10 Facts About Love in America

Love can be eternal but the data about how Americans meet, date, and marry is ever changing. Sixty years ago, more than 7 in 10 American adults were married. Today, that figure is nearly 5 in 10. And the number of Americans who have used online dating? Thirty percent. As we approach Valentine’s Day, these facts paint a picture of love in America today. 

1) 9 in 10 married adults cite love as a major reason they decided to get married.

Sixty-six percent of married adults cite companionship as a major reason they decided to get married. Learn more here and here.  

2) The median age at first marriage for American women was 28 in 2020, compared with 21 in 1969.

For men, the median age at first marriage was 31 in 2020, compared with 23 in 1969. Learn more. 

3) 48% of American adults are married — down from 72% in 1960.

Learn more.

4) 15% of American adults say they are single and looking — for a committed relationship or casual dates, as of 2019. 

Learn more. 

5) 73% of cohabiting adults cite love as a major reason they moved in together.

Other major reasons cited for moving in together: companionship (61%), convenience (37%), and finances (38%). Learn more here and here. 

6) 30% of American adults said in 2019 that they have used a dating site or app. 

Twelve percent of Americans have married or been in a committed relationship with someone they first met through a dating site or app. Learn more here and here.

7) 59% of never-married adults who are open to marrying say a major reason they are not married is that they haven’t found the right person.

Forty-one percent of never-married adults who are open to marriage say that not being financially stable is a major reason they are not married. Learn more here and here. 

8) There were 543K same-sex married couple households in 2019.

In comparison, there were 61.4 million opposite-sex married couple households. Learn more. 

9) 57% of Millennials had never been married, as of 2017, compared with 17% of members of the Silent Generation when they were the same age.

Learn more.

10) 58% of adults who have never married say they would like to get married someday.

Twenty-seven percent of these single adults are not sure if they want to get married and 14% say they do not want to get married. Learn more.