Largest study on U.S. Singles released
Dallas—Match released findings from its 13th annual Singles in America study, the nation's largest and most comprehensive annual scientific study of single adults, more than one-third of the U.S. adult population. This year's study asked a national representative sample of 5,000+ singles their thoughts on dating and AI, non-monogamous relationships, comprehensive sex education, and more. Having run annually over the past 13 years, the study encompasses insights from 70,000 singles to date, showcasing major trends and new developments in sex, love and marriage.
"Single Americans are ushering in new trends in dating, demonstrating the influence and impact of their substantial demographic," Dr. Justin Garcia, scientific advisor to Match and executive director of the Kinsey Institute, said. "Findings show that singles are adapting to some of our most significant social and political challenges, by seeking financial stability in partners to getting serious about accurate education on sexuality and relationships.
“Despite the political rancor over sex education, the data shows that most singles haven't received sex ed from reliable sources, with nearly half of single adults today saying that proper education would lead to happier and healthier relationships. Today's singles are hungry for tools to help them find and maintain human connection."
Nearly half of singles (44%) report that more sex ed (i.e. learning more about and communicating what you want, gender identity, consent, sexual orientation) in their younger years would have enabled them to have healthier and happier relationships today.
In newly released findings exploring America's sex ed dilemma, singles report that if they had received more information on sex ed topics early on they would:
Have more sexual confidence now (40%)
Know how to talk about sex with partners (32%)
Know how to date more effectively (30%).
While singles report having received sex ed on concepts like reproduction (91%), puberty (89%), pregnancies (89%), testing/preventing STIs (84%), and abstinence (77%), they also identified key areas of intimacy where they didn't receive sex ed, including:
How to talk about what you want (39%)
Gender identity (38%)
How to talk about sex in general (35%)
How to give and ask for consent (31%)
How to establish and/or discuss sexual orientation (26%).
When it comes to their sources of information on sex, singles have more often learned about sex from inconsistent and unreliable sources, including peers and pornography:
How to have a positive or healthy romantic relationship: 25 percent learned about this from friends/peers, 26 percent from family, 24 percent learned somewhere else; while 7 percent learned from school.
Sexual orientation: 31 percent learned about this from friends/peers, 16 percent from family, 28 percent learned somewhere else; while 18 percent learned from school.
Consent: 25 percent learned about this from friends/peers, 18 percent from family, 25 percent learned somewhere else; while 17 percent learned from school.
"Polyamory and other forms of sexual exploration are thriving. But this practice is far from undermining traditional monogamy, it's enhancing it. These singles say their sexual adventures have given them meaningful insights into what they want in a long-term, stable partnership. In fact, nearly 50 percent of singles still want a traditional sexually-monogamous relationship. This cultural trend can't kill the human drive to find the one," Dr. Helen Fisher, Match's Chief scientific advisor, said.
Half (49%) of singles say that traditional sexual monogamy is their ideal sexual relationship. But nearly 1/3 of singles (31%) have had a consensually non-monogamous relationship at some point - 16 percent of whom saying they would have a non-monogamous relationship again in the future. Among those who have practiced non-monogamy, singles reported the diverse relationship structures involved:
Monogamish (21%): Committed relationship that allows sexual variety with others
Polyamory (11%): Where relationship partners agree they may have a romantic relationship with other people
Open relationships (13%): A committed primary relationship that openly allows for romantic and/or sexual activity with other
Swinging (12%): Expanding an exclusive romantic relationship to seek out other sexual partners together.
Many singles who have engaged in consensual non-monogamy felt the experience had a positive impact on their dating life:
38 percent say their non-monogamous experiences have made them better understand what they do and don't want and need in a relationship
30 percent of single people report becoming more open sexually
29 percent say they became more emotionally mature
27 percent say they were able to have more frequent sex.
But not every single American is expanding their sex life. Just over one in five of today's singles (21%) state that they don't want a sexual relationship right now.
"A new trend is emerging: Artificial Intelligence is helping singles connect more effectively. 14 percent of online daters have already used AI for dating. And that's most likely just the beginning because 32 percent of these men and women say that AI has helped them get better matches and meet potential partners faster," Fisher said. "AI is positioned to become a vital new tool for finding love."
How are daters using AI?
AI in dating is still in early stages, with 6 percent of all single daters using AI in their dating life.
43 percent of AI users used the technology to write their dating app profile
37 percent of AI users used it to help them write a first message.
How efficient do daters find AI? Of those who have harnessed AI for dating:
27 percent reported that using AI helped them get better matches
26 percent received more matches using AI.
While the ancients relied on Cupid, 1/3 of all singles surveyed, including 43 percent of young singles, think AI can be their matchmaker, capable of assessing partnership compatibility. When asked what they would want from AI when it comes to dating:
34 percent want help sorting their matches
29 percent want help creating their profile
30 percent want help coming up with conversation topics on a date.
