In simple terms, dating is an intimate relationship between two people, whether sexual or not.
Different people have different opinions on dating based on their personal experiences. So, whether you meet people online or in person, your views on dating are most certainly shaped by your experiences.
These dating statistics reveal a lot about dating behaviors and preferences and provide the information you need to succeed in dating.
Want to learn more? Read on.
Top dating statistics you should know
Here are the top dating statistics you should know to help you navigate your dating life.
1. According to research by Stanford, it only takes four minutes to ‘click’ with someone on a date.
2. 70% of single Americans are dating to find serious partners, while 30% are casually dating. (eHarmony)
3. 60% of men are looking for serious commitments compared with 79% of women looking for the same. (eHarmony)
According to a recent study by Match: Singles in America, dating trends in the U.S. are as follows:
4. 84% of singles prefer a casual first date to wine and dine.
5. 70% of singles are willing to find a relationship today, while 33% are ready to find a partner within the next few months.
6. During the dating experience, 77% of singles enjoy learning about new people, and 53% say dating helps them discover their best selves.
7. When it comes to dating advice, 48% of daters rely on friends, 33% on family, 21% on social media and online media, 16% on therapists, and 14% on their dates on dating sites.
8. Two in three women won’t date someone with opposing views about abortion.
9. 70% of daters say that sex improves their mental and physical health, and 71% report that sex improves their mood.
10. 78% of daters report that the overturning of Roe V. Wade changed their behavior on dating and sex – 20% are hesitant towards sex, and 14% are more reluctant to date.
11. The cost of dating has increased by 40% over the last 10 years.
12. 87% of singles want their partners to prioritize mental health.
13. 40% of singles will date vaccinated people, while 36% don’t care about the vaccine.
Dating statistics in the U.S. for 2024
According to a “singles and desirability” study by eharmony,
14. 75% of younger Gen X are seriously dating, while the remaining 25% are casually dating.
15. 67% of older Gen X are seriously dating, while 33% are casual.
16. 64% of baby boomers are seriously dating, while 36% are dating casually.
17. The top five desired traits in singles are honesty (54%), kindness (44%), sense of humor (34%), attractiveness (34%), and intelligence (29%).
18. Dating partners with a strong food interest are more attractive – those who like to go out for food (34%) and those who cook and bake (29%).
First date statistics
According to a survey by Top10.com:
19. Only 5% of women take the lead in asking guys for a first date, compared to 69% of men who initiate the first date.
20. 80% of people over 60 and 63% of those between 18-29 agree that men should initiate the first date.
21. 50% of people scan through their date’s social media profiles before meeting them in person – women are twice more likely to stalk than men.
Where to go on a first date
22. 65% of the people voted for a restaurant as the ideal place for a first date, 10% voted for movies and live entertainment (e.g.comedy clubs), while only 5% voted for sports, bar, and chilling at home.
23. 70% of 60+ year-olds prefer going to a restaurant on a first date, while 60% of youths between 18-29 like to go out to eat.
24. 2% of people prefer “graveyard sex” for that first meeting.
To drink or not to drink?
25. More than a third of people don’t drink on the first date.
26. 32% of daters drink a maximum of 2 drinks, compared to 7% who don’t limit their drinking.
Who’s paying on a first date?
27. 76% of men pay for the first date, compared to only 1% of women.
28. 23% of daters split the bill, especially those aged 18–29.
How does the first date end?
29. 39% of dates sometimes end with a goodbye kiss.
30. Men are 31% likely to end the first date with a kiss, compared to 22% of women who are likely to do the same.
31. There’s a 40% chance of returning home with your date and getting lucky.
32. 46% of women claim that dates never end up at their house, compared to 50% of men who say that dates are more likely to end up at their place.
33. 5% of people aged 18-29 are likely to end up in their date’s house compared to 2% of those over 60.
Probability of a second date
34. Over 50% know if they’re down for a second date after a few minutes of talking.
35. 14% know if they want a second date depending on how awkward the kiss or sex was.
36. 13% of those between 18-29 seek a second opinion from their friends.
In case of a bad first date
37. 60% of people plan to escape a bad first date.
38. 21% of people under 29 text their mom or friend to call them with an “emergency” to help them escape a terrible first date.
39. 21% of those over 60 are honest and upfront and say they’re not interested if the date is not going how they envisioned.
