In the early 2000s, TV shows like “How I Met Your Mother” made fun of online dating as a desperate way to meet someone. Most single people favored courting in person through a friend, at a bar, or at work.
Oh, how times have changed! Since the 2010s and the COVID-19 pandemic, dating culture has shifted dramatically. I’d argue that meeting people in person is more difficult for my generation. But meeting online has never been easier.
Still, those considering jumping on the apps may worry about who’s on the other side of the screen. I pulled together some numbers about the average dater to help you decide if online dating is for you.
1. There Were 366 Million Dating App Users in 2022
Dating apps are here to stay. Cloudwards found that there were 366 million global dating app users1 in 2022, up from 223.9 million in 2021. That’s 4.6% of the population worldwide.
2. Tinder Has Been Downloaded 630 Million Times
If you’re looking for the love of your life, chances are, they’re on a dating app right now. And it’s probably Tinder. This famous swiping app has been downloaded 630 million times since 2012 and is the most popular dating app by far.
CNN reported that Tinder’s dominance is diminishing, but 46% of online daters have tried Tinder at some point or another.2
3. Almost Half of Users Are Looking for Long-Term Love
Online daters want long-term commitment. Despite rumors of hookup culture, many online daters are trying to find their partner or spouse.
According to a study by Pew Research Center, 44% of online daters said they are primarily looking to find a long-term partner or spouse, compared to just 24% who say they are looking for sex.3
Online dating requires some frontend work to narrow the search for serious singles. From making your dating profile to messaging with potential dates, you need to put in some effort to find real connections.
4. About 22% of Online Daters Just Want a Friend
That’s not to say that everyone on dating apps is looking to get married right off the bat. In fact, 40% of online daters are looking to date casually, and 22% are trying to make new friends.
5. More Than Half of Americans (53%) Aged 18-29 Have Tried Online Dating
Online daters are young. In 2023, Pew found that 53% of surveyed Americans ages 18 to 29 had used a dating platform.4 That number was far higher than the 37% of respondents 30 to 49 who said the same.
Several factors contribute to the prevalence of online dating among young people. Young people are more likely to be single in general. Data says 47% of respondents aged 18 to 29 are single compared to 21% of respondents 30 to 49 years old. 5
Young people have also grown up with online dating as a fact of life. This is especially true for those of us who entered adulthood during the COVID-19 pandemic.
I was 19 when the pandemic began. For much of my dating experience, dating apps were the only way to meet someone. Even though I didn’t meet my partner online, I was using dating apps when I met him, and swiping put me in the right mindset for dating.
6. Queer Daters Are Twice as Likely to Swipe as Straight Daters
Online daters are frequently queer. According to Pew Research Center, 51% of queer adults said they have used a dating app, compared to 28% of straight daters.6
Meeting partners in person can be dangerous for queer people. They may fear harassment or physical attack from homophobic people. Using a dating app can offer queer daters a bit more physical distance to vet potential partners.
7. About 20% of Men Who Used Apps Are Current Users
Men are more likely than women to stay online. Men are slightly more likely to have ever used dating apps (34% compared to 27% of women).7
But interestingly, they’re almost twice as likely to be current users of dating apps, with 20% of men being active on the apps.
8. The Average Man Spends Over 8 Months Online Dating
It makes sense that men would be more likely to remain on dating apps, as it takes longer for men to find a partner through online dating. According to Shane Co., men spend an average of 8.63 months dating online before finding their partner, compared to 7.93 months for women.
9. Women Are Not Attracted to 80% of Men’s Profiles
While women are often overwhelmed by the number of messages and matches they find on dating apps, men are often left on read. Women are typically more selective on dating apps, reportedly finding about 80% of men’s profiles unattractive.8
If you’re a single guy, it might be worth looking into dating profile tips or asking a friend to give honest criticism of your photos and bio.
10. Almost 4 in 10 Online Daters Are Open to Non-Monogamy
Online daters are open-minded. Match Group’s annual Singles in America study found that 39% of online daters would be open to dating a non-monogamous person.9
Non-monogamy is an umbrella term for a variety of relationship structures that involve more than two people, such as polyamory or open relationships. While non-monogamy is relatively common — 31% of singles say they have been in a non-monogamous relationship at some point – non-monogamous individuals still encounter prejudice.
When entering into a non-monogamous relationship, singles need to clearly communicate their boundaries and desired relationship structure. Communication is important in any relationship, but in a non-monogamous relationship — especially between people with limited experience with non-monogamy — it’s essential.