Americans' social lives respond to an unpredictable economy. For the second year in a row, singles listed money issues as their top stressors: Personal day-to-day finances (24%) topped the list, followed closely by concerns over the economy and also over inflation (both at 21%). But singles are also ushering in new norms for managing these money-related stressors: 64 percent of singles say they have a monthly budget, and 73 percent of singles say a potential partner's financial stability is important to them. The days of not discussing finances on a date are long gone.
Gen Z is feeling pressure in life when it comes to the economy, their careers, and their mental health, but less so when it comes to dating: 90 percent of Gen Z feel significant stress, specifically due to their finances (24%), physical health (22%), and mental health (22%), while their dating lives fall lower on the list (16%).
This generation of singles is working on themselves, knowing what they want in a long-term partner, and believing in marriage and the future of relationships:
45 percent of Gen Z singles have been working to better their mental health
57 percent were interested in attending a therapy session or had already done so this year, compared to 48 percent last year
39 percent say their physical health is poor or fair, but 41 percent are working to improve this
58 percent report they feel lonely on a typical day
57 percent want to get married
83 percent believe they can have a lifelong marriage
78 percent have been passionately in love
64 percent want a partner who wants to marry
57 percent want a partner who wants children.
"Boundaries," "trauma," "feeling triggered," "gaslighting," therapy language has infiltrated dating conversations, but singles think you can take it too far.
1 in 3 singles (33%)—regardless of age or gender—feel that therapy speak is a mixed bag: it can be useful, but can also be detrimental.
Nearly 40 percent of young singles think that therapy language promotes a better understanding of mental health (vs. 28% of Gen X, 20% of Boomers)
Singles identified the top three most important factors in a healthy romantic relationship as trust, effective communication, and mutual respect.
76 percent of singles reported that their past dating experiences helped define who they are today, and what they want in future relationships.
To help shape future relationships, singles are counting on a wide variety of important resources for dating advice, including:
Friends: 65 percent
Family: 46 percent
Therapist: 26 percent
1 in 10 asked an ex-partner
23 percent of Gen Z turn to influencers/content creators (vs. 19% Millennials, 10% Gen X, 11% Boomers).
Singles at the Ballot Box
With adult singles representing over 1/3 of the U.S. population, 2024 election candidates and pollsters may be overlooking the power of the single voter. 14 percent of all singles don't plan to vote in the upcoming presidential election, a figure that jumps to one in five of Gen Z singles (20%).
The overturning of Roe v. Wade has impacted the dating and sex lives of nearly 9 in 10 singles (87% of daters under age 50) since the 2022 ruling to reverse the landmark legislation, a jump from 78% last year. How have singles been impacted?
12 percent of singles say they feel more hesitant to date and 11 percent report having sex less often. 10 percent of singles feel more nervous or anxious during sex (9% of men, 12% of women, while 13% say they are more afraid of getting pregnant or getting someone else pregnant.) 13% of singles (14% of men and 12% of women) also report using condoms more often since the overturning.
22 percent of singles say abortion legislation will completely determine their vote (including 26% of women, 18% of men; 30% of Democrats, 20% of Republicans and Libertarians, 19% Independents, and 14% of singles with no political affiliation)
70 percent of singles say a candidate's view on abortion will have some impact on how they will vote
Overall, 60 percent of singles report being pro-choice, while 23 percent are pro-life/anti-abortion.
"American Singles are reckoning with the impact of Roe v Wade and abortion legislation on their lives, with these startling findings showing that legislation has entered people's bedrooms to alter behavior, comfort, pleasure, and the meaning of intimacy in today's relationships," Garcia said.
To see the full findings, including additional demographic breakdowns, visit: www.SinglesinAmerica.com.
About Singles in America
Singles in America (SIA) is funded by Match and conducted by Dynata in association with renowned anthropologist Dr. Helen Fisher and evolutionary biologist Dr. Justin Garcia of The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University. The 2023 study is based on the attitudes and behaviors taken from a demographically representative sample of 5,305 U.S. singles between the ages of 18 to 98. Generations are defined as: Gen Z (18-26), Millennials (27-42), Gen X (43-58), and Boomers (59+). Young singles are defined as the combination of Gen Z and Millennials. Singles in America remains the most comprehensive annual scientific survey of single Americans.
Please support The Ozona Stockman by subscribing today!
You may also like:

![“The Cinco de Mayo fiesta is a music fiesta [that] benefits Saint Ann,” Rachel Chavez-Duran said. / Photo by John Starkey](/rails/active_storage/representations/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBdHNDIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--c899f426962a15b232f6a7ee856415f0334ec1b2/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCem9MY21WemFYcGxTU0lOTVRBd2VERXdNRjRHT2daRlZEb1VZMjl0WW1sdVpWOXZjSFJwYjI1emV3YzZDMlY0ZEdWdWRFa2lEREV3TUhneE1EQUdPd1pVT2d4bmNtRjJhWFI1U1NJTFkyVnVkR1Z5QmpzR1ZBPT0iLCJleHAiOm51bGwsInB1ciI6InZhcmlhdGlvbiJ9fQ==--9a484fafb3c2f8f6474dd6f75b30ebd28b95a8fc/DSC09417.jpg)





