Gen Z More Concerned About ‘Body Count’ in Dating, Study Finds

New survey data suggests that younger Britons are more likely than their elders to care about a partner’s sexual history, challenging assumptions that Gen Z is the most sexually liberal generation.

According to research conducted by sexual wellness company Lovehoney, 41% of Generation Z respondents said they would be bothered by a partner’s number of past sexual partners. This figure is significantly higher than the national average of 29% and more than double the 16% recorded among Generation X and older groups.

The survey of more than 2,000 adults found a clear generational divide. Among 18–24-year-olds, 42% reported concern over body count, compared with 21% of those aged 45–54 and 29% of those aged 35–44. Millennials sat in between, but with marked differences between genders: 38% of millennial men said body count mattered to them, versus 27% of millennial women.

Across all age groups, men were less likely than women to view body count as an issue. Roughly 72% of men said they were unconcerned, compared with 66% of women. When asked about what they would consider an “acceptable” number of prior partners, 30% of Gen Z limited it to a maximum of two, compared to 20% of millennials and 15% of Generation X or older.

Despite younger generations being more willing to break away from convention – especially with a rise in apps like Feeld that promote more open and personal approaches to dating, whether that means polyamory or deep-rooted kinks – sexual history appears to still be a point of anxiety for many.