There's no single "average body count" for women, as it varies greatly by country, age, and study, but U.S. data from the CDC (2015-2019) suggests a median of 4.3 lifetime sexual partners for women (ages 25-44), while other surveys show figures from 4 to 7, with some research indicating higher counts in places like Australia, and lower in others like Asia. The concept itself is subjective, with many people underreporting or overreporting, and studies highlighting significant geographical differences in averages.
The average body count for an American adult is about 5-8.
Research and dating app surveys suggest that Gen Z's average body count ranges between 3 to 8 partners, depending on the country and social group. That number, however, doesn't say much about values or personality. Gen Z is more open about sexuality than previous generations but also more cautious about relationships.
Amongst men the median is slightly higher at five, and in women it's three over the course of their life. Sound wrong to you? If your body count is 10 or over, you're in the top quarter of Brits for sexual partners (although 13% of people couldn't recall them all).
Above the paywall, we have a study suggesting that there is no sexual double standard when it comes to the number of previous sexual partners someone has: both men and women prefer partners with a lower body count.
The 70/30 rule in relationships suggests balancing time together (70%) with personal time apart (30%) for hobbies, friends, and self-growth, promoting independence and preventing codependency, while another view says it's about accepting 70% of your partner as "the one" and learning to live with the other 30% of quirks, requiring effort to manage major issues within that space, not a pass for abuse. Both interpretations emphasize finding a sustainable balance and acknowledging that relationships aren't always 50/50, with the key being communication and effort, not strict adherence to numbers.
A small study of those in their early 20s found that most of their relationships in their 20s lasted between 2-4 years. Naturally these relationships will come to a close because of logistical reasons, immaturity, or because of a desire to continue to sample the dating pool rather than shacking up at such a young age.
Promiscuity means having sexual relationships with many people or being open about who you have these relationships with.
Gen Z is reported to have kinkier sex. More than half (55%) of Gen Z respondents claimed to explore new kinks compared to 49% of Millennials and 39% of Gen X and 33% of Boomers. One explanation is that young adults are more comfortable exploring their sexuality and that kinks are discussed more openly than ever.
The 2-2-2 rule for couples is a relationship guideline suggesting couples schedule regular quality time: a date night every 2 weeks, a weekend getaway every 2 months, and a longer, week-long vacation every 2 years to maintain romance and connection by stepping away from daily routines. It's a flexible framework to ensure intentional time together, preventing couples from getting too caught up in life's demands.
According to CDC data, women between ages 25 and 44 had a median of 4.2 sexual partners, while men in that age group had a median of 6.1 sexual partners. A study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior found millennials have an average of eight sexual partners.
Body count refers to the number of sexual partners a person has had, sometimes—but not always—with the gendered implication that a high count is bad for women and/or good for men.
Whilst boomers and millennials may use the 😂 emoji, this has long since been deemed 'uncool' (or 'cheugy') by Gen Z. Instead, this has been replaced by the skull (💀) or the crying emoji (😭), dramatising the idea of 'dying with laughter'.
Ten percent of young males and 7 percent of females reported being a virgin in 2022 to 2023. “In sum, for young adult males, sexlessness has roughly doubled across all measures over the last 10 years or so. For young adult females, it has risen by roughly 50 percent,” stated the Institute of Family Studies.
Here's a look at some of the trending substances being abused by Gen Z today:
But it does provide some rough guidelines as to how soon may be too soon to make long-term commitments and how long may be too long to stick with a relationship. Each of the three numbers—three, six, and nine—stands for the month that a different common stage of a relationship tends to end.
The 7-7-7 rule for couples is a guideline for maintaining strong connection by scheduling dedicated time: a date night every 7 days, a weekend getaway (or night away) every 7 weeks, and a longer, kid-free vacation every 7 months, all designed to fight drift and routine by ensuring consistent, intentional quality time, though flexibility is key.
Sexologists have been using the term hypersexuality since the late 1800s, when Krafft-Ebing described several cases of extreme sexual behaviours in his seminal 1886 book, Psychopathia Sexualis.
The "65% rule of breakups" refers to research suggesting couples often separate when relationship satisfaction drops below a critical threshold, around 65% of the maximum possible score, indicating distress is too high to continue. While not a formal psychological law, experts use the idea to suggest that if you feel significantly unhappy (e.g., 65% sure the relationship isn't working), it might be time to consider ending it to create space for peace and something healthier, rather than staying in a failing situation.
survived the dreaded two-year mark (i.e. the most common time period when couples break up), then you're destined to be together forever… right? Unfortunately, the two-year mark isn't the only relationship test to pass, nor do you get to relax before the seven-year itch.
The 5-5-5 rule in marriage is a mindfulness and communication tool that encourages couples to pause and ask themselves: Will this matter in 5 minutes, 5 days, or 5 years? It's designed to help de-escalate conflict and shift focus to what truly matters.
“The idea is that you go on a date every 2 weeks, spend a weekend away together every 2 months, and take a week vacation together every 2 years.”
Take them in the spirit in which they are offered—as a a lens to think about your own relationship. This blog is part of a series on the five Cs: Chemistry, Commonality, Constructive Conflict, Courtesy and Commitment.
The "3-week rule" (or 21-day rule) in breakups is a popular guideline suggesting a period of no contact with an ex for about three weeks to allow for initial healing, gaining perspective, and breaking unhealthy patterns, often linked to the brain's ability to form new habits after ~21 days. It's a time for self-reflection, self-care, establishing new routines, and allowing emotions to settle, creating space to decide on future contact or moving on, rather than a magical fix, note Ex Back Permanently and Ahead App.
“Can't lie” “Can't lie” falls under the same umbrella as slang terms like NGL (not gonna lie) and TBH (to be honest). The 🆑 emoji is perfect to use when you're trying to keep things unfiltered and brutally honest.