11. Around 42% of Adults Under 30 Have Used Tinder
For young adults, Tinder reigns supreme. I mentioned this before, but Tinder is undeniably the most popular dating app, with 14% of US adults (not just online daters) using the app.10
Among adults under 30, just under half (42%) said they have used Tinder. Bumble is the second-most popular, with 27% of surveyed adults having used it.
For those hoping to swipe their way into a connection IRL, Tinder is a pretty solid place to start. Numbers do make a difference, and Tinder will allow you to find many singles in your area.
12. Grindr Has Been Downloaded by 35% of Queer Men
The best app for you may be different depending on your sexuality, gender, or age. The same Pew survey found 35% of queer men have used Grindr, compared to just 24% of gay respondents who say they have used Tinder. The best place to find a partner is, of course, where your best matches are.
13. Daters Are 50/50 on Whether Online Dating Was Positive
Online dating doesn’t work out the same for everyone. Some people find the love of their lives, while others encounter deception and heartbreak. Pew found that 46% of online daters surveyed said their experience was negative, while 53% had an overall positive experience.11
Men and queer users were more likely than women to have positive experiences with online dating.
Across demographics, women were more likely to say their experience was bad. Women frequently face harassment when dating online, from receiving unsolicited sexual images to facing threats of violence. Understandably, this turns many women off from online dating overall.
14. More Than Half of Paid Users Had a Good Experience
Additionally, online daters who have paid for a dating app reported much higher rates of satisfaction with their dating experience than non-payers (58% had a positive experience compared to 42% negative).
Maybe it’s worth paying for that premium subscription after all!
15. Apps Make Finding Partners Easier, Said 42% of Adults
American adults believe dating platforms can help in the search for a spouse. In a Pew survey, 42% of adults said that online dating has made finding a partner easier, while only 22% said that dating platforms have made it harder.12
Online dating eliminates much of the randomness of trying to find a partner organically. You’re not stuck wandering a grocery store hoping to bump into a love match. Singles can be intentional and say what they truly want.
16. One-Third of 20-Somethings Say Online Dating Is Hard
Young adults are more divided on whether online dating is good or bad. Among adult respondents under 30, only 35% said online dating makes finding a partner easier, compared to 33% who said it makes it harder.
Younger adults never knew a world before online dating, so they have less to compare today’s dating methods to than older adults. The grass may just seem greener in the past.
At the same time, younger adults may just use online dating differently, resulting in a worse experience for users. Behaviors like ghosting and breadcrumbing can lead to dating burnout and frustration.
17. About 1/3 of Black Singles Have Tried Online Dating
Different racial groups in the United States have similar rates of dating app usage. According to a study by Cloudwards, the racial breakdown among respondents who said they had tried online dating was 29% white, 31% Black, and 28% Hispanic.
18. Hispanic Singles Are Nearly Twice as Likely to Online Date
Different races try dating apps at similar rates. But Pew’s study found that Hispanic dating app users are more likely than white or Black users to currently be using them.
Twenty-two percent of respondents who identified as Hispanic said they were currently on platforms, compared to 13% of white respondents and 16% of Black respondents.
19. Over 70% of Gen Xers Found Love on a Dating App
Gen Z may use dating apps more than any other age group, but that doesn’t mean we’re using them well. We may need to take a lesson on online dating from Gen X.
Forbes found that 72% of surveyed adults aged 43-58 said they found a romantic relationship on a dating app, more than any other age group.
If you’re trying to find a partner, take a line from Gen X and make plans to meet up quickly. The sooner you can move the connection offline, the more likely it will turn into something real.
20. Half of Tinder Users Don’t Want to Meet in Person
Meeting up IRL isn’t everyone’s goal on dating apps, however. A study using Tinder data found that half of users in a survey don’t actually want to meet up in person (and two-thirds of users surveyed said they were already in a relationship).
When I was in college, it was common for my girlfriends to use dating apps to get a little validation. It feels great for strangers to be attracted to you, and dating apps almost guarantee that for young women. But for people looking to find a partner, the constant ghosting and noncommittal plans can be exhausting.
21. A Third of Singles Have Used AI to Write a First Message
Openers can be hard, and some singles have stopped coming up with them altogether. According to Match’s annual Singles in America survey, a staggering 37% of singles have used AI to help them craft a first message, and an even higher 43% have used AI to help them write a dating profile.13
22. Of Those Who Used AI, 32% Said It Was Helpful
The ethics of using AI to date are questionable, especially when it comes to writing messages. I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t be thrilled to learn that I was communicating with a large-language model, not a person.
But for some singles, the time they save using AI and the quality of their matches makes up for it. After using AI, 32% of users reported meeting a new partner faster.
23. A Whopping 45% of First Dates Connect Online
Online dating is the place to meet a romantic partner. A Forbes survey found that 45% of respondents said they met their dates on the apps, compared to 33% in the survey who said they met their dates through friends, and 30% who met through social organizations.
