1 in 5 Adults Haven’t Had Sex in a Year, and the Reasons Are Pretty Telling

Sex statistics rarely stop you mid-scroll, but this one should. One in five adults has gone more than a year without sleeping with another person. Even the most emotionally stable among us would raise an eyebrow at that one.

A new nationwide survey of 1,000 adults conducted by Joi AI helps explain what sits underneath that dry spell. Nearly 22 percent of respondents said they hadn’t had sex in over a year, and 6 percent said they’ve never had sex at all. Although 37 percent reported sex within the past week, researchers noted the figure still dips below pre-pandemic levels. The sex recession that experts flagged years ago has not eased its grip.

When people were asked why their sex lives had slowed down, the answers reflected the state of modern adulthood. Thirty-six percent said they ha