Curious about the trends in premarital sex? Armed with the latest data, our report dives into how many people engage in sexual activities before tying the knot. We provide accurate, up-to-date statistics that reflect current behaviors and attitudes across various demographics. Discover the facts and understand the evolving patterns in premarital sex through our comprehensive analysis.
Here’s what we’ve covered:
- Is Sex Between An Unmarried Man and Woman Morally Acceptable or Morally Wrong
- Premarital Sex as a Norm in America
- By Age
- By Religion
- Global Views on Premarital Sex
- Health Impacts of Premarital Sex
- Benefits of Delaying Sex Until Marriage
- Factors that increase the odds of having sex before marriage
Key Takeaways
- 95% of Americans have indulged in premarital sex by the age of 44
- 8 out of 10 have had sex at the age of 20
- 69% of Americans think that premarital sex is morally acceptable
- 28% of Americans state that they think sex before marriage is morally wrong
- 9 out of 10 people in Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, and Turkey believed that engaging in sex before marriage was not acceptable
- Health impact on sex before marriage: Suicide, Depression, Loss of Self-respect, Regression, STDs
- Sexual quality is 15% higher if you wait til marriage than people who have indulged in premarital sex
Is Sex Between An Unmarried Man and Woman Morally Acceptable or Morally Wrong?
- 69% of Americans think that premarital sex is morally acceptable
- 28% of Americans state that they think sex before marriage is morally wrong
- 1% of Americans have no opinion if sex before marriage is morally acceptable or morally wrong
Premarital Sex as a Norm in America
- 75% of Americans have had premarital sex by the age of 20
- 95% of Americans have indulged in premarital sex by the age of 44
- 81% of those who abstained from sex until the age of 20 or older, have had sex before marriage by the age of 44
- 1 in 54 Americans still oppose premarital sex
- 25% of Americans feel that sex between unmarried adults in a committed relationship is not acceptable
By Age
Here’s an overview of how many people have had sex before marriage. So 65% of 18-24 years old have had sex before marriage.
- 18-24 years old (65%)
- 25-34 years old (76%)
- 35-44 years old (83%)
- 45-54 years old (86%)
- 55-64 years old (84%)
By Religion
- 57% of Christians stated that sex between unmarried adults in a relationship is sometimes or always acceptable, including:
- 67% of mainline Protestants
- 64% of Catholics
- 57% of Protestants
- 46% of Evangelical Protestants
Global Views on Premarital Sex
- 9 out of 10 people in Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, and Turkey believed that engaging in sex before marriage was not acceptable
- The majority of Europeans believed that premarital sex is morally acceptable or not a moral issue at all
- In the US, 29% of people consider the act of having sex before marriage as morally wrong while 20% deemed that getting a divorce is also morally unacceptable
Health Impacts of Premarital Sex
This section examines both the physical and emotional consequences associated with early sexual activity. From the risks of sexually transmitted infections to the psychological effects on individuals, we provide a balanced view of how premarital sex can impact overall health.
- Abortion
- HIV/AIDS
- Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- Guilt
- Regrets
- Depression
- Loss of Self-respect
- Suicide
- Abuse of Substance
Benefits of Delaying Sex Until Marriage
Studies show that individuals who waited to have sex until marriage:
- Stated that sexual quality is 15% higher than people who have indulged in premarital sex
- Rated satisfaction with their relationships 20% higher
- Rated the stability of the relationship as 22% higher
Factors that increase the odds of having sex before marriage
If you are exposed to the following things you’re more likely to have sex before marriage than if you weren’t:
- Pornography
- Sexual stimulant use
- Alcohol consumption
- Non-medical use of prescription drugs
- Peer premarital sex
- Alcohol and drug use
- Lack of parental monitoring
- A steady boyfriend or girlfriend
- A parental belief that adolescent sex is okay and appropriate
- A parental belief that adolescent sex is inevitable.
- A history of sexual or physical abuse.
- Frequent family relations
- Low grade or low attachment to school
- Single parent in the household
- Little parental monitoring
Looking for more marriage statistics?
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