No. Many people have not had sex yet, and there is no right timeline.
Short answer
Not at all. There is no correct age or timeline.
How common
In the US, about 1 in 4 adults aged 18 to 29 reported no sex in the past year (General Social Survey 2018).
Reasons
Personal values, religion, readiness, health or not finding the right person.
What matters
Consent, safety and being ready.
Tip
Talk with a trusted friend or counselor if worry affects your mood.
Short answer
No. Many adults have not had sex. Whether a person is ready is a personal matter, and there is no deadline.
How common
Data from the General Social Survey show that about 23% of US adults aged 18 to 29 reported no sex in the past year in recent years, and an increasing share of young adults say they have never had partnered sex. A CDC survey found that around 14% of women and 17% of men aged 20 to 24 had never had sex. The numbers are lower for older age groups, but still many.
Reasons people wait
- Waiting for the right partner or relationship.
- Religious, cultural or personal values.
- Shyness, anxiety or lack of opportunity.
- Focus on school, work or health.
- Asexuality (little or no sexual attraction), which applies to about 1% of people.
- Medical conditions or disability.
- Past trauma.
What matters
Readiness includes mutual consent, respect, trust, honest communication, knowledge about protection and no pressure. It is okay to decide not to have sex.
Safety
When you decide to have sex, discuss contraception and STI protection. Condoms reduce risk of STIs and pregnancy. Regular STI testing is recommended for sexually active people.
Pressure
Peer pressure and media can create misleading ideas about how common sex is. Surveys show that people overestimate others’ sexual activity.
Support
If anxiety, pain with intimacy (vaginismus, erectile problems) or shame is troubling you, a sex therapist, doctor or counselor can help.
Self acceptance
Having sex does not define worth. Relationships can be meaningful without sex.
What surveys report
Surveys show that many adults have gone long periods without sex. The General Social Survey in the United States found that a growing share of young adults reported no sex in the past year, about 28 percent of adults aged 18 to 29 in 2018, up from earlier decades. A 2022 analysis from Pew found that about 1 in 4 US adults aged 18 to 34 had never had a partner in some form. Rates vary with age, culture, religion, health and relationship history.
Healthy ways to think about it
There is no set age or timeline when sexual experience should happen. Readiness depends on emotional comfort, consent and safety. If anxiety, shame or fear are causing distress, a licensed therapist or sex therapist can help. Anyone who has sex should know about consent, contraception, and testing for sexually transmitted infections. Sexual experience does not determine a person’s worth or relationship success.
Based on data from the General Social Survey and the Pew Research Center
