Sexually
Experienced Teens
Updated: December 2015
Sexually Experienced Teens
December 2015
Nearly half of high school students report they have ever had sexual
intercourse. This proportion declined between 1991 and 2001, from 54 to
46 percent; since that time it has fluctuated slightly, and was at 47
percent in 2013.
Importance
Engaging in sexual intercourse puts male and female teens at risk for pregnancy and sexually
transmitted infections (STIs).1 A younger age at first sexual intercourse is also associated with
a greater likelihood of having nonconsensual or unwanted sex,2 having multiple sexual
partners,3,4 and decreased contraceptive use.5 Additionally, youth who engage in early sexual
intercourse are more likely to engage in later delinquent behaviors,6 are at greater risk of
experiencing depression,7 and are less likely to reach post-secondary levels of education.8
Many factors are associated with age of sexual initiation. Teens who grow up in stable families
9,10
with more resources are less likely to have sex at a young age.
Teens who have good
relationships with their parents—e g., are close to their parents, communicate about sex, and
whose parents set rules and monitor their child’s whereabouts—are less likely to have sex at an
early age.11,12 Conversely, youth who are disengaged from school, involved in delinquent
activities, or who have higher levels of externalizing behaviors are at increased risk for early
sex.13,14 However, not all teens who have ever had sex are currently sexually active. For
example, according to data from the National Survey of Family Growth, 29 percent of teens
report that they have had sex in the past three months, but only 24 percent have had sex in
the past month. About one-quarter of teens (ages 15-19, 23 percent) have had only one sex
partner in the past twelve months; however, older teens (18- to 19-year-olds) are more likely to
have had sex with more than one person (34 percent).15
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Sexually Experienced Teens
December 2015
Trends
The proportion of high school students who reported they had ever had sexual intercourse
declined between 1991 and 2001, from 54 to 46 percent. Between 2001 and 2011 this figure
fluctuated only slightly, and was at 47 percent in 2013. (Figure 1)
Figure 1
Percentage of Students in Grades 9 through 12 Who
Report Ever Having Had Sexual Intercourse,1 by Race and
Hispanic Origin2, 1991-2011
All Students
100
White, non-Hispanic
81.5
Black, non-Hispanic
Percent
80
Hispanic
60.8
60
40
60.6
54.1
53.1
49.2
46.8
50.0
43.7
20
0
1989
1992
1995
1998
2001
2004
2007
2010
2013
1Sexually
experienced is defined as ever having had sexual intercourse in one’s life.
2Race/ethnicity estimates from 1999 and later are not directly comparable to earlier years due to federal changes in race definitions. In surveys
conducted in 1999 and later, respondents were allowed to select more than one race when selecting their racial category. Estimates presented
only include respondents who selected one category when choosing their race.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2014). 1991-2013 High School Youth Risk Behavior
Survey Data. Accessed on 7/22/2014. Available at http://nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline/.
Differences by Gender
In 2013, approximately equal shares of male and female high school students overall (48 and
46 percent, respectively) reported ever having sexual intercourse. However, both black and
Hispanic males were significantly more likely to report ever having sexual intercourse than
their female peers (68 versus 53 percent, and 52 versus 47 percent, respectively). (Appendix 1)
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December 2015
Differences by Race and Hispanic Origin16
Black high school students overall are the most likely to have reported ever having had sexual
intercourse (61 percent in 2013). In comparison, 49 percent of Hispanics and 44 percent of
whites reported having ever had sexual intercourse; the difference between these two groups
is not statistically significant. The disparity between black students and those in the other two
groups has generally declined over time. (Figure 1) Among female students in 2013, blacks
were more likely to be sexually experienced than whites (53 versus 45 percent), but no other
differences were statistically significant. Among male students, blacks were the most likely to
