11 Healthy Relationship Statistics & Studies

If you keep up with popular media, you might think that love is on the decline. From baby boomers’ rise in gray divorces to Gen Z’s meandering situationships, it can seem like no one is happy in relationships these days.¹ Single people are struggling to find partners, and partnered people are becoming single.

Stay too long on TikTok, and you’re bound to stumble upon a video telling you how to spot toxicity in your relationship. Toxic relationships are, apparently, everywhere. The internet may lead you to believe that healthy relationships are a rarity, or even a myth.

But the facts paint a different picture. Make no mistake: Plenty of people are unhappy with their relationship status. But there are more people who are actually quite happy in their relationships. 

Contrary to popular belief, many relationships are genuinely happy and healthy. And the benefits of being in a healthy relationship are not just romantic – healthy relationships improve your physical health, financial stability, and overall mental health. 

Don’t let relationship fear-mongering keep you from looking for love! If you’re still not convinced that love is real, let me walk you through some stats that suggest a healthy relationship is a very real and positive addition to your life.

1. Nearly Two-Thirds of American Couples Are Happy

Has anyone ever told you that it’s normal to fight all the time or not to like your partner all that much? Well, American couples disagree. eharmony’s 2018 “Happiness Index” report found that 64% of American couples surveyed were happy in their relationships.²

The report also found that millennials (aged 25 to 34 at the time of the report) were happiest in their relationships. Perhaps this group had the perfect life circumstances for healthy relationships: They were old enough to be settling into their career and adulthood, but young enough to still be excited about their relationships.

Additionally, being willing to change and grow helps couples thrive. Many of the happiest surveyed couples had been to couples therapy. You don’t need to be perfect to find love, but you do need to be willing to put work into your relationship.

2. About 69% of Americans Are in a Relationship or Married

If it feels like no one is single, that’s because not many people are (Sorry!). Sixty-nine percent of Americans surveyed by Pew Research Center claimed to be in a committed relationship; 51% said they were married, 11% said they were living with a partner, and 8% of respondents said they were otherwise in a committed romantic relationship.³

I’ve certainly seen this trend frustrate my single friends in my own life. My partner and I are in that 11% of cohabitors. We want to set up our single friends, but we simply don’t know enough single people who we think are good enough for them!

Most people want to find love and build a romantic partnership in their lives. While many people choose to be single and live happy, vibrant lives, there’s something to be said for coming home to someone you love after a long day. Fortunately, while singles are in the minority right now, many singles want that, too.

3. Survey Found 90% of Respondents Feel Equal to Their Partner

While I might (gently) chide social media’s moral panic over toxic dates, unequal relationships are no joking matter. 

Often rooted in unfair gendered or economic power dynamics, unequal relationships can lead to one partner’s disempowerment, and in extreme cases, abuse.

Fortunately, most couples say their relationships feel pretty equal. One survey by InnerBody found that 89.2% of respondents felt equal to their partner.⁴ While more men than women in the survey said they felt their relationships were equal, that number is still pretty high overall.

On the other hand, if you don’t feel equal to your partner, that’s a pretty big red flag. Take it seriously, and start thinking about your exit plan.

4. Over Half (58%) of Long-Distance Relationships Last

Long-distance relationships work! Research suggests that about 58% of long-distance relationships last.⁵ 

My partner and I actually started our relationship long-distance; we met through my college roommate, who was also his childhood best friend. That year and a half was tough at times, but doing long distance meant that we had to get serious about good communication fast. 

Now that we’ve lived together for a few years, I’m so glad we had that time to make our relationship stronger. But I hope we never have to do it again!

Just because you’re moving away doesn’t mean you need to end it. Give long distance a chance. It can be tough, but it’s so worth it if you love each other.

5. Average Relationship Length of Young Adults Is 2 Years

In early adulthood, not every relationship goes the distance. One psychology study by the Pedagogical University of Krakow found that the average relationship length for adults 18-25 was around two years.⁶

The study was open to individuals who had been in a heterosexual relationship for one month or longer, which does make me wonder if that data was a bit skewed by short relationships. The first three months of a relationship are extremely vulnerable, so it’s unclear from this study if relationships past this point were also likely to end after a few years.⁷ 

Still, young adulthood is a turbulent time. Young adults are learning what they want in relationships at the same time they sort out what they want in their career and lifestyle. That’s a lot of pressure to add to relationships.

6. At 71%, Gen Zers Are Most Likely to Say Age Gaps Matter

Everyone knows that Leonardo DiCaprio only dates women under 25 (though his current girlfriend, Vittoria Ceretti, recently turned 26, so maybe Leo is growing up). Age-gap relationships used to be a fact of life in Hollywood, and to an extent, in seemingly average relationships.⁸

But now, many daters are wising up to the problems that can come with big age gaps in relationships, especially skewed power dynamics. This problem can be an especially significant issue when partners are in different stages of life. 

Which is why it makes sense that a study found that 71% of Gen Z respondents — more than survey respondents of any other generation — believe age gaps matter.⁹

While the difference between dating someone your own age or 10 years older may feel small when you’re 55, when you’re 23, that’s a huge gap. When you’re younger, your finances, career, lifestyle, and goals can change dramatically in a few years. For most young people, it makes more sense to date people around the same age.

