Dating after 50: the statistics

29%

of adults aged 50–59 are single in 2022 — neither married nor cohabiting. Among Black adults 50–59 it is about 50%. Singleness then climbs with every decade past 60.

NCFMR analysis of 2022 Current Population Survey via IPUMS; “single” = not married and not cohabiting.

40%

of all U.S. adults 50 and older were unmarried in 2020 — up from 34% a century earlier.

NCFMR analysis of Decennial Census (1900–1990) and ACS (2000–2020) via IPUMS.

15.2%

of U.S. adults 65+ were divorced in 2022 — nearly triple the 5.2% of 1990. Over the same period widowhood fell from 35.3% to 20.9%.

NCFMR analysis of IPUMS Census (1990/2000) and ACS (2006–2022).

2×

Among married adults 50+, the divorce rate roughly doubled from 1990 to 2015 (10 per 1,000 married people, up from 5). For those 65+ it roughly tripled.

Pew analysis of National Center for Health Statistics and American Community Survey data.

4M

adults 50+ were cohabiting with a partner in 2016, up 75% from 2.3M in 2007 — the fastest rise of any age group.

Pew analysis of Current Population Survey data.

50%

of previously married adults 65+ who could remarry had done so by 2013 — up from 34% in 1960.

Pew analysis of Census and American Community Survey data.

17%

of Americans 50+ have ever used a dating site or app — 20% of those 50–64 and 13% of those 65+.

Pew survey of U.S. adults; online-dating module fielded July 2022 (n≈6,034).

57% / 38%

Women 50+ are far more likely than men to call online dating a negative experience (57% vs 38%). Overall, older daters split 53% positive / 46% negative.

Same 2023 Pew online-dating survey.

49%

of online daters 50+ are looking for a long-term partner or spouse; 30% to make friends, 26% to date casually, 22% for casual sex.

Same 2023 Pew survey.

50% vs 11%

Daters 50+ are about five times more likely to use Match than Tinder (50% vs 11%) — the age group behaves very differently from under-50s.

Same 2023 Pew survey.

45% / 34%

Only 45% of adults 50–64 and 34% of those 65+ think dating apps are a safe way to meet people, versus 56% of adults under 50.

Same 2023 Pew survey.

37%

of adults 50–80 reported a lack of companionship in 2023, and 34% felt isolated from others — down from pandemic peaks but still above pre-2020 levels.

Nationally representative survey by NORC at U. Chicago, Jan 2023, n=2,563 adults 50–80.

40%

of adults 65–80 are sexually active. Among the 73% who have a romantic partner, 54% are sexually active.

Nationally representative online survey, Oct 2017, n=1,002 adults 65–80.

73%

of adults 65–80 are satisfied with their sex life, and about 65% remain interested in sex — intimacy does not retire on schedule.

Same NPHA poll (n=1,002).

51% vs 31%

A sharp gender gap at 65–80: 51% of men are sexually active vs 31% of women, and 50% of men vs 12% of women are extremely or very interested in sex.

Same NPHA poll (n=1,002).

17%

of adults 65–80 had talked with a doctor about sexual health in the past two years — though 62% would if a concern came up.

Same NPHA poll (n=1,002).

64 / 23 / 13

In U.S. opposite-sex marriages the husband is older in 64% of couples, the wife older in 23%, and both are the same age in 13%. The average spousal age gap has narrowed to 2.2 years (from 4.9 in 1880).

Pew analysis of 2022 ACS data.