New survey data offers a snapshot of how often married Americans have sex, and researchers say the findings challenge common assumptions about relationship health. The General Social Survey, conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago, asked 1,893 married respondents in 2024 how many times they had had sex during the previous 12 months. Among the married people surveyed, the answers spanned a wide range.
National demographic studies suggest that lower sexual frequency is often a normal part of aging and long-term relationships, and that there may be a «sweet spot» associated with marital satisfaction. Overall, the average American adult has sex about 53 times a year, or slightly more than once a week, according to research by the telehealth platform Hims. Marriage is often associated with less frequent sex, but studies suggest the difference is relatively small. A 2014 study found that married people had sex about 55 times a year, compared with 59 times a year among unmarried peers.
Experts are not certain why that difference exists, or why an advantage that married people once had has become a disadvantage. Some believe it may be related to the increasing age at which most people get married. Researchers also point out that there is no perfect statistic or ideal amount of sex. As Hims put it in a medically reviewed article, «You like what you like, and that’s perfectly OK.»
Clinical data suggests that aiming for a daily or high-volume sexual quota does not necessarily improve relationship quality. A study published in Social Psychological and Personality Science in 2015 examined more than 30,000 individuals over four decades and found a clear drop-off in additional benefits. While overall happiness increased when couples moved from having sex monthly to weekly, those who had sex two, three or four times a week saw no extra statistical boost in marital satisfaction compared with couples who reached the weekly threshold. In other words, there is no single benchmark that fits every marriage.
Experts emphasize that sexual desire naturally fluctuates as couples navigate career demands, parenthood and biological aging. Despite research pointing to a slowdown with age, intimacy remains an important factor in healthy aging and is linked to improved physical and emotional well-being. AARP survey data indicates that physical connection remains routine for many older Americans, with roughly 17% of adults aged 70 and older engaging in sexual activity on a weekly basis.
When a couple experiences an intimacy dry spell, medical professionals recommend looking at physiological factors before jumping to conclusions about incompatibility. Educational resources from the International Society for Sexual Medicine note that a number of physical conditions can influence libido, including hormonal imbalances, medication side effects, chronic illness, fatigue and other metabolic issues. Rather than forcing a weekly goal, healthcare providers encourage couples dealing with mismatched sexual desire to discuss the issue openly and consult a doctor to evaluate baseline hormone levels, medication profiles and overall metabolic health.