A new national survey suggests that Gen Z's “sex recession" may have less to do with a lack of interest in sex and more to do with economic pressures. The 2026 Gen Z Sex Survey, conducted by Playboy in partnership with the Kinsey Institute and sexual health brand Julie, found that while many young adults report high levels of sexual desire, a significant share are having little or no sex, and financial concerns pose a major barrier to dating and relationships. According to the survey of 2,373 adults, 43 percent said financial concerns have made dating or maintaining romantic relationships harder, while 39 percent said the cost of dating limits their opportunities for sex or romance.
If you’re living with family, worried about rent, student debt or basic expenses, you may not have the money, privacy or emotional bandwidth that dating requires,” Sandra Hatton, founder and CEO of When We First and a professional matchmaker, told Newsweek. However, the new survey suggests economic realities may be playing a larger role than previously believed. With housing costs, student debt and inflation all weighing heavily on younger generations, that financial strain can directly affect Gen Z’s romantic lives.
Despite headlines about declining sexual activity, the survey found that Gen Z is far from uninterested in sex. Nearly 80 percent of respondents reported moderate to very high levels of sexual desire, yet 29 percent said they had not had sex in the previous three months and one in five reported never having had sex at all. Only 32 percent said their sex life feels both fulfilling and consistent.
Nearly half of respondents reported kissing almost every day, with that figure rising to 72 percent among those currently in relationships. However, money emerged as one of the clearest obstacles to romance. Among respondents, 43 percent said financial concerns had made dating or maintaining relationships more difficult.
Men were more likely than women to report financial barriers, with 48 percent of men citing money concerns compared with 38 percent of women. The survey also found that 66.5 percent felt they lacked opportunities to meet partners, while 60 percent said they fear rejection. Living arrangements may also be contributing to the decline in sexual activity.
More than half of respondents, 54 percent, said they live with parents or other family members. Among those living with their parents, 64 percent said they had not had sex during the previous three months, indicating that a lack of privacy may be affecting romantic behavior. Intimacy requires a degree of privacy and unexpectedness,” Brie Temple, COO and chief matchmaker at Tawkify, told Newsweek.
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