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The United States is going through a deep recession, but it's not about the economy, at least not directly.
According to a recent report from the Institute for Family Studies (IFS), the country is experiencing an unprecedented "sexual recession," characterized by a sustained and widespread decline in sexual relationships among adults, both young and married.
The figures reveal a radical transformation in human relationships, fueled by loneliness, digitalization, and a profound cultural and social reconfiguration that began more than a decade ago.
A persistent and widespread decline
In 1990, 55% of Americans aged 18 to 64 reported having sexual relations weekly. By 2024, that figure has dropped to just 37%, the lowest level since data collection began.
The IFS warns that this is not an isolated phenomenon, but a sustained trend over time.
"With the turn of the millennium, that figure began to decrease: by 2010, less than half reported having sex weekly," they assert.
This phenomenon does not discriminate based on marital status.
While married adults still report a higher frequency of sexual activity than singles—46% compared to 34%, according to the study—the sexual recession has also affected married couples.
Between 1996 and 2008, 59% of marriages reported having sex once a week or more; today, that proportion has fallen to 49%.
The younger generations, the most affected
The decline is particularly pronounced among young adults aged 18 to 29.
According to the report, "the proportion of young adults who reported living with a partner, either married or unmarried, decreased by 10 percentage points between 2014 and 2024," falling from 42% to 32%.
This fact is key, as researchers warn that the lack of a stable partner is one of the main factors behind the decline in sexual activity.
An even more alarming aspect is the rise of asexuality, defined as not having had sexual relations in the past year. Until 2010, this rate remained stable at around 15% among young people.
But starting from that year, the trend changed drastically: in 2024, 24% of young adults reported not having had sex in the past 12 months, double the rate of 2010.
The "Great Reconfiguration": A Digital Turning Point
The report links the turning point to the so-called "Great Restructuring," a concept coined by Jonathon Haidt in The Anxious Generation.
This term describes the impact of the digital revolution that began between 2010 and 2015, when the widespread use of smartphones and social media profoundly changed the way teenagers engage with the world.
"Childhood has become increasingly digital. As a result, children are not exposed to as much socialization as previous generations," warns the IFS.
This loss of face-to-face interaction has led to a generation with higher rates of anxiety, depression, self-harm, and suicide, and -no less importantly- a diminished capacity to form intimate relationships.
Between 2010 and 2019, the average time young adults spent with friends decreased by nearly 50%, from 12.8 to just 6.5 hours per week.
The pandemic exacerbated the trend, reducing that figure to 4.2 hours.
Although it has risen slightly in 2024, young people still spend just 5.1 hours per week on in-person social activities, according to the study.
Phones, pornography, and video games: the new obstacles to desire
The report clearly states that so-called "electronic opioids" have replaced real human contact.
"The increased time spent on smartphones, social media, pornography, and video games meant that young adults had fewer opportunities to develop the social skills necessary to form relationships."
This hyperconnected lifestyle has displaced activities traditionally associated with the development of emotional and sexual bonds, such as parties, dating, or even alcohol consumption.
According to the IFS, the decline in the formation of romantic relationships and the reduced consumption of alcohol account for a significant portion of the sexual recession, along with falling incomes and an increasing dedication to video games, particularly among men, which "reduces their appeal in the mating market."
Marriage no longer protects against decline
Although married adults still have more sexual relations than single individuals, marriage is no longer a guarantee of an active intimate life.
The 2023 report from the IFS revealed that excessive screen use at home also impacts marital sexual life.
“Married adults reported a lower frequency of sexual activity when their spouse replaced time spent together with phone or computer use.”
A rising habit is digital procrastination before bed, where people spend the last hours of the day consuming online content, which delays bedtime and weakens intimacy.
"It is not surprising that increased use of social media, Netflix, or video games by spouses translates into decreased intimacy," the report states.
Why should we be concerned about this recession?
The sexual recession is not an anecdotal phenomenon nor a mere sociological curiosity.
"Regular sex is associated with better health, higher quality marriages, and greater happiness," emphasizes the IFS.
And he adds: "We are, as Aristotle pointed out, social animals, real and embodied beings who thrive through interactions with others in the real world."
As the trend of shifting life—even sexual life—to the virtual realm grows, the risk is that people may lose the fundamental connections that support their physical, emotional, and relational wellbeing. Therefore, the institute concludes, “The United States should be just as concerned about the sexual recession as about any other national crisis.”
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