Online dating popularity is skyrocketing as humans are spending more time online than ever before. We have digitized all possible aspects of our lives, and the time has come for even the most reluctant ones to give online dating a try.
Dating was complicated as it is before coronavirus introduced prevention measures and lockdowns to complicate it even further. The way people connect is changing and 2021 will surely bring a lot of ‘new normals’’ to our lives. So, let’s take a look at some of the most interesting online dating statistics and find out exactly how.
Top 10 Online Dating Statistics for 2021
- 66% of users are dating a person they met online.
- Online dating facts suggest that there are over 7,500 dating websites in the world.
- 77% of users on Tinder met up for a date.
- 27% of online daters are between the ages of 18–24.
- 10% of online daters give up after three months, according to online dating trends.
- Dating site statistics show that women make up 47.6% of online dating users, while men account for 52.4%.
- 4% of marriages in the United States owe it to eHarmony.
- Online dating safety statistics reveal that 10% of all profiles on free online dating sites are fake.
- 22% of users ask friends to review their profiles.
- Stats on online dating show that nearly 45% of Tinder users use the app to boost self-confidence.
Statistics of Online Dating Success to Brighten Your Day
Although more and more people partake in online dating, there are still some who are judgmental towards it. Don’t listen to them and hesitate to start searching for your true love. Here are some online dating stats to show you what awaits and what are the chances you’ll meet someone.
1. 66% of users are dating a person they met online.
(Pew Research Center)
A study by the Pew Research Center found that online dating is highly effective in finding suitable matches. The stats on the online dating success rates show that two-thirds of users on dating sites went out with someone they met online, and 20% of them are in committed relationships.
2. 10% of online daters give up after three months, according to online dating trends.
(Statistic Brain Research Institute)
Although online dating is more comfortable and more convenient than real-life dating, it appears to be equally frustrating.
Users who have no luck finding a match after weeks and months eventually end up quitting — popular reasons for giving up on online dating include pointless scrolling and disappointment with a partner.
3. Users who put the word “love” on their online profiles have a higher chance of finding a match.
(Time)
If you were wondering how successful is online dating, the statistics derived from a study focused on word choices in 1.2 million dating profiles found that individuals who mention the word “love” have more likes than users who don’t.
Furthermore, male users benefit from words such as “children,” “relationship,” “heart,” and “romantic.”
4. Female users who don’t drink get 24% fewer messages than drinkers.
(Chicago Tribune)
When it comes to the success of online dating, statistics reveal that the most desirable single women on dating sites are Catholics and dog owners. Furthermore, female users who earn over $25,000 and women who don’t have a master’s degree are more likely to get messages.
When it comes to men, Christian guys with PhDs and high salaries are the most popular. It’s also worth mentioning that the statistics come from the opinions of heterosexual users.
Online Dating Demographics — Who is Swiping Whom?
In this aspect, online dating seems to be just like real life. No matter which age group you belong to, there will be someone for you. And we mean it — even if you are enjoying your retirement, there are some great dating sites for seniors out there.
Soon there will be 37 million online daters in the US only, and this surely sounds at least a little encouraging. Let’s look into some specific numbers about people who date online in 2021 to discover more.
5. The internet dating statistics show that there will be 37.2 million online daters in the US by 2022.
(Statista)
Statistics presenting the number of online daters in America from 2017–2023 show that online dating popularity is rising across all states. There were 33.1 million online daters in 2017. What’s more, the number will reach 35.9 million by the end of this year.
6. Dating site statistics show that women make up 47.6% of online dating users, while men account for 52.4%.
(eHarmony)
Men use online dating apps and websites more than women do. The stats also show that this is the case with apps such as Tinder and platforms such as BeNaughty.
Remember to be cautious when dating online, as 40% of men lie about their careers, and 20% of women use pictures of their younger selves.
7. Online dating facts suggest that there are over 7,500 dating websites in the world.
(Online Dating Magazine)
More specifically, there are over 2,500 online dating sites in America and approximately 5,000 in the rest of the world.
Hence, if you are bored with the most popular sites such as eHarmony and Match.com, you can always try out different niche dating sites for BDSM lovers, finding a date with a sugar daddy, and even people on gluten-free diets.
