A Cautionary Tale from Japan’s “Sexual Recession”

In 2019, CBS News highlighted Japan’s troubling “sexual recession,” pointing to its dwindling birth rates and increasing loneliness among young people. Alarmingly, a significant number of them reported not engaging in sexual activities at all.

Interestingly, this “sex recession” seems poised to extend beyond Japan, possibly reaching the West Coast and even America. A recent study from the Institute of Family Research (IFS) indicates that intimacy among Americans is at an all-time low.

The report titled “The Sex Recession” draws from data within a general social survey conducted by the University of Chicago NORC, published in May 2024. The findings indicate that only 37% of American adults between the ages of 18 and 64 are having sex weekly. This marks a significant drop from 55% in 1990. Notably, among younger adults aged 18-29, about 24% admitted they haven’t engaged in sexual activity in the past year, a doubling of the rate since 2010.

Millennials and Gen Z have often cited social awkwardness and the allure of online distractions as factors contributing to their retreat from dating. However, this study shows that these trends also affect middle-aged individuals, crossing marriage statuses and sexual orientations.

Even those in committed relationships are experiencing a decline in sexual intimacy. While factors like parenting and work-related fatigue are common culprits, it’s worth noting that previous generations seemed to manage better. A sexual recession was definitely not something anticipated decades ago.

As for older adults over 64, the situation remains largely unchanged, continuing from an already low baseline.

Japan serves as a critical warning; it faces a graver sex recession along with an aging population, leading to increased loneliness among its youth. For the U.S., there’s a looming risk of echoing Japan’s slowly shifting demographics unless societal attitudes shift to prioritize intimacy and family life once again.

One clear lesson emerges amid discussions about technology and various policy solutions: culture must incentivize family life rather than relying solely on laws. A fine start could be fostering a reduction in our incessant screen time, which is likely one of the major contributors to the sex recession.

Encouraging younger generations to disconnect from their devices and engage in activities like reading, spending time outdoors, and exercising may not reverse trends immediately, but it definitely lays a foundation for healthier connections in the future.