How often are married people having sex? American intimacy numbers revealed

Key Points:

• A 2024 General Social Survey of 1,893 married Americans found a wide range of sexual frequency, with 32.5% reporting no sex in the past year and 12.2% having sex two to three times a week.
• Research indicates that married people have sex slightly less often than unmarried individuals, averaging about 53 to 55 times per year, but this difference is relatively small and varies with age and relationship duration.
• Studies show no ideal frequency of sex for relationship satisfaction; couples having sex weekly tend to report higher happiness, but increasing frequency beyond that does not significantly boost marital satisfaction.
• Sexual desire naturally fluctuates due to factors like aging, career demands, parenthood, and health conditions such as hormonal changes, cardiovascular issues, medication side effects, and stress.
• Despite some decline with age, intimacy remains important for healthy aging, with about 17% of adults aged 70 and older engaging in weekly sexual activity, highlighting the role of physical connection in emotional and physical well-being.