Statistics

Match’s Singles in America survey, now in its ninth year, is the nation's largest and most comprehensive annual scientific study of single men and women across the United States. This year, Match polled over 5,000 singles about their current attitudes around sex and dating, the their response to the #MeToo movement, and how singles of all ages are changing the way they look for love.

"Modern love, sex and romance are thriving in America—from Millennials to seniors. The current fear that the young don’t care about love and commitment is just plain wrong. They are simply having a hard time finding it and feeling burnt out by the search,” says Dr. Helen Fisher, biological anthropologist and Chief Science Advisor to Match. “Moreover, this year’s Singles in America study gives a first-of-its-kind look at the positive impact the #MeToo movement has had on single men — on dates and in the office.”

Singles still want love and they’re optimistic about their chances of finding it. According to the survey:

In big news for the dating app industry – Democratic Presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg met his husband on Hinge. And after his public remarks praising the dating app, it seems Hinge has also seen a spike in gay users.

Fortune reported that the app has seen a 30 percent increase in gay memberships since April 1^st, around the time the rising star mayor of South Bend Indiana disclosed he used the app and ended up meeting his husband Chasten on it.

“We’re proud of all of the relationships we’ve helped set up — including Mayor Pete and Chasten,” Hinge CEO Justin McLeod told Fortune. “We’re happy to see that their love story has encouraged even more members of the LGBTQ community to find their person on Hinge.”

There’s always a risk when a couple gets married – a common statistic people have cited is that when you get married, there’s a 50 percent chance you’ll get divorced. However, recent data points to changing times and changing attitudes towards marriage. According to a new study, divorce rates have plummeted - thanks in large part to Millennials.

A study by Maryland sociology professor Philip Cohen, who analyzed U.S. Census data from about 3.5 million households, shows that the divorce rate in America has plummeted 18 percent from 2008 to 2016. He credits Millennial women with the decline, as on average, they have waited past the age of 25 to marry, and are more likely to have already earned a Bachelor’s degree by the time they tie the knot.

The study also found that people ages 35 to 44 – Generation X included - were also less likely to divorce now than they were in 2008.

Dating app Bumble is on a mission to help empower women, including partnering with women’s health provider Planned Parenthood to educate college students at the University of Texas, Austin, about consent.

According to experts, the term "consent" as it applies to sexual relationships is often misunderstood, and silence does not imply that your partner wants to be intimate. Consent should instead be “Freely given, Reversible, Informed, Enthusiastic, and Specific” – the FRIES acronym that sex educators use to provide a basic definition of what consent is.

College campuses have come under fire recently for their handling of sexual assault and harassment cases among students. Traditionally, administrators have opted for leniency towards offenders when it’s a he said/ she said scenario (which sexual assault cases often are), allowing the perpetrators to continue attending classes without prosecution, expulsion, or even further investigation. This puts more students, and especially women, at risk.

The temptation to swear off dating gets stronger with every Ashley Madison hack, celebrity breakup, and creep exposed on Tinder - but according to new research from eHarmony, Americans are far from ready to throw in the towel and become cynical single curmudgeons.

The report, titled "The Happiness Index: Love and Relationships in America", reveals that 64% of Americans are “very happy” in their romantic relationships and just 19% say they're unhappy to some degree. eHarmony commissioned the report and it was conducted by Harris Interactive. 2,084 online interviews were conducted for the survey.

"At eHarmony, we talk a lot about happiness in relationships and how to keep them going strong," says Grant Langston, chief executive officer for eHarmony, in a statement. "We wanted to put society to the test and get a sense of how couples are living and loving in America today. Perhaps the most surprising finding is that gender and age dynamics in relationships are evolving, debunking misconceptions long held about both men and Millennials."

The holidays are here, and that means cuffing season is in full swing as daters look to settle down with a significant other.

Cuffing season starts as the weather gets cooler and people look to snuggle up with a partner, or be “cuffed” to someone instead of remaining single. The holidays definitely amplify this tendency, as we are bombarded with pictures of happy families and people kissing under the mistletoe, Christmas lights sparkling. It can make you feel like something is missing if you aren’t in a relationship.

The truth is, cuffing has been around for a while, even if the term is relatively new. According to research, more babies are born in the late summer months than any other time of year, thanks to couples getting cozy during the long, cold winter months. Additional studies that show there is a physiological increase in testosterone and estrogen levels during the winter. So biologically, our bodies are programmed to snuggle up with someone special during this time of year.