On this Wednesday (14), many Americans celebrate Valentine’s Day alongside a romantic partner or important people in their lives, such as close friends.
The Pew Hispanic Center gathered some interesting data on marriage and relationships in the United States. See below.
1. Most Americans say they are in some type of serious relationship
Most Americans claim to be in some type of serious relationship, according to a Center survey from July 2022. Overall, 51% of Americans say they are married, living with a partner (11%), or in a serious romantic relationship (8%).
Thus, 30% of Americans are neither married nor cohabiting. Of these, 22% have never been married, and a smaller percentage are divorced (10%), separated (2%), or widowed (5%).
2. A record share of people in their 40s have never been married
A record share of people in their 40s have never been married, according to an analysis of the latest Census Bureau data. In 2021, one in four people aged 40 in the U.S. had never been married – up from 6% in 1980.
A Center survey conducted in April 2023 found that relatively few Americans (23%) consider marriage essential for living a fulfilling life. A larger number of people consider factors such as job satisfaction (71%) and having close friends (61%) more relevant.
3. Three in ten adults in the U.S. say they have used a dating site or app
Adults under 30 (53%) and lesbian, gay, or bisexual adults (51%) are more likely than those from other groups to connect through the internet.
Among dating platform users, 44% say finding a long-term partner is one of the main reasons they used these sites or apps, and 40% say they go on these sites for casual dating. About one in four state that casual sex or making new friends are the main reasons they use these sites or apps.
One in ten adults in a relationship met their current partner through a dating site or app.
In 2022, 45% of single Americans seeking a relationship and/or casual dating used an online dating platform.
4. People are dissatisfied with their romantic lives
People were already dissatisfied with their romantic lives, but the coronavirus outbreak made everything harder, according to surveys conducted before and during the pandemic. In 2019, two-thirds of single adults said their love lives were not going well, and three-quarters said it was difficult for them to meet people to date.
In February 2022, 63% said dating became even harder during the pandemic. Another 32% said it remained the same, and only 3% said it got easier.
5. Most single Americans are not looking for romance on Valentine’s Day
According to a survey from February 2022, overall, 56% of single adults said they were not looking for a relationship or casual dating for Valentine’s Day. Most single adults who were not seeking a relationship or dates cited enjoying being single (72%) or having more important priorities (63%) than that.
6. Are married people happier than singles?
Married adults report being much happier than those in any other relationship status, according to a Gallup survey published last Friday (9).
From 2009 to 2023, over 2.5 million adults in the United States were asked how they rated their current life, with zero being the worst possible rating and 10 the highest.
Married people consistently reported higher levels of happiness than their single counterparts, ranging from 12% to 24% higher depending on the year, according to the data.
Do we need to get married to be happier?
Source: Pew Hispanic Center and CNN