New survey data is offering a fresh look at how often married Americans are having sex, while researchers say the numbers complicate simple assumptions about intimacy and relationship health.

The findings come from the General Social Survey, conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago. The survey asked married respondents how often they had sex during the last 12 months.

Among the 1,893 married respondents surveyed in 2024, the data showed a wide range of answers. That range suggests there is no single pattern that defines married couples across the country.

National demographic research also suggests that lower sexual frequency can be a normal part of aging and long relationships. At the same time, some studies point to a possible sweet spot linked with marital satisfaction.

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Research from the telehealth platform Hims found that the average American adult has sex 53 times a year. That equals a little more than once per week.

Marriage is often associated with less frequent sex, but the difference may be limited. A 2014 study found that married people had sex about 55 times a year, while unmarried peers had sex about 59 times a year.

Hims addressed that difference in a medically reviewed article. "Experts aren’t sure precisely why this difference exists or why what used to be an advantage has become a disadvantage, but some believe it may be related to the increasing age at which most people get married," Hims wrote.

The same article also cautioned against treating any number as a universal rule. "There’s no ‘perfect statistic’ or ideal amount of sex. In other words: You like what you like, and that’s perfectly OK."

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Clinical data also suggests that setting a daily or high volume sexual target does not necessarily improve a relationship. Researchers have found that more frequent intimacy does not always translate into higher satisfaction.

A study published in Social Psychological and Personality Science in 2015 evaluated more than 30,000 individuals over four decades. It found that happiness increased as physical intimacy moved from monthly to weekly.

However, the same study found no additional statistical boost in marital satisfaction for couples who had sex two, three or four times a week compared with those who reached the weekly level. That finding challenges the idea that more is always better.

Experts also note that sexual desire can shift as couples move through different stages of life. Career demands, parenthood and biological aging can all affect intimacy.

Despite research showing that sex may slow with age, intimacy remains part of healthy aging for many people. It has been linked to improved physical and emotional health in the source material.

AARP survey data found that physical connection remains routine for some older adults. Roughly 17% of adults aged 70 and older engage in sexual activity on a weekly basis.

When couples experience an intimacy dry spell, medical professionals recommend looking at physiological factors instead of immediately assuming incompatibility. Those factors can include hormone levels, medication profiles and overall metabolic health.

Educational resources from the International Society for Sexual Medicine note several physical conditions that can influence libido. These include age related drops in testosterone in men and fluctuations in estrogen during perimenopause or menopause in women.

Other possible factors include poor cardiovascular health, chronic fatigue and thyroid dysfunction. Prescription side effects can also play a role, especially common medications including SSRI antidepressants and blood pressure drugs, according to experts cited in the source material.

Ongoing mental stress may also affect libido through elevated cortisol levels. Relationship issues, including communication problems, unresolved conflicts or lack of emotional intimacy, can influence sexual desire as well.

Lifestyle factors are also listed among possible contributors. Poor diet, lack of exercise and substance abuse can drive down libido, according to the educational resources cited.

Rather than trying to force a weekly goal, healthcare providers encourage couples with mismatched sexual desire to talk openly. They also recommend consulting a doctor to evaluate possible medical factors.

The broader message from the survey data and related research is that sexual frequency varies widely among married Americans. For many couples, the number itself may be less important than communication, context and whether both partners are comfortable with the relationship.