23 Heart-Pounding Online Dating Statistics
Curious about online dating? What kind of people can you expect to find and what exactly is the success rate? Read on for 23 statistics and fun facts.
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The online dating scene has changed dramatically over the last couple of decades, and more Americans than ever are looking for their perfect match on the web. Looking for your future partner online is no longer thought of as something reserved for only the socially awkward or desperate.
Even if you've never spent time on a dating website, the odds are good that some of your friends have. Roughly 42% of Americans know someone who dates online and more and more couples’ love stories start from the click of a mouse.
The convenience of online dating has exploded its popularity in recent years. Sites like OkCupid and eHarmony make it possible to meet that special someone without ever having to leave your couch, while Tinder and similar apps let you browse for nearby singles right from your smartphone.
Here are 23 statistics to get your heart pounding:
1. Online dating is on the rise
Meeting people online is a lot more common than you might think. Approximately 1 in 10 adults in the U.S. have used an online dating service or dating app at some point. An estimated 66% of them have gone on at least one date with someone they met through a dating site.
2. More than a third of singles check out online dating sites
A growing number of men and women who are looking for love give online dating the thumbs up. Around 38% of those who are currently single and looking reported using dating websites or apps to meet potential mates.
3. It's especially popular among younger daters
While adults of all ages can be found on dating sites, it's the millennial generation that tends to dominate the virtual singles scene. One in five young adults aged 25 to 34 have used online dating versus just 9% of seniors aged 55 and up.
4. The number of dating sites continues to grow
If you're venturing into the world of online dating for the first time, you've got an overwhelming number of sites to choose from. One estimate puts the number of dating sites and apps in the U.S. at 2,500, and the total number worldwide surpasses 5,000.
5. And they're cashing in on hopeful singles
Although some dating sites and apps are free, others charge a premium to gain access to profiles of romance-seeking men and women. In 2014, the dating services industry pulled in just over $2 billion in revenue, which adds up to a 4.8% increase since 2009.
6. One site dominates all the others
Despite there being such a wide variety of dating sites out there, one still manages to outshine the competition. Match.com is the top-rated dating site worldwide, with 1.9 million registered users as of 2013.
7. Finding love doesn't come cheap
If you're signing up for multiple dating sites, it can take a decent bite out of your wallet. On average, online daters spend about $240 a year for memberships. That doesn't include the hundreds or even thousands more they may invest when actually going on dates.
8. Online dating leads to marriage for some
Some people turn to online dating to meet new people and have a bit of fun, while others have a more long-term goal in mind. Between 2005 and 2012, more than a third of couples who tied the knot began their relationship online.
9. Matches made online tend to last longer
With around half of all marriages ending in divorce, you have to wonder whether online dating ups the odds of staying together. Research shows that 6% of people who marry after meeting online break up, compared to 7.6% of people who found their spouse offline.
10. Happiness levels also tend to be higher
Assigning a numerical score to happiness may seem a little absurd, but it's a good indicator of how successful online dating really is. In one study, the mean happiness index for couples who got together offline was 5.48, as compared to 5.64 for those who met in cyberspace.
11. There's a certain amount of risk involved
Online dating isn't 100% safe and there are plenty of crooks out there who want to steal your heart and your wallet. There were approximately 5,600 complaints of online dating romance scams reported to the FBI in 2011 alone.
12. Victims are paying the price
All those incidents add up to a pretty penny that victims are getting fleeced out of. Online dating scams involving the exchange of money or property cost victims more than $50 million in 2011 alone.
Related: Identity Theft Statistics
13. Women are targeted more often than men
While there are some women who prey on unsuspecting men who use online dating services, women are more likely to be the victim of a romance scam. Seventy percent of the complaints lodged in 2011 involved women and more than half were 40 or older.
14. They're also more vulnerable to inappropriate advances
Being approached by someone in person who won't take no for an answer is certainly frustrating. And it doesn't get any easier when it's happening virtually, especially among females. Around 42% of women reported feeling uncomfortable with unwanted contact via a dating site compared to 17% of men.
15. You can't accept someone's profile at face value
When you're signing up for a dating site, you want to put your best foot forward and sometimes that means bending the truth. Roughly 80% of people who have set up dating profiles lie about their height, weight, or age.
16. Some online daters don't actually exist
Aside from fudging their profiles a little, some scammers take things even further by creating a fake identity for themselves entirely. It's estimated that 10% of all online dating profiles are bogus.
17. Most people think online dating is a good way to meet people
Despite the fact that online dating is fraught with certain dangers, it hasn't deterred people from logging in. Nearly 60% of all Internet users say that dating websites are a good way to connect with potential romantic partners.
18. Although it does have its critics
While online dating can open the door to new opportunities, not everyone thinks that's a good thing. Just over 20% of people who use the Internet agree that people who use dating sites and apps to meet people are desperate.
19. Browsing dating sites can be time consuming
With new profiles added every day, online daters are dedicating a good chunk of their time scoping out other singles. Tinder users, for instance, spend an average of 77 minutes a day on the app.
20. Weather patterns influence online dating activity
When the weather outside is frightful, people head indoors to warm up and while they're at it, they're also checking out dating sites. One survey found that when it snowed in New York City, profile views on Zoosk increased by 38% and the number of messages being sent jumped by 56%.
21. Certain cities are better than others for online dating
In addition to the weather, where you live plays a part in determining how successful your online dating efforts are. As of 2013, Atlanta was the top-ranked city for those in search of a virtual romance, but Laredo, Texas, is at the bottom of the list.
Related: Best Cities to Find Love
22. Especially if you're a man
Just because you send someone a message through an online dating site doesn't guarantee that you'll get a reply. In terms of which cities have the lowest response rate among women, Brooklyn, Detroit, Minneapolis, Cincinnati and Los Angeles are the places where guys are most likely to reach a dead end.
23. The new year is the best time to look for a date
Once the holidays are over and the new year has officially kicked off, you'll want to put updating your online profile at the top of your resolution list. Online dating sites reportedly see their traffic spike by as much as 350% in the weeks after Christmas.
Sources and References
Rebecca Lake is a journalist at CreditDonkey, a diamond jeweler comparison and reviews website. Write to Rebecca Lake at rebecca@creditdonkey.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for our latest posts.
Note: This website is made possible through financial relationships with some of the products and services mentioned on this site. We may receive compensation if you shop through links in our content. You do not have to use our links, but you help support CreditDonkey if you do.
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