7. Single Households Earn About One-Third of What Married Households Earn

You probably know about the tax breaks married couples receive, and you may have thought about the benefits of being in a dual-income household (as a DINK, I can confirm: It’s great.). But you may not realize that even before those benefits, married couples make more per person than single people do.

Researchers used U.S. census data to find that single people make an average of $56,065 per year, compared to married couples’ incomes of $146,000. Single households make 38% of what married households make.¹⁰ 

Money can’t buy happiness, and it won’t save an unhealthy marriage. But given that financial disagreements are a major predictor of divorce, knowing that tying the knot can help a bit with overall earnings should ease some of that financial stress.¹¹

8. People With Positive Relationships are 1.5 Times as Likely to Live Long Lives

I don’t always want to work out, but I know it makes me healthier. Maybe it’s time to start treating socializing with my loved ones the same way. One study found that having positive social relationships was predictive of living a longer life, with a 50% increased chance of delayed mortality.¹² 

While romantic relationships are one type of potential positive relationship, they’re not the only type. Positive friendships and familial ties can be just as effective at keeping you healthy. So take a moment to give whoever matters most to you a call.

9. Gen Z Couples are the Least Likely to Call Their Relationships Healthy

We know that young-adult relationships tend not to last very long, so it’s not shocking that Gen Z is less likely than any other generation to consider their relationships healthy, with an average score of 7.97/10.⁴ 

While there are many possible reasons for this divide, from lower maturity to being in the wrong relationship, I’m inclined to think that much of the difference in relationship ranking has to do with generational ideas about healthy relationships than it does with the actual substance of these relationships.

For instance, I would not consider a relationship in which my partner and I could not discuss hard topics – sex, politics, religion, family planning – a healthy relationship. Many older adults I have spoken to seem to consider this dynamic standard. I won’t say that Gen Z relationships are perfect, but many Gen Z daters seem to be holding their relationships to a higher standard.

10. High Marital Quality Lessens Stress for 200 Couples

You don’t need to be alone to work on your mental health. Being in a good relationship can actually have positive effects on your mindset and wellbeing. A study of 204 married couples and 99 single people found that high marital quality led to less stress and depression.¹³

When I was single, I felt extreme anxiety about dating. I would obsessively check my phone waiting for the person I was seeing to text; in some cases, I became physically nauseous from the stress.

But in my relationship now, my partner has only helped me work through my anxiety. He supports me through life’s stressors, and he offers a stable, secure love that helps me be a happier and more confident person in all facets of my life.

Of course, you can’t rely on your partner for everything, and becoming too dependent on them for mental health can be a dangerous line to walk. But you absolutely can – and should – lean on your partner for support.

11. Survey Found 10% of Partnered Adults Met Through a Dating Platform

If I’ve sufficiently convinced you that love isn’t a waste of time, you may be thinking about where to meet someone. According to partnered adults, dating apps really do work. Pew Research Center found that about 10% of partnered adults said they found their love on a dating platform.¹⁴

While many frustrated singles and skeptical non-online daters may insist that online dating couldn’t possibly lead to love, the numbers don’t lie. You really can fall in love after meeting on a dating app. After all, for most couples, the important part is how the date goes once you meet up IRL.

We know that swiping can get overwhelming, and first dates are seldom as fun as hanging out with your friends. But online dating really is worth the work. Who knows: Finding love online might just save your life!

The Numbers Show Relationship Satisfaction Is Achievable

Looking for love can be really scary. Finding someone you like, who likes you back, is tricky enough in itself. But once you do that, you need to put in the effort to make a relationship work, and you have to wait and see if they’ll be a good partner, too.

But the benefits that can come from this work are massive. Finding a happy and healthy partnership can add joy to your life you didn’t realize you were missing. Your partner can help you be a better person, and hopefully, you can do the same for them, too.

I don’t believe you have to be perfect to deserve or find love. We’re always imperfect and we’re always growing. 

But if you know that you’re unhappy with who you are at the moment, consider seeking professional help or working on your habits before jumping into another relationship. It’s much easier to get into a securely attached relationship when you’re secure in yourself, so put yourself in the best possible position to find the love you want.

And when you’re ready, don’t be afraid to be vulnerable and put yourself out there. It’s good to protect yourself before you’re ready for commitment, so you can fully trust your partner. But once you think you’ve found the real deal, you need to take a leap of faith.

Sources and Further Reading

1. https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/372912/gray-divorce-after-50-trend-financial-social-consequences
2. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/64-percent-of-americans-say-theyre-happy-in-their-relationships-300595502.html
3. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/02/08/for-valentines-day-facts-about-marriage-and-dating-in-the-us/
4. https://www.innerbody.com/healthy-relationships-survey
5. https://www.datingadvice.com/studies/healthy-relationship-statistics
6. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10001731/
7. https://www.verywellmind.com/could-the-three-month-dating-rule-help-you-find-love-8667984
8. https://www.newsweek.com/leonardo-dicaprio-breaks-dating-rule-1909560
9. https://www.datingnews.com/industry-trends/dating-older-or-younger-trends/
10. https://www.self.inc/info/single-vs-married-income/#single-vs-married-income
11. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/financial-disagreements-strong-predictor-divorce-233000764.html
12. https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1000316
13. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18347896/
14. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/02/08/for-valentines-day-facts-about-marriage-and-dating-in-the-us/