A new YouGov survey explored which relationship experiences are most common for Americans to have had, their evaluation of their own relationships, and their opinion of polyamory.
Vast majorities of Americans say they have gone on a date (88%), been in love (88%), had sex (87%), and been in a romantic relationship (86%). Nearly as many have been told “I love you” by a romantic interest (83%) and about as many have told a romantic interest that they were in love with them (82%). Around three-quarters (77%) of Americans have broken up with someone and about as many (74%) have been broken up with.
Of the 27 experiences asked about, the ones Americans are least likely to have had are being in a polyamorous or an open relationship (9%), attending couples counseling (18%), and being in a love triangle (19%).
Americans are less likely now than they were in January 2024 to say they’ve had an on-again off-again relationship (42%, down from 48%). They’re also less likely to say they’ve attended couples counseling (18%, down from 24%) or gotten back together with an ex-partner (38%, down from 44%).
Americans 45 and older are more likely than younger adults to have had many of the romantic experiences included in the survey, especially ones related to marriage. Among the largest gaps: 82% of older Americans and 36% of younger adults have been married. 82% of older Americans and 38% of younger adults have been engaged. 43% of older Americans and 10% of younger adults have been divorced.
Younger adults are more likely than older Americans to say they’ve used an online dating site or app (44% vs. 26%) and to have been in a love triangle (24% vs. 15%).
Though few Americans (9%) have personally been in polyamorous or open relationships, slightly more (14%) say they would definitely (4%) or probably (10%) consider being in one. Men are more likely than women to say they would definitely or probably consider being in an open or polyamorous relationship (20% vs. 9%).
Among Americans who would definitely or probably consider being in an open or polyamorous relationship, 58% say one of the reasons why they would consider it is a desire to have different needs fulfilled. 49% would consider it out of a desire for more sex, and 48% cite a desire for more variety.
Among Americans who would definitely or probably not consider being in an open relationship, 50% say moral opposition is one of their reasons. 50% say they have no interest, 34% say jealousy is a reason they wouldn’t be in one, and 27% cite lack of emotional capacity.
51% of Americans — including 56% of women and 45% of men — think polyamory is morally wrong.
About one-third (35%) of Americans think humans are monogamous by nature. 27%, including 32% of men and 23% of women, say humans are not monogamous by nature.
69% of Americans say their ideal relationship is completely monogamous and 7% say it is completely non-monogamous. Women are more likely than men to say their ideal relationship is completely monogamous (69% vs. 53%).
Among people currently in a relationship, the proportions for monogamy preferences are similar: 62% say their ideal relationship is completely monogamous and 8% say it is completely non-monogamous. That's similar to the proportions describing the state of their current relationships: 67% say it is completely monogamous and 8% say it is completely non-monogamous. 16% of Americans in relationships fall somewhere between complete monogamy and non-monogamy.
11% of Americans say they’ve engaged in sexual activities with someone else, with the consent of their main romantic partner. Far more (25%) say they’ve engaged in sexual activities with someone else without their partner’s consent. 29% of men and 21% of women say they’ve done this.
74% of Americans would not be OK with it if their partner wanted to engage in sexual activities with someone else. Women are more likely than men to say they feel this way (81% vs. 68%). 15% of Americans say whether they would be OK with this depends on the situation, and just 4% say they would be OK if their partner wanted to engage in sexual activities with someone else.
Among Americans currently in romantic relationships, 38% describe their relationship as excellent. Men (43%) are more likely than women (34%) to say their relationship is excellent.
31% of Americans say their relationship is very good, 21% say it is good, 6% say it is fair and only 2% describe their relationship as poor.
Most Americans (69%) describe themselves as romantic, including 23% who think they are very romantic. Adults under 30 are more likely than older Americans to describe themselves as very romantic (36% vs. 20%).
Among people in relationships, 28% say their partner is very romantic. Men are more likely to say this about their partner than women are (32% vs. 24%).
Majorities of Americans have been in serious romantic relationships with someone of a different gender (69%) as well as someone five or more years older or younger (54%). Around half (51%) have been in a relationship with someone much more or less educated and 46% have been in a serious relationship with someone of a different religion. Fewer have been in a serious relationship with someone much more or less wealthy (42%), someone of a different race or ethnicity (40%), or someone living in a different state or country (35%).
In January 2024, slightly more (31%) said they’d been in a relationship with someone affiliated with a different political party. In April 2025, 26% say they have.
— Carl Bialik and Taylor Orth contributed to this article
Related:
- What do Americans think are the keys to a successful relationship?
- How often do Americans go on dates? Not as often as they’d like
- Love, sex, and heartbreak: Commonalities in American relationship experiences
See the results for this YouGov survey
Methodology: This article includes results from an online survey conducted April 18 - 21, 2025 among 1,125 U.S. adult citizens. Respondents were selected from YouGov’s opt-in panel to be representative of adult U.S. citizens. The sample was weighted according to gender, age, race, education, 2024 presidential vote, 2020 election turnout and presidential vote, baseline party identification, and current voter registration status. 2024 presidential vote, at time of weighting, was estimated to be 48% Harris and 50% Trump. Demographic weighting targets come from the 2019 American Community Survey. Baseline party identification is the respondent’s most recent answer given around November 8, 2024, and is weighted to the estimated distribution at that time (31% Democratic, 32% Republican). The margin of error for the overall sample is approximately 4%.
Image: Getty (Flashpop)
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