The average couple has sex about 54 times per year—roughly once weekly. But here’s the reality check: nearly half of couples don’t even hit that mark. Only 25% actually manage weekly sessions, while 16% get busy two to three times per week. Age matters too—twentysomethings clock in at twice weekly, while folks over 50 often rare it up considerably. Quality beats quantity though, and there’s much more nuance to these bedroom statistics.
How often should couples have sex, and what’s actually happening behind closed doors? The reality might surprise you. According to data from approximately 660 married people, the average couple has sex 54 times per year—roughly once a week. But here’s the kicker: nearly half of married couples don’t even hit that benchmark.
Nearly half of married couples have sex less than the average of once per week, revealing a surprising bedroom reality.
Let’s break down what’s really going on. Only 25% of married couples actually have sex once a week, while 16% manage two to three times weekly. The majority? They’re having less sex than you’d expect. Almost half—47%—have sex less than once a week, with 19% managing only two to three times monthly and 17% once monthly. Even more telling: 10% had zero sex in the past year. Cultivating self-love and compassion can help partners communicate their needs better and potentially improve intimacy.
Age plays a massive role here. Young adults aged 18-29 are going at it roughly 112 times yearly—about twice weekly. But things drop fast. People in their thirties average 86 times annually, while those in their forties clock in at 69 times. By age 50 and beyond, 33% of couples rarely or never have sex. Surprisingly, 33% of men and 36% of women in their 70s still have sex at least twice monthly.
There’s an interesting gender twist. Women aged 18-24 report more frequent sex than men the same age—52% versus 37% having weekly sex. Overall, though, the numbers are close: 60.9% of women and 57.7% of men report weekly activity.
Here’s what matters most: quality trumps quantity every time. Research involving 30,000 people found no happiness difference between couples having frequent versus infrequent sex. Pushing beyond once weekly might actually decrease desire and enjoyment. Your relationship isn’t broken if you’re not matching some imaginary standard. When couples lack sex entirely, it can create serious relationship problems including detachment and anger, potentially leading to infidelity or divorce.
The bigger picture? Americans are having less sex overall. Between 2000 and 2018, those reporting weekly sex dropped from 51.8% to 37.4%. Whether that’s technology, stress, or shifting priorities doesn’t matter as much as this: focus on what works for your relationship. Communication beats frequency charts every single time.
Stop comparing your bedroom to statistics and start talking to your partner about what you both actually want.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Does Age Affect Sexual Frequency in Long-Term Relationships?
Age hits sexual frequency hard in long-term relationships. Couples in their twenties average twice weekly, but that drops to 1.6 times for thirties and keeps sliding down.
Testosterone declines, health issues pile up, and life stress increases. By 65, couples average sex less than every two weeks.
However, some older couples buck the trend—around 25% of partnered women over 70 still have frequent sex.
Do Couples With Children Have Sex Less Often Than Childless Couples?
Yes, couples with children have markedly less sex than childless couples. The data shows a brutal reality: sexual frequency drops nearly 50% after kids arrive, plummeting from 19 times monthly to just 10.
Before children, 54% of couples had sex 2-3 times weekly. After? Only 15% maintain that frequency, while 23% have zero weekly encounters.
Kids kill bedroom schedules.
What Role Does Stress Play in Reducing Sexual Activity Between Partners?
Stress destroys sexual activity faster than almost anything else. When cortisol floods the system, desire vanishes. One partner’s stress kills both people’s interest—it’s contagious like that.
The stressed-out partner fundamentally becomes the sexual thermostat for the relationship, cranking everything down to zero.
Chronic stress creates a brutal cycle: less sex leads to relationship tension, which creates more stress, which kills more desire.
How Do Health Conditions and Medications Impact Couple’s Sexual Frequency?
Health conditions slam the brakes on sexual frequency through multiple pathways. Diabetes damages blood vessels and nerves, causing erectile dysfunction.
Antidepressants kill libido and delay orgasm.
Blood pressure medications cause sexual dysfunction as side effects.
Chronic illnesses bring fatigue, pain, and body image concerns that make couples avoid intimacy altogether.
Cancer treatments destroy sex drive through hormonal disruption and surgical changes.
Is There a Difference in Sexual Frequency Between Married and Unmarried Couples?
Yes, unmarried couples have sex more frequently than married couples. Cohabiting couples average about 7 times per month compared to married couples’ 56 times per year (roughly once weekly).
The difference is stark—unmarried partners are getting busy more often, especially early in relationships. Marriage seems to cool things down a bit, though sexual frequency naturally declines with time regardless of marital status.
