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Online dating has become a popular way for people to connect and find love in today’s digital age. With the rise of technology, it has become easier than ever before to meet new people and potentially start a romantic relationship online.
Top online dating statistics
- With 30% of adult users, the United States tops the number of online daters worldwide.
- Tinder is the most popular dating application, having 6 million monthly downloads.
- One in four engaged or married couples have met online.
- 70% of people who met someone on a dating app went on to have a relationship with that person.
- 31% of adults are victims of romance scams.
- 19% of younger females have been threatened with physical harm
- 13% of Bumble’s users will no longer date someone with a very demanding career path.
- 65.3% of Tinder users are reported to be in a relationship or married.
Who dates online?
There were 366 million people using dating apps around the world in 2022. With 30% of adult users, the United States tops the number of online daters worldwide. 1
According to a study by the Pew Research Center, more than half (53%) of dating app users in the U.S. are aged 18 to 29, with an additional 30% under the age of 30. However, it’s not just young people who are using these apps - 20% of users are between the ages of 50 and 64, and even 3% are over the age of 65.
What’s interesting is that while a majority of dating app users identify as straight (28%), LGBT individuals are twice as likely (51%) to engage in online dating. This trend is also seen among single adults looking for love, with more men (50%) using dating apps compared to women (37%). 2
Top online dating applications
With around 7,500 3 dating apps worldwide to choose from, Tinder is the most popular, having 6 million 4 monthly downloads and 20 billion matches. 5
Litmatch has the second most monthly downloads with 3.4 million, followed by Bumble, which has 2.7 million monthly downloads. Next is Badoo, with 2.5 million monthly downloads and FRND gathered 1.9 million monthly downloads.4
With 35% of users paying for a dating app 6, by 2023’s close, the online dating industry is projected to bring in $3.01 billion. 7
Why do people date online?
With a 70% success rate of being in a relationship with someone they met online 8, there’s no doubt that online dating is becoming more popular when looking for a potential partner. In fact, 44% of American users are using dating apps to find serious commitment.
With the diverse kinds of relationships that people find online, there are also other reasons why people resort to online dating. 40% of dating app users just want casual encounters, 24% are looking to have casual sex, and 22% just use apps to make new friends.9
18% of users also admits to using online dating as a way to boost their self-esteem. Additionally, 6% of users reported using these platforms for the purpose of cheating on their significant other. 10 Research even shows that 65.3% of Tinder users are reported to be in a relationship or married. 11
How do people date online?
From setting up dating profiles to deciding whether or not to swipe right, online daters are becoming more strategic.
A study even revealed that people are getting pickier and more expectant with choosing whom to swipe right because of the unlimited choices they have. 12
From the survey that Bumble conducted with its users, it turns out that 63% place a higher priority on emotional maturity than physical attractiveness. While 38% are more likely to date beyond their physical type. 13
One of the dealbreakers of the users is whether or not their potential partner has a child. More women (50%) than men (40%) are concerned about this. 5
Additionally, women (72%) are more likely than men (53%) to think that it is important to list the type of relationship you are looking for. 14
Almost half (49%) of Bumble’s users are also making work-life balance a top priority. Career paths are being brought into consideration as 13% of Bumble’s users will no longer date someone with a very demanding job.
Some users enjoy juggling multiple prospects at once, with 20% admitting to entertaining 11 or more people simultaneously. For others, 2-5 potential matches are enough, as reported by 50% of users. Only 11% are talking to one person at a time. 15
Do dating apps work?
With different preferences and strategies, online dating results in many things.
According to Forbes, 70% of individuals who met someone on a dating app went on to have a relationship with that person. While 28% did not. 8
Despite this, online dating has still been successful for many, as 1 in 10 partnered adults in the US have met their partner on a dating app. Furthermore, 1 in 4 engaged or married couples have met online. 9
Additionally, In 2022, around 27% of couples who met on Tinder got married. 5
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95% of matches meet in person within 2 to 7 days of matching. 5 But not all dating app users get to have a happy ever after, as 49% of dating app users have experienced being ghosted, with more women victims (29%) than men (20%). 16
Pitfalls of online dating
Even though 6 in 10 dating app users revealed that they’ve had a positive experience with online dating 17, it is still worth taking note that not all users are pleased with the platforms.
