More than half (51 percent) of young people in America do not have a steady romantic partner, according to new survey data.

It marks a significant increase since 2004 when 33 percent of 18-35-year-olds reported being single, and slightly since 45 percent said the same in 2016.

The report, by the General Social Survey, found it was the highest number of unattached people in that age group since the question was first asked in 1986.

This graph illustrates the proportion of Americans age 18-34 who were single from 2000-2018. Source: NORC General Social Survey

Among all age groups, 35 percent of Americans said they have no steady partner, up slightly from 33 percent in 2016, according to The Washington Post.

'Most people my age aren't married, and I just have an outlier (of couples) in terms of my social group,' Ford Torney, of Baltimore told The Washington Post.

The 26-year-old said he does want a steady partner, but hasn't met the right person yet. In the meantime he sometimes feels left out in his circle of friends, who are mostly married or in long-term relationships.

Democrats were more likely to be single than Republicans (41 percent compared to 29 percent).

In addition, African Americans (51 percent) were less likely to be in a relationship than white people (32 percent).

Unemployed Americans are also more likely to be single, at 54 percent, compared to 32 percent of employed adults.

NORC, a research institution at the University of Chicago, conducted the survey through in-person interviews of 1,181 young adults.

The report coincides with a decline in the number of children women are having in America – and the fact that more women are giving birth later in life.

The data also echoes findings from Pew Research Center, which reported that 42 percent of U.S. adults didn't live with a spouse or partner in 2017, compared to 39 percent in 2007.

Pew researchers also found the number of adults younger than age 35 without a steady partner increased to 61 percent in 2017, compared to 56 percent in 2007.