40. 47% of older people stick around until the end.
41. 30% of people use “work” or “not feeling fell” as an escape plan.
42. People between 30-60 years old are more likely to use the “bathroom” as an excuse to run away from the date.
What do women want on a first date?
According to a survey by Bustle,
43. 79% of women care about feeling comfortable on a first date, compared with 35% who cared about feeling happy and 29% who cared about feeling liked.
44. 94% of women want their dates to compliment their appearance.
45. 90% of women feel like a date who constantly checks their phone on a first date would be a major turn-off.
46. 80% of women think having more than two drinks is inappropriate.
47. 82% of women want a hug from their date, while 71% want a cheek kiss.
48. 38% of women think being rude to the wait staff is inappropriate.
49. 58% of women dislike when a date asks for a bite or sip of their food/drink.
Best and worst states for singles
According to a study by WalletHub, the following are the best and worst states for singles in 2022. The study used 30 metrics, including dating economics, dating opportunities, romance, and fun.
50. Louisiana has the largest share of single adults, but statistics and various factors, such as the number of restaurants, gender imbalance, etc., rank California as number one.
51. Utah has the lowest share of single adults.
Best states for singles
- California
- New York
- Florida
- Texas
- Pennsylvania
- Illinois
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
- Wisconsin
- Virginia
Worst states for singles
- South Carolina
- Idaho
- Alaska
- Alabama
- Kentucky
- Mississippi
- Wyoming
- North Dakota
- Arkansas
- West Virginia
Teen dating
Teens are those between 13-17 years old.
According to the Pew Research Center:
52. 35% of teens are or have had some experience with dating.
53. 14% of teens are dating and say they have a girlfriend, boyfriend, or significant other.
54. 16% of teens are not currently dating but have had some sort of dating experience.
55. 30% of teen daters have had sex, while 66% haven’t.
56. Older teens (15-17) are 44% more likely to have some experience with dating and relationships than 20% of those between 13-14.
57. 36% of older teen daters have had sex compared with 12% of 13-14-year-olds.
Millennial dating statistics
58. 72% of young millennials decide to remain single mainly because they value their freedom and independence. (Tinder)
59. 81% of millennials say that being single benefits their romantic lives and helps them make new friends and focus on work and personal wellness. (Tinder)
60. 75% of younger millennials are seriously dating, while 25% are casually dating. (eHarmony)
61. 77% of older millennials are seriously dating, while 23% are casually dating. (eHarmony)
62. 47.2% prefer to grab a coffee on a first date, compared with 30.8% who prefer dinner, 11.4% prefer drinks, 7.3% prefer Netflix and chill, and 3.3% prefer other activities. (Bustle)
63. 22% of female millennial daters and 16% of male millennials say a college-level education is mandatory. (OkCupid)
64. 43% of millennials prefer a non-monogamous relationship, and 43% say they prefer a monogamous one. (YouGov)
65. 56% of millennials would not be okay with cheating under any circumstance compared to 69% of Gen X and 74% of Baby Boomers. (YouGov)
66. Millennials spend an average of $69 on a first date. (The Balance)
67. 32% of young millennials say that a Covid-19 vaccination is important or very important in dating decisions. (The Balance)
Gen Z dating statistics
68. 70% of Gen Z daters are optimistic about finding love. (USA Today)
69. Gen Z is having less sex compared to previous generations at 24%. (Insider)
70. 41% of Gen Z are open to dating someone who’s transgender, 54% are open to dating someone who’s pansexual, and 44% are open to dating someone who’s non-binary. (Singles in America)
71. 38% of Gen Z say the check should always or often be split, compared with 28% of millennials. (The Balance)
72. 74% of Gen Z daters wouldn’t match with someone with opposing views about green issues. (Refinery29)
73. 73% of Gen Z daters wouldn’t date someone who’s not funny. (Refinery29)
74. 71% of Gen Z say it’s a deal breaker if someone holds opposing views on political issues. (Refinery29)
75. Half of Gen Z daters say they wouldn’t match with someone who doesn’t share their culinary tastes. (Refinery29)
Online dating statistics for 2024
Online dating, also known as internet dating or virtual dating, is a way for people to search for romantic or sexual partners through the internet.
We’ve put together online dating statistics and trends for you to know what’s going on in that industry.
