Online dating adoption has tripled among U.S. adults in a decade. The global sexual wellness economy now exceeds $22 billion, reflecting a shift toward digital services for relationships and health.
Key Takeaways
- 9% of U.S. adults reported using an online dating site or app in 2013
- In 2023, 27% of dating app users reported using at least 2 different dating apps.
- In 2023, 18% of U.S. adults reported having used online sexual health services (telehealth/online STI testing).
- 52% of U.S. adults reported being ever-married in their lifetime (2021).
- The global online pornography market was valued at $16.5 billion in 2023.
- The global dating services market was valued at $8.9 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.6% from 2024–2032.
- In 2024, consumer spending on sexual wellness products in Europe exceeded €10 billion.
- In 2023, the global sex toy market had an estimated CAGR of 8.1% from 2023 to 2032 (market growth rate, value-based).
- The cost of a standard course of HPV vaccination in the U.S. was estimated at $540 in 2023 (price estimate).
- In 2023, the median price for generic PrEP (tenofovir/emtricitabine) in the U.S. under discount programs was about $20 per month (program pricing measure).
- In 2023, 41% of adults reported feeling concerned about STI risk (survey measure).
- In 2021, 39% of people aged 18–29 reported higher than average sexual wellbeing needs for counseling (survey measure).
- In 2022, 71% of adults said they would use telehealth for STI testing if offered (survey measure).
- 18.4% of U.S. adults reported using cannabis at least once in the past year (NHIS; often used in sexual-health/behavior analyses)
- The global sexual wellness market is projected to reach $22.3B by 2030 (industry projection)
Online dating and sexual wellness services are rapidly expanding, while telehealth, STI prevention, and safer sex remain crucial.
Related reading
01 · Category
User Adoption5 stats
01
9% of U.S. adults reported using an online dating site or app in 2013
02
In 2023, 27% of dating app users reported using at least 2 different dating apps.
03
In 2023, 18% of U.S. adults reported having used online sexual health services (telehealth/online STI testing).
04
11% of adults in the UK reported using a dating app or website at least once a week (YouGov survey, 2023)
05
In a 2020 U.S. survey, 52% of respondents who had tried online dating said they used it to meet new people (survey measure reported in an industry brief)
Interpretation
User Adoption Interpretation
In the User Adoption category, online dating has grown from 9% of U.S. adults using it in 2013 to wider mainstream uptake in 2023, where 27% of dating app users report using at least two apps and 18% of U.S. adults have used online sexual health services.
02 · Category
Demographics1 stats
01
52% of U.S. adults reported being ever-married in their lifetime (2021).
Interpretation
Demographics Interpretation
In the Demographics picture of U.S. sexuality, a clear majority with 52% of adults reporting they have ever been married suggests that marital experience is a significant and common life stage for understanding relationship patterns in this population.
03 · Category
Industry Trends6 stats
01
The global online pornography market was valued at $16.5 billion in 2023.
02
The global dating services market was valued at $8.9 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.6% from 2024–2032.
03
In 2024, consumer spending on sexual wellness products in Europe exceeded €10 billion.
04
In 2022, 77% of pregnant women globally received at least one antenatal care visit (WHO global health statistics)
05
In 2022, 66% of women aged 15–49 reported having access to modern contraceptive methods (UN/WHO indicator reporting)
06
In 2023, 8.5% of men aged 15+ globally had used a condom at last higher-risk sex (WHO/UN indicator)
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
Industry trends in sexuality are being driven by rapid growth and sustained demand, with the global online pornography market reaching $16.5 billion in 2023 and Europe’s sexual wellness product spending topping €10 billion in 2024 alongside dating services projected to grow at an 8.6% CAGR from 2024 to 2032.
04 · Category
Cost Analysis5 stats
01
In 2023, the global sex toy market had an estimated CAGR of 8.1% from 2023 to 2032 (market growth rate, value-based).
02
The cost of a standard course of HPV vaccination in the U.S. was estimated at $540in 2023 (price estimate).
03
In 2023, the median price for generic PrEP (tenofovir/emtricitabine) in the U.S. under discount programs was about $20per month (program pricing measure).
04
In 2022, the economic burden of STIs in the U.S. was estimated at $16.0 billion (cost-of-illness estimate).
05
In 2022, the estimated global economic cost of antimicrobial-resistant gonorrhea was $233 million (model-based estimate).
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
From a Cost Analysis perspective, the market and treatment costs around sexuality appear to be rising and staying substantial, with the global sex toy market projected to grow at an 8.1% CAGR through 2032 and the U.S. facing a $16.0 billion economic burden from STIs in 2022.
More related reading
05 · Category
Wellbeing & Attitudes4 stats
01
In 2023, 41% of adults reported feeling concerned about STI risk (survey measure).
02
In 2021, 39% of people aged 18–29 reported higher than average sexual wellbeing needs for counseling (survey measure).
03
In 2022, 71% of adults said they would use telehealth for STI testing if offered (survey measure).
04
In 2020, 22% of adults reported that porn consumption affected their expectations of sex (survey measure).
Interpretation
Wellbeing & Attitudes Interpretation
From a wellbeing and attitudes perspective, concerns and openness to support stand out as 41% of adults reported STI risk concerns in 2023 while 71% said they would use telehealth for STI testing if offered in 2022.
06 · Category
Health Burden1 stats
01
18.4% of U.S. adults reported using cannabis at least once in the past year (NHIS; often used in sexual-health/behavior analyses)
Interpretation
Health Burden Interpretation
With 18.4% of U.S. adults reporting cannabis use at least once in the past year, substance use may represent a meaningful health burden that could influence sexual health outcomes and behaviors.
07 · Category
Market Size4 stats
01
The global sexual wellness market is projected to reach $22.3B by 2030 (industry projection)
02
The global STI testing market was valued at $1.9B in 2023 (market research estimate)
03
In 2024, the global revenue of the online dating market in the U.S. was estimated at $2.1B (industry estimate)
04
In 2024, the global revenue for the “sexual wellness” e-commerce segment was estimated at $3.6B (industry estimate)
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
For the Market Size category, the data shows a fast-expanding sexual wellness economy with the global sexual wellness market projected to hit $22.3B by 2030 alongside sizable adjacent segments like $3.6B in sexual wellness e-commerce and $1.9B in STI testing in 2023.
08 · Category
Performance Metrics1 stats
01
In 2023, Proximity to viral suppression among people on ART was associated with an estimated 93% reduction in onward transmission risk (peer-reviewed meta-analysis)
Interpretation
Performance Metrics Interpretation
In 2023, proximity to viral suppression among people on ART corresponded to an estimated 93% reduction in onward transmission risk, showing strong performance metric gains as ART reduces transmission.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Marcus Afolabi. (2026, February 13). Sexuality Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/sexuality-statistics
MLA
Marcus Afolabi. "Sexuality Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/sexuality-statistics.
Chicago
Marcus Afolabi. 2026. "Sexuality Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/sexuality-statistics.
Sources & references
27 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+5 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)