be sexually experienced (68 percent), followed by Hispanics (52 percent), and whites (42
percent). (Appendix 1)
Differences by Grade and Age
The percentage of students who are sexually experienced increases with every grade. In 2013,
30 percent of ninth-graders reported they had ever had sexual intercourse, compared with 41
percent of tenth-graders, 54 percent of eleventh-graders, and 64 percent of twelfth-graders.
This difference between grades has been increasing since 2001, as sexual experience among
twelfth-graders has been increasing, and sexual experience among ninth-graders has been
decreasing. (Figure 2)
Percentage of Students in Grades 9 through 12 Who
Report Ever Having Had Sexual Intercourse,1 by Grade,
1991-2011
Figure 2
Grade 9
100
Grade 10
Grade 11
Percent
80
60
Grade 12
66.7
62.4
60.5
64.1
49.7
54.1
48.2
41.4
40
39.0
38.6
30.0
20
0
1989
1Sexually
1992
1995
1998
2001
2004
2007
2010
2013
experienced is defined as ever having had sexual intercourse in one’s life.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2014). 1991-2013 High School Youth Risk
Behavior Survey Data. Accessed on 7/22/2014. Available at http://nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline/.
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Sexually Experienced Teens
December 2015
Among younger teens, males are more likely to be sexually experienced, but this difference
disappears by age 17. In 2011-2013, 18 percent of 15-year-old males and 13 percent of females
were sexually experienced. By age 17, the percentage was 44 and 43 percent, respectively, by
age 19, the percentage was 69 and 68 percent, respectively.17
State and Local Estimates
2013 estimates of sexual experience among high school students (Grades 9-12) are available
for select states and cities from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) at
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/ss/ss6304.pdf (See Table 64)
International Estimates
Estimates of sexual experience among 15-year-olds in 36 European countries can be found in a
summary of the results of the 2009/2010 Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC)
study, Health and Policy for Children and Adolescents, no. 6, at
http://www.euro.who.int/en/what-we-publish/abstracts/social-determinants-of-health-andwell-being-among-young-people.-health-behaviour-in-school-aged-children-hbsc-study (page
174)
National Goals
Through its Healthy People 2020 initiative, the federal government has set national goals to
decrease the proportion of adolescents under age 17 who are sexually experienced, with subgoals for males and females, ages under 15 years and over 15 years. Additionally, there are
goals to increase the proportion of sexually active adolescents who used a condom at first
intercourse.
More information is available at:
http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/objectiveslist.aspx?topicId=13
(goals FP 9 and 10)
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Sexually Experienced Teens
December 2015
What Works to Make Progress on This Indicator
See Ball, V., and Moore, K. A. (2008). What works for adolescent reproductive health: Lessons
from experimental evaluations of programs and interventions. A Child Trends Fact Sheet.
Available at: www.childtrends.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Child_Trends2008_05_20_FS_WhatWorksRepro.pdf
A variety of programs and policies—including comprehensive family life education, access to
contraceptive care, early childhood programs, and youth development programs—have been
linked to both delays in age at first sex, as well as engagement in healthier sexual behaviors
among those who have had sex.18 Some examples include: Positive Prevention19
(http://www.positiveprevention.com/index.html) and Teen Star20 (http://www.teenstar.org/),
which have been found to delay the onset of sexual activity and to reduce the frequency of
sexual activity among sexually active high school students and adolescents. Additionally,
Reach for Health – Service Learning Program21 has been shown to be effective at reducing the
proportion of minority, urban middle-schoolers who have initiated sex by 10th grade.
Also, see the U.S. Office of Adolescent Health’s list of interventions meeting its criteria for
effectiveness in pregnancy prevention: http://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/oahinitiatives/teen_pregnancy/db/programs.html
Related Indicators