76. 30% of U.S. adults have used a dating site or app, but this number varies depending on age and sexuality. (Pew Research)
77. 19% of internet users say they’re currently using an online dating site or app. (Healthy Framework)
78. About 1,000 dating sites or apps open annually in the U.S. alone. It is estimated that there are over 8,000 competitors worldwide. (Forbes)
79. In 2020, the revenue from online dating in the U.S. reached $602 million, and it’s forecasted to reach $755 billion by 2024. (Statista)
80. More men currently use online dating services than women (52.4% vs. 47.6%)
81. 48% of people between 18-29 have used a dating app or site, compared with 38% of those between 30-49 and 16% of those 50 and above. (Pew Research)
82. 55% of straight people have used a dating site or app compared with 28% of lesbian, gay, or bisexual. (Pew Research)
83. Millennials are 17% more likely to use a dating app or site than 9% of Gen X and 3% of Baby Boomers. (YouGov)
84. Women’s desirability online peaks at 21, but at 26, they are pursued more than men. However, at 48, men are pursued twice more as women. (eHarmony)
85. 54% of online daters are doing so to find a romantic partner – women are more likely to use dating sites/apps for this reason than men (59% vs. 50%). (YouGov)
86. 34% of online daters do so to find something fun or interesting, while 26% look for casual sex. (YouGov)
87. More men are likely to use online dating for casual sex than women (36% vs. 14%). (YouGov)
Does online dating work?
88. 57% of online daters say they’ve had an overall positive experience – 14% of those claim to have had a very positive experience, and the remaining 43% say their experience was somewhat positive. (Pew Research)
89. Half of the online daters (50%) say online dating has had neither a positive nor a negative impact on their dating experiences. (Pew Research)
90. Regarding shared interests and physical attributes, 64% of those using online dating are looking for people with shared interests, and 49% are looking for people they’re attracted to. (eHarmony)
91. 77% of people go on a date with someone they met through a dating app or site, compared with 63% who already knew each other offline. (Statista)
92. Over 50% of people on dating sites talk to 2-5 prospects simultaneously, while 20% talk to 11 or more people at once. (Healthy Framework)
What percentage of online daters get married?
93. 17% of marriages in the U.S. started through online dating. (Statistic Brain)
94. 12% of Americans have gotten into a committed relationship with or married someone through online dating. (Pew Research)
95. Not all people using online dating are single. Research shows that 5% cohabit with partners, and 3% are married. This translates to 1% of married adults and 2% of cohabiting adults using dating sites or apps. (Pew Research)
Dating sites or apps statistics
96. Bumble is the most common dating app in the U.S. for paying users. 36% of U.S. online dating customers use it, followed closely by Tinder (33%), Badoo (33%), and Ashley Madison (33%). (Statista)
97. Tinder is the most downloaded app in the U.S., with 957.7 million downloads as of June 2022. (Statista)
98. Grindr is the most popular dating app in the U.S., with 295.37 sessions per month. (Statista)
99. 80% of online daters have admitted to having lied or exaggerated on dating sites/apps. (Statista)
100. 75% of online daters believe it’s important to look their best on their profiles, even if it means distorting their appearance. (Statista)
101. Almost a fourth of online daters (22%) have asked someone to help them with their online dating profile. (Pew Research)
102. 38% of males and 30% of females have been catfished through dating apps. (Healthy Framework)
What are the dangers of online dating?
103. There’s an estimate that as many as 10% of dating profiles on dating sites or apps are fake.
104. Regarding online harassment, 60% of women complain that someone keeps contacting them even after they say they’re not interested, compared with 27% of men in the same situation. (Pew Research)
105. Younger females are 44% more likely to be called offensive names, compared with 23% of men experiencing the same. (Pew Research)
106. 19% of female online daters are likely to be threatened to be physically harmed, versus 9% of men. (Pew Research)
Final thoughts: Dating statistics on the U.S.
These dating statistics suggest that dating has transformed throughout history.
The thing is:
People still meet offline- through friends, in bars, at work, etc.
At the same time:
Modern dating, through dating apps or sites, has changed the dating game. Online dating and technology have played a role in this huge shift.
Now, when it comes to modern dating, there’s more freedom, self-expression, and experimentation.
We know what the dating statistics look like this year, but who knows what the next decades will have in store!
