Essential Statistics on Dating Preferences Among Millennials and Generation Z
In the ever-evolving world of dating, the latest trends and statistics for online dating among Millennials and Gen Z in 2022 paint a nuanced picture.
Millennials continue to dominate the online dating scene, accounting for around 40-52% of users, with Gen Z making up approximately 22-37%. However, Gen Z is showing growing skepticism and fatigue towards dating apps, with more than 75% of users expressing feelings of burnout, according to surveys.
While Millennials invest an average of 50 minutes daily on dating apps, Gen Zers are less enthusiastic. Only about 23% of Gen Z adults have reported meeting their partners through online means, preferring in-person meetings instead.
Despite this, dating apps are attempting to innovate using AI, introducing features such as AI-powered profile prompts and conversation starters. However, these AI features have not significantly impressed Gen Z, with roughly half of surveyed users saying they have no impact on their experience.
Economic indicators from 2024-2025 suggest some decline in dating app revenue and paid usership, as seen in Match Group’s reduced profits and a 5% decline in paid users year-over-year. The CEO acknowledges that the traditional swipe-and-judge model feels outdated and alienating to younger users, prompting attempts to introduce friend-pairing and more casual meeting features aligned with Gen Z preferences.
The average millennial woman gets married at 28 and man at 30, while Gen Z believes the average age they'll get married will be 27. Interestingly, Gen Z is having less casual sex than previous generations.
More than half of Gen Z and Millennials believe you can fall in love over a video date, and 28% of Gen Z daters are willing to spend at least $100 on the first date. Gen Z are 18% more likely than millennials to wait for a match to ask them out, and almost three-quarters (74%) of Gen Z daters say they wouldn't match with someone who holds different views on green issues to them.
Attitudes to cheating and open relationships are more liberal than before, and 72% of millennials make a conscious decision to be single. Three-quarters of millennials and Gen Z think people who date should split the costs, at least sometimes.
The majority of Gen Z daters believe in splitting the costs of dating, and 7 in 10 millennial and Gen Z OkCupid users say it's important to match with people who care about the LGBTQ+ community.
These insights show that while online dating remains widely used by Millennials, Gen Z favors authentic, low-pressure connections often outside digital platforms. The dating app industry is challenged to adapt to these shifting expectations through new technologies and social experiences.
- The dating app industry is attempting to innovate with AI, introducing features like AI-powered profile prompts and conversation starters, aiming to appeal to the preferences of younger generations.
- Despite the growing popularity of art as a form of self-expression and therapy, finance and general news are still primary concerns for most adults, shaping their lifestyle choices and financial decisions.
- Millennials and Gen Z are increasingly showing interest in education-and-self-development, with a growing number of students pursuing degrees in fields like technology and environmental science.
- In the world of sports, weather conditions can significantly impact the outcome of games, especially outdoor competitions such as golf tournaments and soccer matches.
