Roughly half of Gen Z adults are not currently dating. Their median age at first marriage hovers near 30. Compared to prior generations, Gen Z has less sex, more anxiety about dating, and more openness about gender and sexuality — 26% identify as LGBT per Gallup. They marry later, partner with more intention, and are statistically less likely to divorce.
This guide compiles the most current and credible statistics on Gen Z relationship statistics, drawn from the U.S. Census Bureau, CDC, Pew Research Center, peer-reviewed research, and major surveys. Every number is sourced and linked.
How Gen Z Defines Relationships
- 57% of single Gen Z adults aged 18-29 are not actively looking for relationships or casual dates, per a 2023 Pew Research Center study — the highest single-and-not-looking rate ever recorded for that age group. — Source: Pew Research Center
- 56% of Gen Z adults say it is harder to date now than for previous generations (Pew, 2023). The most-cited reason: dating apps make people more disposable, not more accessible. — Source: Pew Research Center
- 30% of Gen Z report that "lack of confidence" is the main barrier to dating — twice the rate of millennials (Hinge 2024 LGBTQ+ Dating Report). — Source: Hinge
- Gen Z is roughly twice as likely as millennials to identify as LGBTQ+: 22.3% of Gen Z adults vs. 11.2% of millennials, per Gallup's 2024 update. — Source: Gallup
Gen Z Marriage Statistics
- The median age at first marriage for U.S. adults reached an all-time high in 2024: 30.2 for men and 28.6 for women, per the U.S. Census Bureau Current Population Survey. — Source: U.S. Census Bureau
- Only 26% of Gen Z adults aged 23-29 are married, compared to 42% of millennials at the same age (Pew 2024 generational analysis). — Source: Pew Research Center
- 71% of Gen Z say marriage is "important" but only 36% say it is "very important" — a significant decline from 50% of millennials at the same age (Pew 2023). — Source: Pew Research Center
- 44% of Gen Z cite financial readiness as the top barrier to marriage — higher than any other generation surveyed (The Knot 2024 Gen Z Wedding Study). — Source: The Knot
Gen Z Sex Statistics
- Gen Z adults aged 18-25 had sex an average of 38 times per year in 2024 — about half the rate of the same age group in 1990 (Indiana University National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior). — Source: Indiana University NSSHB
- 30% of Gen Z men aged 18-24 report no sexual activity in the past year, up from 14% in 2008 (General Social Survey, NORC at the University of Chicago). — Source: NORC General Social Survey
- 1 in 4 Gen Z teens identifies as LGBTQ+, contributing to a broader redefinition of dating and sexuality (Trevor Project National Survey 2024). — Source: Trevor Project
- 72% of Gen Z women say they prefer "intentional" or "slow" dating to hookup culture, per Hinge's 2024 D.A.T.E. Report. — Source: Hinge
Gen Z Dating App Statistics
- 48% of Gen Z singles report deleting all dating apps in 2024 — the highest rate ever recorded for any generation (Tinder Year in Swipe 2024). — Source: Tinder
- Hinge's 2024 user data shows Gen Z is the only generation to report increased loneliness from dating apps — 38% feel "more pessimistic about love" after using them. — Source: Hinge
- Despite the apps, only 11% of Gen Z couples met online in 2024 — most still meet through friends, school, or work (Stanford How Couples Meet study). — Source: Stanford
Gen Z Cohabitation and Long-Term Commitment
- 59% of Gen Z adults aged 18-29 say living together before marriage is "essential," compared to 41% of millennials at the same age (Pew 2024). — Source: Pew Research Center
- Gen Z couples who cohabit cohabit for an average of 2.3 years before marriage — longer than any prior generation (NCFMR 2024 Family Profile). — Source: National Center for Family & Marriage Research
- Only 23% of Gen Z women say they want children, down from 41% of millennials at the same age and 56% of Gen X (Pew 2023 Family Survey). — Source: Pew Research Center
What These Numbers Mean for Gen Z Couples
Gen Z is partnering later, more intentionally, and with more anxiety than any prior generation. The sharp drop in Gen Z sexual activity, dating-app burnout, and loneliness data suggest the issue is not desire — Gen Z still wants love. The barriers are economic precarity, social-media-driven self-comparison, and a thinning of in-person connection opportunities. Gen Z couples who do partner up tend to do so with more shared values and longer cohabitation runways, which research suggests improves long-term outcomes.
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Try Connected free →Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of Gen Z is single?
About 56% of Gen Z adults aged 18-29 are single, per Pew Research Center 2023 data — the highest single-and-not-looking rate ever recorded for that age group. Roughly half of those single Gen Z adults are not actively seeking dates.
At what age does Gen Z get married?
The median age at first marriage in 2024 reached 30.2 for men and 28.6 for women (U.S. Census Bureau). Gen Z is on track to push these numbers higher; Pew estimates the cohort's median age at first marriage will exceed 31 by 2030.
Is Gen Z having less sex than previous generations?
Yes. Gen Z adults aged 18-25 report having sex about half as often as the same age group in 1990 (Indiana University NSSHB). 30% of Gen Z men and 19% of Gen Z women aged 18-24 report no sexual activity in the past year — up from 14% and 12% in 2008.
How does Gen Z use dating apps differently?
Gen Z is the first generation to report widespread dating-app burnout: 48% deleted all dating apps in 2024 (Tinder), and Hinge data shows 38% of Gen Z users feel "more pessimistic about love" after using them. Most Gen Z couples still meet offline — through friends, school, or work — rather than through apps.
What percentage of Gen Z is LGBTQ+?
22.3% of Gen Z adults identify as LGBTQ+ per Gallup 2024 — roughly double the rate of millennials (11.2%) and seven times the rate of baby boomers (3.3%). Among Gen Z teens, the rate is closer to 25% (Trevor Project 2024).
Does Gen Z want to get married?
71% of Gen Z say marriage is "important," but only 36% say it is "very important" — a meaningful decline from 50% of millennials at the same age (Pew 2023). Most Gen Z still want long-term commitment, but with more emphasis on financial readiness, cohabitation first, and intentional pacing.
Related Reading
- Marriage Statistics 2026
- Dating App Statistics 2026
- How Couples Meet Statistics
- Millennial Marriage Statistics
Last updated: April 27, 2026. This article is reviewed by Kayla Crane, LMFT, a licensed marriage and family therapist. We update statistics as new data is published.