Report: 44% of Gen Z Have Never Had a Relationship
A significant portion of Gen Z adults have never experienced a romantic relationship. According to a 2024 report from the Survey Center on American Life, 44% of Gen Z men reported no relationship experience during adolescence. Pew Research has also found that roughly 42% of never-married single adults under 40 say they have never been in a committed romantic relationship.
Relationship expert and licensed counselor Debra Fileta attributes part of this trend to how modern dating has evolved, particularly through dating apps. She compares the process to online shopping, where users focus on what a potential partner can offer them rather than building genuine connection.