8. Facts about online dating reveal that 59% of people believe online dating is an excellent way of meeting someone new.
(Pew Research Center)
However, 23% of people consider online dating desperate or pathetic. Fortunately, the percentage of people who perpetuate the online dating stigma is lower than it was back in 2005 when 29% were against this activity.
9. 27% of online daters are between the ages of 18–24.
(Pew Research Center)
According to statistics, young individuals between 18–24 use online dating the most, while there are 22% of users between 25–34 and 21% of users between 35–44. Individuals between the ages of 55–64 make up 12% of the users, while seniors above 65 make up 3%.
10. Dating site statistics show that college graduates make up 16% of online daters.
(Pew Research Center)
Not only do college graduates commonly use dating websites, but 9% of them also make use of dating apps. Further statistics reveal that 8% of users on dating websites have a high school diploma, while 7% use dating apps.
The most popular dating apps for college students are OkCupid, Tinder, Friendsy, Zoosk, and Hinge.
11. Online dating industry statistics show that 14% of online dating users are Caucasians.
(Pew Research Center)
Stats reveal that 8% of Caucasians use one or more dating apps. When it comes to Black users, 11% use online dating websites, while 10% prefer using apps. Moreover, 7% of Hispanic singles browse dating websites, while 10% prefer using an app to find love.
12. Stats for online dating reveal that 10% of people living in urban areas have tried online dating.
(Pew Research Center)
Not only that, but the research also found that 9% of the people living in suburban areas tried to connect with someone online. The high percentages reflect an increasing number of dating sites as well as other available dating options. Furthermore, only 6% of people in rural areas resort to online dating.
Online Dating vs Traditional Dating — Statistics
It is certainly better to meet someone personally so you can experience the chemistry and interpret their body language. However it may be, we will have to adapt to finding love online since there are slim chances 2021 will be the year to wipe out the pandemic.
Here are some facts about online dating to show you the benefits and positive sides of it to try and prompt you to give it a go.
13. Online dating saves time.
(Time)
Finding a match in an old-fashioned way is time-consuming. You have to choose your outfit, pick a restaurant, and find conversation topics, all of which can take hours. One of the top perks of online dating is that you can do it from the comfort of your home, even in your pajamas.
14. Online dating statistics show that it can save you around $6400.
(Time)
There are millions of ways to go on a date without spending a lot of money. The statistics show that people are spending too much on first dates. The average individual spends around $130 per week on dates.
15. 77% of users on Tinder met up for a date.
(Psychology Today)
Not only does online dating save time and money, but it is also highly effective. According to statistics, 37% of Tinder users who go on dates with their online matches get into relationships.
16. More than 78 million transgender individuals find love and friendship on TSDates, according to online dating statistics.
(lovetoknow)
Transgender individuals owe a lot to online dating sites such as MyTransexualDate and LVTG. With most of these dating sites being free of charge and having millions of members, it seems as if finding a match could not be any easier.
Online Dating and Marriage Statistics
It’s not exactly a fairytale story, but you’d be surprised how many people find their happily ever after on the Internet. We’re here to show you!
17. 4% of marriages in the United States owe it to eHarmony.
(Mashable)
The best place for singles looking for love is eHarmony, an online dating site founded in 2000. Primarily targeted towards Christians looking for a serious relationship, the dating site uses a 29-dimension system that measures users’ compatibility.
18. More than 17% of marriages begin through online dating, according to the dating app statistics.
(Statistic Brain Research Institute)
The experts believe that the number of marriages starting through online dating will grow, as more and more users are getting into it. Furthermore, 80% of Tinder users claim they are looking for a committed relationship and not a hookup.
19. When it comes to online dating success, statistics show that the eHarmony divorce rate is only 3.86%.
(CNBC)
This is shocking since the national average is a staggering 50%. According to the stats, more than 600,000 eHarmony users have tied the knot since the site launched.
Furthermore, experts believe the secret in eHarmony’s low divorce rates lies in their Compatibility Quiz. The quiz encourages users to take around 25 minutes to answer questions such as “What are your biggest passions?” and “Which four words would your best friend describe you with?”
20. Based on the online dating and marriage statistics, 7% out of 19,131 couples who meet on dating sites or apps get divorced or separated.