According to a recent study, 50% of individuals who have used dating apps in the U.S. reported experiencing catfishing. 18
It has also been found that nearly 40% of people looking for love online have been asked for money by someone they met through a dating app. Over half of them actually gave the money, oftentimes citing emergencies (37%), transportation purposes (36%), or investment opportunities (29%) as reasons.19
Nearly 31% of adults have fallen victim to romance scams. 20 This number has seen a drastic increase in recent years, with the average amount lost being £8,234 per victim. It is not the younger generation but those aged between 65 and 74 who are most likely to be targeted by these scams. 21
In recent years, the popularity of dating apps has continued to rise. However, with this increase in usage comes a concerning trend of online harassment. According to online dating the Pew Research Center, 3 in 10 users have been contacted by someone they are not interested in.
Additionally, 35% of users have received explicit images without their consent, and almost 30% have been subjected to offensive language. This type of behavior is especially prevalent among younger females, with 19% reporting that they have been threatened with physical harm. 17
While online dating offers convenience and accessibility, it also comes with its own set of challenges and risks. It is important for individuals to be cautious and use good judgement when engaging in online dating, as there are many potential scams and dangers.
Nevertheless, with proper precautions and a positive mindset, online dating can be a successful tool for finding love and building meaningful relationships. As society continues to embrace technology, we can expect the popularity of online dating to only grow in the future.
Statista (2023). Online dating in the United States - Statistics & Facts statista.com ↩︎
Pew Research Center (2023). From looking for love to swiping the field: Online dating in the U.S. pewresearch.org ↩︎
Gordon, S. (2022). How to Use Online Dating Apps Safely. verywellmind.com ↩︎
Statista (2023). Most popular dating apps worldwide in July 2023, by number of monthly downloads. statista.com ↩︎ ↩︎
Elad, B. (2023). Tinder Statistics – By Users, Demographic, Match Rate, Country, Usage and Social Media Traffic. enterpriseappstoday.com ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Shrikant, A. (2023). 42% of daters think apps like Tinder and Bumble make it easier to find a long-term partner. cnbc.com ↩︎
Jansen, B. (2023). 45+ Online Dating Statistics & Trends Worldwide. vpnalert.com ↩︎
Booth, J. (2023). Dating Statistics In 2023. forbes.com ↩︎ ↩︎
Vogels, E., & Mcclain, C.(2023). Key findings about online dating in the U.S. pewresearch.org ↩︎ ↩︎
Statista (2021). Most popular reasons for users in the United States to use online dating websites or apps as of May 2021. statista.com ↩︎
Kato, B. (2023). Most Tinder users are in relationships or married: ‘Game of deception’. nypost.com ↩︎
Steinberg, B. (2023). Dating apps are ‘detrimental,’ make it harder to find love: study. nypost.com ↩︎
Bumble (2022). What Will Dating Look Like in 2023? Here’s What Bumble’s Data Says. bumble.com ↩︎
Vogels, E. (2020). 10 facts about Americans and online dating in 2019. pewresearch.org ↩︎
Seymour, M. (2020). Online Dating By the Numbers. healthyframework.com ↩︎
Turner, A. (2018). Millenial Dating Statistics: What is dating someone? bankmycell.com ↩︎
Anderson M., Vogels, E., & Turner, E. (2020). The virtues and downsides of online dating. pewresearch.org ↩︎ ↩︎
MacKay, J. (2023). The Unexpected Dangers of Online Dating aura.com ↩︎
UKFinance (n.d). Nearly 40 percent of people looking for love online were asked for money. ukfinance.org.uk ↩︎
Beard, J. (2023). Nearly a third of adults have been targeted by romance scams as number of cases soars. thisismoney.co.uk ↩︎
Lloyd’s Bank (2023). Criminals turn to romance scams as reports soar by 30%. lloydsbankinggroup.com ↩︎
Amy Clark
Amy Clark is a freelance writer who writes about relationships, marriage, and family. She has been happily married for over ten years and loves her husband and three kids. Before …
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