Sexually Active Teens: www.childtrends.org/?indicators=sexually-active-teens

Sexually Transmitted Infections: www.childtrends.org/?indicators=sexuallytransmitted-infections-stis

Teen Pregnancy: www.childtrends.org/?indicators=teen-pregnancy

Birth Control Pill Use: http://www.childtrendsdatabank.org/?q=node/131

Condom Use: www.childtrends.org/?indicators=birth-control-pill-use

Oral Sex Behaviors among Teens: www.childtrends.org/?indicators=oral-sexbehaviors-among-teens

Adolescents Who Have Ever Been Raped:
www.childtrends.org/?indicators=adolescents-who-have-ever-been-raped
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Sexually Experienced Teens
December 2015

Statutory Rape: Sex Between Young Teens and Older Individuals:
www.childtrends.org/?indicators=statutory-rape-sex-between-young-teens-and-olderindividuals
Definition
Sexually experienced is defined as ever having had vaginal sexual intercourse in one’s lifetime.
No data were collected from students in California, Georgia, Louisiana, Minnesota, North
Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington in 2011. There are also
no data from Colorado, Indiana, and Iowa for 2013. Other states were not included in previous
surveys.
Data Sources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2014). 1991-2013 High School Youth Risk
Behavior Survey Data. Accessed on 8/4/2014. Available at http://nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline/.
Raw Data Source
Youth Risk Behavior Survey
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dash/yrbs/index.htm
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December 2015
Appendix 1 - Percentage of High School Students1 Who Report Ever
Having Had Sexual Intercourse: Selected Years, 1991-2013
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013
54.1
53.0
53.1
48.4
49.9
45.6
46.7
46.8
47.8
46.0
47.4
46.8
Non-Hispanic White
50.0
48.4
48.9
43.6
45.1
43.2
41.8
43.0
43.7
42.0
44.3
43.7
Non-Hispanic Black
81.5
79.7
73.4
72.7
71.2
60.8
67.3
67.6
66.5
65.2
60.0
60.6
Hispanic
53.1
56.0
57.6
52.2
54.1
48.4
51.4
51.0
52.0
49.1
48.6
49.2
9
39.0
37.7
36.9
38.0
38.6
34.4
32.8
34.3
32.8
31.6
32.9
30.0
10
48.2
46.1
48.0
42.5
46.8
40.8
44.1
42.8
43.8
40.9
43.8
41.4
11
62.4
57.5
58.6
49.7
52.5
51.9
53.2
51.4
55.5
53.0
53.2
54.1
12
66.7
68.3
66.4
60.9
64.9
60.5
61.6
63.1
64.6
62.3
63.1
64.1
Male
57.4
55.6
54.0
48.9
52.2
48.5
48.0
47.9
49.8
46.1
49.2
47.5
Non-Hispanic White
52.7
49.3
48.9
43.3
45.4
45.1
40.5
42.2
43.6
39.6
44.0
42.2
Non-Hispanic Black
88.1
89.2
81.0
80.3
75.7
68.8
73.8
74.6
72.6
72.1
66.9
68.4
Hispanic
64.1
63.5
62.0
57.7
62.9
53.0
56.8
57.6
58.2
52.8
53.0
51.7
45.6
43.5
40.6
41.8
44.5
40.5
37.3
39.3
38.1
33.6
37.8
32.0
All Students
Race/Hispanic Origin3
Grade
Race/ Hispanic Origin3
Grade
9
10
50.9
47.4
50.0
41.7
51.1
42.2
45.1
41.5
45.6
41.9
44.5
41.1
11
64.5
59.5
57.1
49.3
51.4
54.0
53.4
50.6
57.3
53.4
54.5
54.3
12
68.3
70.2
67.1
60.1
63.9
61.0
60.7
63.8
62.8
59.6
62.6
65.4
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Sexually Experienced Teens
December 2015
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013
50.8
50.2
52.1
47.7
47.7
42.9
45.3
45.7
45.9
45.7
45.6
46.0
Non-Hispanic White
47.1
47.4
49.0
44.0
44.8
41.3
43.0
43.7
43.7
44.7
44.5
45.3
Non-Hispanic Black
75.9
70.4
67.0
65.6
66.9
53.4
60.9
61.2
60.9
58.3
53.6
53.4
Hispanic
43.3
48.3
53.3
45.7
45.5
44.0
46.4
44.4
45.8
45.4
43.9
46.9
9
32.2
31.6
32.1
34.0
32.5
29.1
27.9
29.3
27.4
29.3
27.8
28.1
10
45.3
44.9
46.0
43.5
42.6
39.3
43.1
44.0
41.9
39.6
43.0
41.7
Female
Race/ Hispanic Origin3
Grade
1
11
60.2
55.1
60.2
50.3
53.8
49.7
53.1
52.1
53.6
52.5
51.9
53.9
12
65.1
66.3
66.0
61.9
65.8
60.1
62.3
62.4
66.2
65.0
63.6
62.8
Estimates do not include youth who dropped out of school and therefore may not reflect total national values. Additionally, no data were collected from students
in California, Georgia, Louisiana, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington in 2011. There are also no data from
Colorado, Indiana, and Iowa for 2013. Previous years’ surveys did not include all states.
3
Race/ethnicity estimates from 1999 and later are not directly comparable to earlier years due to federal changes in race definitions. In surveys conducted in 1999
