:
- Ages 18-29: The most sex, with an average of 112 times per year (about twice a week).
- Ages 30-39: About 86 times a year.
- Ages 40-49: Around 69 times a year.
This data doesn’t go beyond 50+, but it’s clear that older adults, especially in their 70s and 80s, are still sexually active.
Married vs. Single: Who Has More Sex?
Generally, married couples tend to have sex more frequently than singles or unmarried couples who don’t live together. However, as more couples choose to cohabit without marrying, this trend might shift. After all, it’s not a ring that determines sexual frequency.
The "Sex Recession" in Context
The so-called “sex recession” may take a black-and-white view of intimacy. It's also worth noting that this data predates the pandemic, during which casual sex likely decreased further. However, as people begin to emerge from lockdowns, a post-pandemic boom in sexual activity could be on the horizon.
