Gen Z has less sex than grandparents, Lovehoney poll finds

Generation Z Britons aged 18 to 26 report an average of 36 sexual encounters per year, according to a Lovehoney poll. The figure places them at the bottom of a four-generation comparison that includes Millennials, Gen X and Baby Boomers, and the grandparents of today’s youth.

Grandparents aged 61 to 79 report 47 times per year, more than Gen Z. Gen X, defined here as those aged 44 to 60, average 62 times per year. Millennials aged 27 to 43 average 73 times per year, the highest total in the survey. Taken together, the poll suggests the average Briton has sex more than once a week on average, with notable gaps between cohorts.

A Lovehoney spokeswoman described Gen Z as being in a “sex crisis,” saying: “They are often embarrassed to have sex when their parents are in the house.” The company said the under-30 cohort faces social and housing pressures that appear to dampen opportunities for intimate moments.

Experts have suggested that living at home may help explain the Gen Z lag. The newest data come amid broader housing trends in Britain: a third of 18-year-old applicants for the 2024-25 academic year planned to stay at home, a figure more than double what it was two decades ago. The dynamic has coincided with shifts in student life, as some universities moved away from traditional freshers week rituals toward more inclusive and sober programming.

Overall, the survey paints a nuanced picture of sexual activity across generations, highlighting how housing, independence, and social norms intersect with intimate behavior. While younger generations report lower frequencies, older cohorts still register meaningful levels of activity, and the data underscore ongoing discussions about sexual health, access to private space, and the impact of living arrangements on private life.