and later, respondents were allowed to select more than one race when selecting their racial category. Estimates presented only include respondents who selected
one category when choosing their race.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2014). 1991-2013 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Accessed on 7/22/2014. Available at
http://nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline/.
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Sexually Experienced Teens
December 2015
Endnotes
1
Kaiser Family Foundation. (2005). U.S. teen sexual activity. Washington, DC: Author.
2
Abma, J. C, Martinez, G. M., and Copen, C. E. (2010). Teenagers in the United States: Sexual activity,
contraceptive use, and childbearing, National Survey of Family Growth 2006-2008. National Center for
Health Statistics. Vital Health Statistics, 23(30).
3
Ibid.
4
Santelli, J. S., Brener, N. D., Lowry, R., Bhatt, A., & Zabin, L. (1998). Multiple sexual partners among U.S.
adolescents and young adults. Family Planning Perspectives, 30(6), 271-275.
5
Manlove, J., Ikramullah, E., Mincieli, L., Holcombe, E. & Danish, S. (2009). Trends in sexual
experience, contraceptive use, and teenage childbearing: 1992– 2002. Journal of Adolescent Health,
5, 413-423.
6
Armour, S. and Haynie, D. (2007). Adolescent sexual debut and later delinquency. Journal of Youth and
Adolescence, 36, 141-152.
7
Hallfors, D., Waller, M. W., Bauer, D, Ford, C. A., and Halpern, C. T. (2005). Which comes first in
adolescence – Sex and drugs, or depression? American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 29(3), 163-170.
8
Spriggs, A, and Halpern C. (2008) Timings of sexual debut and initiation of postsecondary education by
early adulthood. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 40 (3), 152-161.
9
Price, M. & Hyde, J. (2009). When two isn’t better than one: Predictors of early sexual activity in
adolescence using a cumulative risk model. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 38(8), 1059-1071.
10
11
Manlove, J., Ikramullah, E., Mincieli, L., Holcombe, E. & Danish, S. (2009). Op. Cit.
Commendator, K. (2010). Parental influences on adolescent decision making and contraceptive use.
Pediatric Nursing, 36(3).
12
Longmore, M. A., Eng, A. L., Giordano, P. C., and Manning, W. D. (2009). Parenting and adolescents'
sexual initiation. Journal of Marriage and Family, 71 (4), 969-982.
13
Ibid.
14
Hipwell, A. E., Keenan, K., Loeber, R., and Battista, D. (2010). Early predictors of sexually intimate
behaviors in an urban sample of young girls. Developmental Psychology, 46 (2), 366-378.
10
Sexually Experienced Teens
December 2015
15
Martinez, G. M., Copen, C. E., Abma, J. C.(2011) and Teenagers in the United States: Sexual activity,
contraceptive use, and childbearing, 2006-2010 National Survey of Family Growth. National Center for
Health Statistics. Vital Health Statistics, 23 (31).
16
Hispanics may be any race. Totals for whites and blacks in this report do not include Hispanics.
17
Martinez, G. M. & Abma, J. C. (2015). Sexual activity, contraceptive use, and childbearing of teenagers
aged 15-19 in the United States, Data Brief No. 209. National Center for Health Statistics. Available at
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db209.pdf
18
Brindis, C. (2006). A public health success: Understanding policy changes related to teen sexual activity
and pregnancy. Annual Review of Public Health, 27(1), 277-297.
19
LaChausse, R.G. (2006). Evaluation of the Positive Prevention HIV/STD curriculum. American Journal of
Health Education, 37(4), 203-209.
20
Cabezon, C., Vigil, P., Rojas, I., Leiva, M. E., Riquelme, R., Aranda, W., & Garcia, C. (2005). Adolescent
pregnancy prevention: An abstinence-centered randomized controlled intervention in a Chilean public
high school. Journal of Adolescent Health, 36, 64-69.
21
O'Donnell, L., Stueve, A., O'Donnell, C., Duran, R., San Doval, A., Wilson, R.F., Haber, D., Perry, E., and
Pleck, J.H. (2002). Long-term reductions in sexual initiation and sexual activity among urban middle
schoolers in Reach for Health Service Learning Program. Journal of Adolescent Health, 31, 93-100.
11