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Statistics

All Statistics

Sexual Activity

How many teens are choosing not to have sex?

  • Based on the 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance (YRBS) data, over half (52%) of all students in grades 9 to 12 indicated that they had not yet had sex.1

How many teens have had sex?

  • Forty-eight percent (48%) of high school students reported having sexual intercourse—46% of girls and 50% of boys.1
  • In 2005, 47% of all high school students reported having sex compared to 48% in 2007.1
  • Between 1991-2007, the proportion of students who ever had sexual intercourse decreased from 54% to 48%.1

With whom are teen females having their first sexual experiences?

  • The majority (59%) of sexually experienced teen females had a first sexual partner who was 1-3 years their senior. Only 8% had first partners who were six or more years older.2
  • More than three-quarters of teen females report that their first sexual experience was with a steady boyfriend, a fiancé, a husband or a cohabiting partner.2

How many teens are sexually active?

  • More than one-third (35%) of all high school students reported being sexually active (they had sex in the previous three months). Thirty-six percent of girls and 34% of boys reported being sexually active.1
  • More than half (53%) of all 12th grade students reported being sexually active compared to 20% of 9th grade students.1

Are rates of teen sexual activity changing?

  • Between 2005 and 2007, the proportion of students who were sexually active remained basically unchanged (34% in 2005 vs. 35% in 2007).1
  • The proportion of students who were currently sexually active decreased from 38% in 1991 to 35% in 2007.1

How many teens are using substances before having sex?

  • In 2007, 23% of high school students who had sexual intercourse during the past three months drank alcohol or used drugs before their last sexual intercourse.1
  • Between 1991-2001, the percentage of high school students who had sexual intercourse during the past three months who drank alcohol or used drugs before their last sexual intercourse increased from 22% to 26% and then decreased during 2001-2007 (26% to 23%).1

How many teens report having multiple partners?

  • In 2007, 15% of high school students reported having already had four or more sexual partners—basically unchanged from 14% in 2005.1
  • Boys (18%) are more likely than girls (12%) to report that they have had four or more partners.1
  • Between 1991 and 2007, the proportion of students who had sexual intercourse with four or more persons during their lifetime decreased from 19% to 15%.1

How many teens report having sex before age 13?

  • Between 1991 and 2005, the percentage of teens who reported having had sex before the age of 13 decreased from 10% to 6%. 1
  • between 2005 and 2007, the percentage of high school students who reported they first had sex before age 13 did not change significantly (6.2% to 7.1%).1

References

1 Eaton DK, Kann L, Kinchen S et al. Youth risk behavior surveillance, United States, 2007. Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report 2008; 57(SS-4):1-138; www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/yrbs/pdf/yrbss07_mmwr.pdf accessed 6/11/2008.

2 Abma JC et al., Teenagers in the United States: sexual activity, contraceptive use, and childbearing, 2002, Vital and Health Statistics, 2004, Series 23, No. 24.