Relationship Statistics in 2023 (Latest U.S. Data on Love)
Dating and relationship culture are changing thanks to shifting gender roles and partner expectations.
Relationship statistics show that love is messy and more people are cohabiting, delaying marriage.
Relationship Statistics
Overview of statistics on relationships:
- There are 9.9 M cohabiting and 61.4 M married couples in the U.S.
- 75% of U.S. couples are happy in their relationships.
- Women will have, on average, 5 relationships before finding “the one.”
- Most people in a relationship met their partners through friends or family, 12% online.
- Top relationship deal breakers are long-distance, debt, and voting for Trump.
- Approximately 28 million Americans are in long-distance relationships.
- 47% of Americans say dating is now harder than it was 10 years ago.
- 30% of U.S. women see a committed relationship as essential for a fulfilling life.
- The average couple dates for 4.9 years before getting married.
1. There are 9.9 M cohabiting and 61.4 M married couples in the U.S.
According to the latest Census statistics about relationships (2022), there are 9.9 M cohabiting and 61.4 M married couples living together in the U.S. (1, 2)
| Cohabiting Couples | Married Couples | Total U.S. Couples |
| 9,894,000 | 61,435,000 | 71,329,000 |
There are a total of 71.3 million couples in the U.S., of which 14% are unmarried cohabiting couples (9.9 million) and 86% are married couples (61.4 million).
Although married couples still make up the majority of couples living together, living with an unmarried partner is more common than ever among younger adults.
The majority of cohabiters in the U.S. are Millennials.
According to Pew Research Center relationship survey data, the majority of cohabiters in the U.S. are Millennials. (3)
| Living arrangement | Gen Z Ages 18-24 | Millennials Ages 25-34 | Gen X Ages 35-49 | Boomers Ages 50+ |
| Cohabiting | 9% | 14% | 8% | 4% |
| Married | 7% | 41% | 63% | 61% |
| Divorced/widowed | 1% | 3% | 10% | 25% |
| Never married | 82% | 38% | 15% | 8% |
| Separated | 2% | 3% | 4% | 3% |
*Percentages are based on age groups and might not round up to 100 due to roundings.
The relationship data suggests that 14% of Millennials are cohabiting, followed by 9% of Gen Z, 8% of Gen X, and 4% of Boomers.
The growth of cohabiting has been strong across every age group, with the highest being +75% for Americans ages 50 and older.
2. 75% of U.S. couples are happy in their relationships.
According to the latest Eharmony love and relationship statistics (2022), 75% of U.S. couples are happy in their relationships. (4)
| U.S. couples | Percentage |
| Are overwhelmingly happy in their relationships. | 75% |
| Believe that having someone to be with has positively affected their lives. | 71% |
| Believe that their relationship has gotten stronger over the past year. | 55% |
The love statistics data found that 71% of Americans believe their partners have had a positive effect on their lives and 55% believe their relationship has gotten stronger over the pandemic years.
The more couples engage in activities together, the more they see their happiness levels rise.
83% of couples in couples therapy have seen an increase in happiness.
Despite the mixed reputation of therapy among couples, Eharmony relationships data suggests that 83% of couples in couples therapy have seen an increase in happiness. (4)
| Happiness growth | U.S. couples |
| Workouts | 87% |
| Date nights | 87% |
| Couples therapy | 83% |
| One-on-one time | 81% |
Couples activities with the highest levels of happiness growth are workouts (87%), date nights (87%), and one-on-one time (81%).
Interestingly enough, daters don’t think couples counseling is limited to those in long-term relationships.
Approximately 39% of study participants believe it’s appropriate to go to therapy with a partner after dating for one year or less.
3. Women will have, on average, 5 relationships before finding “the one.”
According to The Rosie Project statistics of relationships by Graeme Simsion, women will have, on average, 5 relationships and men 6 relationships before finding the right partner. (5)
The research was based on 2,000 adults who have already met “the one.”
| Events | Women | Men |
| Blind dates | 2 | 3 |
| Online dates | 2 | 3 |
| Disaster dates | 4 | 4 |
| Heartbreaks | 2 | 2 |
| Relationships | 5 | 6 |
| Falling in love | 2 | 2 |
| Sexual partners | 7 | 10 |
| One night stands | 4 | 6 |
| Partners lived with | 1 | 1 |
| Cheated on | 1 | 1 |
| Being a cheater | 1 | 1 |
| Long distance relationships | 1 | 1 |
The reality is that the path to finding the one is a long and rocky one.
The data suggests the average woman will fall in love twice, live with one ex-partner, and have four one-night stands before meeting the right partner. (5)
The average man will fall in love twice, live with one ex-partner, and have six one-night stands before meeting the right partner.
The biggest difference between men and women is in the number of sexual partners.
The average man will have ten sexual partners and the average woman seven sexual partners before finding the perfect partner.
Researchers also found that 94% of women and 88% of men believe in true love.
Also, read our sex statistics in the U.S.
4. Most people in a relationship met their partners through friends or family, 12% online.
According to Pew Research Center relationship facts and statistics, most Americans (32%) in a relationship met their partner through friends or family. (6)
| Friends/family | Work | School | Online |
| 32% | 18% | 17% | 12% |
The data suggests that 18% of people met their partners through work, 17% through school, and 12% online.
Although relatively small shares of partnered adults first met their partner online, LGB adults (28%) are more than two times more likely to have first met their partner online than straight adults (11%).