A big benefit of online dating is you already know that your match is attracted to you. That makes it way easier to shoot your shot. You don’t have to worry as much about misinterpreting signals or approaching someone who isn’t looking to date.
24. Over 75% of App Users Have Met IRL
Dating apps may take up your time, but they won’t waste your time. The Survey Center on American Life found that 77% of dating-app users in the study said they have met up with someone they met online.14 When you take into account that many dating app users are just scrolling for fun, that’s a high number.
Online dating doesn’t guarantee you a relationship, but there’s no doubt that it’s effective at getting you through the door. What happens next is up to you (and your match).
25. Only 69% of Young Adults Have Met an Online Match
The percentage of people who go on first dates with matches they met online mirrors the percentage of people who meet their partners online. Only 69% of young dating-app users having met up with someone they met online. Young adults may be less serious about online dating, or they’re more likely to go on apps without the intention of meeting up.
26. More than 1 in 3 Adults (37%) Have Used a Dating Platform
Online daters are pretty common. According to a study by SSRS, 37% of Americans surveyed say they have used an online dating platform.15 When you consider that many American adults were already in their present relationship before online dating was invented, that’s a pretty high percentage.
Gone are the days when admitting to using an online dating platform was taboo. If anything, singles who refrain from using online dating may find their friends and family scolding them for not trying everything possible to meet someone.
27. Over Half (61%) of App Users Took a Mental Health Break
Dating can be draining, especially on swiping apps. FHE Health found that 61% of singles have taken a break from online dating due to its effect on their mental health. 16
While dating fatigue can come for anyone, there are steps you can take to control the negative impact of online dating on your life, such as putting screen time limits on your phone, setting reasonable goals for how many dates you go on, and using apps with limited swiping, like Coffee Meets Bagel.
28. A Hopeful 13% of Users Get Engaged or Married to a Match
I’ll say it again: Dating apps are not just for hookups. Singles are meeting the real deal on dating apps. Cloudwards found that 13% of dating app users got engaged or married to someone they met online. 17
If you get serious about meeting your partner online, you have a good chance that you will. Half of the people on dating apps aren’t looking to meet a partner in person, and some people (like me) will meet their partner in person while on dating apps.
This doesn’t mean that the first date you go on from Tinder is going to be the last time you go on a first date. But it does mean that if you keep an open mind, date consistently, and treat people with kindness, you’ll probably find your person.
Who Are Online Daters? People Like You!
If you’ve been on the apps for a while with little success, you may be inclined to throw in the towel on online dating entirely. “All the good ones are taken,” you say. But I’d reply that having a good dating strategy is a critical part of swiping and setting up dates.
Struggling to get matches? Think about refreshing your profile, or having a dating expert take a look at what you’ve got. Ask a friend to look through some of your messages to see whether you’re putting out the right energy.
And if you struggle to get a second date or take it from “going on dates” to “going out,” think about working with a dating coach. Sometimes, we’re blind to how others perceive us, and working with a pro can help fill in the gaps in our vision.
- https://www.cloudwards.net/online-dating-statistics ↩︎
- https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/14/business/dating-apps-2024-hinge-tinder-dg/index.html ↩︎
- https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2023/02/02/the-who-where-and-why-of-online-dating-in-the-u-s/ ↩︎
- https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/02/02/key-findings-about-online-dating-in-the-u-s/ ↩︎
- https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/02/08/for-valentines-day-5-facts-about-single-americans/ ↩︎
- https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/02/02/key-findings-about-online-dating-in-the-u-s/ ↩︎
- https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2023/02/02/the-who-where-and-why-of-online-dating-in-the-u-s/ ↩︎
- https://www.eviemagazine.com/post/women-more-selective-80-men-unattractive-on-dating-apps-recent-research ↩︎
- https://www.singlesinamerica.com/ ↩︎
- https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2023/02/02/the-who-where-and-why-of-online-dating-in-the-u-s/ ↩︎
- https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/02/02/key-findings-about-online-dating-in-the-u-s/ ↩︎
- https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/02/02/key-findings-about-online-dating-in-the-u-s/ ↩︎
- https://www.singlesinamerica.com/ ↩︎
- https://www.americansurveycenter.org/research/from-swiping-to-sexting-the-enduring-gender-divide-in-american-dating-and-relationships/ ↩︎
- https://ssrs.com/insights/the-public-and-online-dating-in-2024/ ↩︎
- https://fherehab.com/survey/online-dating-mental-health ↩︎
- https://www.cloudwards.net/online-dating-statistics/ ↩︎
