Gen Z sex frequency trails older generations in Lovehoney poll

Britons aged 18-26 report about 36 sexual encounters per year, according to a Lovehoney poll, placing Generation Z at the bottom of the generational chart for sexual activity. By contrast, the grandparents cohort, aged 61-79, report 47 encounters annually, a higher total than the youngest group. The poll also canvassed Gen X and Millennials, with Gen X reporting 62 encounters per year and Millennials at 73, revealing a broad spread in sexual activity across generations.

So-called Millennials, aged 27-43 in the survey, were most active, averaging about 73 sexual events per year — roughly once every five days. Taken together, the data indicate that the average Briton has sex more than once a week, according to Lovehoney's polling.

A Lovehoney spokeswoman described Gen-Z as being in a 'sex crisis' and cited the home environment as a contributing factor. The company noted that a significant share of young adults in the 18- to 26-year-old bracket are living at home, a trend that researchers say may affect opportunities for privacy and sexual expression. The same survey highlighted housing pressures as part of the broader social context affecting young adults' lives, including affordability and the proportion of 18-year-olds planning to stay in family homes for the 2024-25 academic year.

The findings arrive as universities prepare for a new academic year and amid broader cultural shifts in student life. Some campuses have shifted away from traditional booze-fueled Freshers' Week events toward inclusive, low-alcohol activities and social programming, aiming to foster community without heavy drinking rituals. Officials say these trends reflect changing student expectations and economic realities, though universities still grapple with how best to support students' well-being, including sexual health.