5. Top relationship deal breakers are long-distance, debt, and voting for Trump.
According to Pew Research Center relationship breakup statistics, the top relationship deal breakers are long-distance (51%), debt (49%), and voting for Trump (47%). (6)
| Partner | Is a Deal Breaker | Not a Deal Breaker |
| Lives far away | 51% | 49% |
| Has a lot of debt | 49% | 50% |
| Voted for Donald Trump | 47% | 52% |
| 10 years older than them | 38% | 61% |
| Children from previous life | 36% | 64% |
| 10 years younger than them | 27% | 73% |
| Is a Republican | 27% | 72% |
| Voted for Hillary Clinton | 26% | 73% |
| Different religion | 23% | 77% |
| Different race or ethnicity | 15% | 85% |
| Makes notably less money | 14% | 86% |
| Is a Democrat | 11% | 88% |
| Makes notably more money | 3% | 97% |
The statistics about love suggest that singles looking for a relationship are generally open to dating people with many different traits and backgrounds. (6)
Interestingly enough, lower/higher income, ethnicity, and religion matter the least for relationships.
For example, 77% of singles are open to a relationship with someone of a different religion and 85% of a different race or ethnicity.
Related: Divorce Statistics (Latest U.S. Data)
6. Approximately 28 million Americans are in long-distance relationships.
According to Statistics Brain statistics for relationships, approximately 28 million Americans (14 million couples) are in long-distance relationships. (7)
| Americans | Couples | Avg. Distance | Success Rate |
| 28 million | 14 million | 125 miles | 58% |
The average couple lives 125 miles apart and sees each other once a month.
According to long-term relationship statistics by Kiiroo, the average long-distance relationship in the U.S. has a 58% success rate. (8)
The data also found that the average couple sends 343 texts every week and spends 8 hours a week talking on the phone or video chatting.
7. 47% of Americans say dating is now harder than it was 10 years ago.
According to Pew Research Center dating statistics, 47% of U.S. adults say that dating is now harder than it was 10 years ago. (6)
| Dating is Harder | Dating is Easier | Dating is the Same |
| 47% Americans | 19% Americans | 33% Americans |
When asked why they think it is the case for dating getting harder, women are twice as likely as men to cite increased risk.
Men are more likely than women to say technology is a reason dating has gotten harder.
Most Americans say it’s harder for men to date in the era of the #MeToo movement.
According to Pew Research Center men and woman relationships data, 65% of Americans say it’s harder for men to date in the era of the #MeToo movement. (6)
| Common reasons | Singles |
| Singles say that things in their dating lives are not going well. | 67% |
| Singles find it difficult to find people to date. | 75% |
| Single women looking to date say they have experienced harassing behaviors when dating in the last year. | 65% |
| Single men looking to date say they have experienced harassing behaviors when dating in the last year. | 50% |
Sadly, problems with sexual harassment are still common.
About 65% of single women and 50% of single men have experienced harassing behaviors when dating in the last year.
A similar pattern holds when looking at all women and men, whether they are currently on the dating market or not.
8. 30% of U.S. women see a committed relationship as essential for a fulfilling life.
According to Pew Research Center relationship data, 30% of women and 26% of men in the U.S. see a committed relationship as essential for a fulfilling life. (9)
| Factors | Men | Women |
| Job/career they enjoy | 57% | 46% |
| Committed relationship | 26% | 30% |
| Having children | 16% | 22% |
| Having a lot of money | 20% | 15% |
| Being married | 16% | 17% |
The data suggest that for a fulfilling life, the most important thing for both men (57%) and women (46%) is a job or career they enjoy.
Interestingly enough, for women, the least important factor for a fulfilling life is having a lot of money (15%).
For men, the least important factors for a fulfilling life are having children (16%) and being married (16%).
9. The average couple dates for 4.9 years before getting married.
According to Bridebook marriage statistics, the average couple dates for 4.9 years before getting married. (10)
| Dating | Living Together | Engagement | Total Time |
| 1.4 years | 1.83 years | 1.67 years | 4.9 years |
The marriage study found that the average couple dates for 1.4 years (17 months) before moving in together.
The average couple lives together for 1.83 years (22 months) before getting engaged.
The average couple is engaged for 1.67 years (20 months) before getting married.
| Avg. Woman Getting Married | Avg. Man Getting Married |
| 30.8 years old | 32.7 years old |
The data also found that the average age of a single woman getting married is 30.8 years old.
The average age of a single man getting married is 32.7 years old.
Also, both men and women have, on average, two serious relationships before getting married.
References
- U.S. Census Bureau. 2022. Opposite-Sex Unmarried Couples by Labor Force Status of Both Partners: 2022. Link
- U.S. Census Bureau. 2022. Households, by Type and Age of Householder: 2022. Link
- Pew Research Center. 2017. Number of U.S. adults cohabiting with a partner continues to rise, especially among those 50 and older. Link
- Eharmony. 2022. The happiness index study. Link
- Her. 2018. Science says this is how many dates you have to go on before you find ‘The One.’ Link
- Pew Research Center. 2020. Nearly Half of U.S. Adults Say Dating Has Gotten Harder for Most People in the Last 10 Years. Link
- MarketWatch. 2017. 14 million couples are in long-distance relationships. Here’s the staggering amount it costs. Link
- New York Post. 2018. Long-distance relationships are more successful than you think. Link
- Pew Research Center. 2019. Marriage and Cohabitation in the U.S. Link
- Bridebook. 2017. Bridebook Marriage Report. Link
