The percentage of Americans who reported having no sex within the last year has climbed to record levels.
According to the latest General Social Survey, 23 percent of American adults were celibate in 2018. While part of that can be attributed to the rising number of Americans over the age of 60, another significant trend to notice is at the other end of the demographic spectrum. The portion of 18-29 year old Americans who reported that they had no sex within the last year more than doubled in the last decade, mirroring overall numbers at 23 percent.
Some overall change was expected, as the 60-plus portion of the population has risen from 18 percent to 26 percent. The number of that group reporting no sex remains constant around 50 percent.
However, that doesn't account for the change entirely and young men appear to be to blame. While young men and women tended to report similar levels of sexlessness in the past, the percentage of twenty-something men not having sex has tripled in the last decade to 28 percent. At the same time, women reported an eight percent increase in celibacy.
Professor Jean Twenge, who has written a book on the changing habits of younger people with regards to technology, told the Washington Post that the change can be attributed to increased unemployment, a lack of long-term partnerships, living at home, and having more entertainment options.
"There are a lot more things to do at 10 o'clock at night now than there were 20 years ago," Twenge said.
