The percentage of marriages that are sexless varies depending on the definition of "sexless." According to the US National Health and Social Life Survey in 1992, 2% of married respondents aged 18 to 59 reported no sexual intimacy in the past year. However, this definition is narrow, and other studies show that 10% or less of the married population below age 50 have not had sex in the past year. The definition of a non-sexual marriage is often broadened to include those where sexual intimacy occurs fewer than ten times per year, in which case 20 percent of the couples in the National Health and Social Life Survey would be in the category.
More recent studies suggest that sexless marriages are more common than previously thought. A 2017 study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior revealed that among almost 18 thousand people surveyed, 15.6% of married individuals hadn’t had sex the previous year, and 13.5% hadn’t had it for 5 years. In a survey of couples conducted by a psychologist, about 50% of the couples were in "sexless" relationships.
It is worth noting that the definition of a sexless marriage or relationship varies, and some couples may be happy with little or no sexual activity. As a gynecologist notes, if both people are truly happy, then it’s a healthy sex life.