(MarketWatch)
Based on research, individuals who use online dating sites and get married are less likely to break up and more likely to be satisfied with their marriage than individuals who meet offline.
The fact that only 7% of users get divorced or separated is encouraging, since, unfortunately, the typical divorce rate in America is between 40–50%.
Dating App Statistics to Know Before You Download
Online dating nowadays is mostly done through dating apps. It just makes things easier — you can stay active throughout the day and keep track of the messages and chats you’re active in. Here are a couple of stats to show how big these can get.
21. Online dating statistics from 2021 show that Tinder has the most users, 7.86 million, to be exact.
(Statista)
The second most popular app as of September 2019 is Bumble (5.03), followed by Plenty of Fish (4.28). Other popular dating applications include Match.com (1.95), OkCupid (1.79), and Grindr (1.64). Hinge, Zoosk, and MeetMe are worth mentioning as they also boast enormous user bases.
22. Stats on online dating show that nearly 45% of Tinder users use the app to boost self-confidence.
(Money)
Even though almost 30% of Tinder users use the app for various other reasons, over 20% claim they are only looking for a hookup, while only 5% are looking for a real relationship. Typically, people use Tinder mainly for hookups, while Bumble is for individuals who are looking for commitment.
23. According to recent dating app statistics, users on Bumble have exchanged 3 billion messages.
(TechCrunch)
Bumble is currently the 2nd most popular lifestyle app on the iOS store, after Tinder. Bumble is a female-friendly dating site and it doesn’t let men initiate conversations.
24. There are over 3.8 million users on Grindr, making it the most popular dating app for gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people.
(Statista)
Grindr has users in 234 countries who spend, on average, 54 minutes on the online dating app daily. Grindr’s was the first app of its kind for iPhone users, mixing dating, sex, and geolocation.
25. 22% of users ask friends to review their profiles.
(Pew Research Center)
It’s always a good idea to get a second opinion on things. Close friends are most likely to give you an honest review and actually give you some advice on how best to improve.
26. Users spend an average of $200 on online dating.
(Money)
Even though the majority of online dating apps are free, a lot of them require paying a membership fee to access the site. For instance, Tinder charges $9.99 per month for users under 30 and $19.99 per month for users over 30, whereas Bumble Boost costs $24.99 per month.
Dangers of Online Dating: Statistics
We’ve slowly reached the end of our article. It’s been a fun ride, but now it’s time for a more serious topic. Cyberbullying is something you should definitely be familiar with in 2021.
Different statistics on online dating indicate that there are considerable risks when it comes to online dating, so read on to learn what you should keep an eye on.
27. Around 25% of sex abusers use online dating sites and apps to find their next victim.
(Phactual)
With online dating popularity on the rise, the statistics show that one in two sexual predators use dating sites to meet new individuals, which makes up 10% of all sex offenders. Individuals who want to be extra-safe can consult the National Sex Offender Public Website’s registry, which lists all sex offenders by name and location.
28. Online dating safety statistics reveal that 10% of all profiles on free online dating sites are fake.
(Phactual)
Users need to be cautious of potential sex offenders using free dating sites since one in 10 users is potentially a scammer. Since anyone can register on a free site, the chances that someone with a fake profile starts a conversation are relatively high.
It is so common that 38% of dating app users end up as catfishing victims. The most common signs of a fake profile include poor grammar, inauthentic photos, and excessive flattery during a conversation.
29. Online dating stats show that there are 16,000 abductions every year.
(Phactual)
Online predators commit hundreds of murders and thousands of rapes every year. Internet experts claim that millions of sexual predators are currently online, waiting for the right moment to strike.
30. Stats about online dating reveal that 33% of women have sex on the first date.
(Phactual)
Four out of five women don’t use protection when having sex with a stranger. This practice puts some women at risk of contracting different sexual diseases or getting pregnant by people they meet for the first time.
Conclusion
Online dating can indeed be a great way of finding the love of your life or making new friends with similar interests, even though you may be suspicious of why do people online date. This doesn’t sound like the point of it all, but in a situation we are in where our movement is restricted, forming connections and talking to other people is crucial.
Hopefully, our 2021 online dating statistics opened your eyes to modern dating. Merry swiping!
