9 Senior Dating Stats That Show It’s Tough Out There

Senior dating can be a complex topic to breach, but that doesn’t mean it has to feel like a Darren Aronofsky film. There’s a happy medium where realistic expectations come to reside, and we aim to find that meeting place in this article. 

Through these nine statistics, our goal is to paint a picture of the unique complexities experienced by seniors in the dating world—ones that can deter those in their golden years from seeking love or simply make the journey more challenging.

From grappling with dating technologies to beating social stereotypes, we’ve got a handful of baggage to unpack. Let’s get into it. 

A 2019 Stanford study claims that most people currently in relationships met through an online dating platform. This says a lot about general shifts in the dating landscape and isn’t exactly an accurate reflection of what dating looks like for all demographics, particularly those in the older age brackets. 

In fact, different pieces of research tell us that quite the opposite is true for older adults. 

According to a 2022 study conducted by the Pew Research Center, only 3% of single adults  50 or older actively use dating apps.

Moreover, out of the older population currently partnered, only 6% say they connected with their partner online. There are several potential reasons for this.

For many older adults, the internet didn’t become an integral part of society, let alone dating, until the latter half of their lives, perhaps when they were already in their first marriage. It would make sense that trying dating apps wasn’t on their to-do list. 

Thirty years — and, perhaps, a marriage or the death of a spouse – later, older adults may find themselves looking for love again in a completely changed dating scene.

Older adults likely aren’t familiar enough with the latest technologies to understand how swiping and online matches work.

This unfamiliarity is one reason 26% of older adults report never having tried online dating platforms. You can’t reap the benefits of a tool you don’t know how to use. 

Many people who get divorced in their 20s, 30s, or 40s successfully give love a second try because they still have the networks needed to find it. Unfortunately, the same can’t always be said for older seniors.

When you retire, your social circles shrink considerably, leaving you with fewer opportunities to connect with a love interest. This is one of the reasons why only 5% of American single seniors are currently dating someone. Smaller networks and a lack of technology know-how are a less-than-ideal combo in the 2024 dating scene. 

However, the outlook isn’t all grim for seniors. According to a study published by USC Schaffer, older people may have fewer social circles, but their relationships actually tend to be very close-knit.

Younger readers may be shocked to hear this, but young people were not the target demographic of the first batch of mainstream dating apps. Launched in 1995, Match.com (now just Match) was mainly used by working professionals, divorceés, and older adults. 

Apps such as Bumble, Hinge, and Tinder have since come onto the scene, but many older adults have chosen to stick with the apps they know. According to a Pew Research Center study, adults over 50 are five times more likely to use Match over Tinder (currently the most downloaded dating app in the world). 

This preference makes sense, considering that more than half of Tinder users are 35 or younger. You wouldn’t go shopping for flowers in an ice cream shop.

Based on the findings from an FBI report, ​​Americans lost $10.3 billion to internet scams in 2022, with $3.1 billion coming from the 60 and older demographic.

This is likely due to elderly people’s lack of experience with the internet and, therefore, lack of knowledge surrounding the warning signs of online scammers.

Scammers also tend to target lonely widows and divorcees who are desperate for human connection in their day-to-day lives.

Knowing that their chances of being duped are higher than the average dater’s, it makes sense why many older singles refrain from dabbling in digital dating. 

According to a 2022 Pew Research Center Study, people’s reasons for using dating apps are similar across generations.  

The primary reasons listed were: “to meet a long-term spouse or partner,” “to date casually,” “to have casual sex,” and “to find friends.” Approximately 30% of older online daters reported the latter being their primary reason. 

The prevalence of platonic relationship seekers on dating apps could mean more frustration for you as an older person attempting to sift through your options and find partners who align with your dating goals. On the other hand, it could also be an excellent opportunity for you to enjoy connecting with others for the sake of connecting. 

And who knows? Something romantic could always grow from any friendships you create. We all love a slow burn. 

The United States may be great at many things, but keeping our older adults safe and protected is not one of them. While some parts of the world have approximately 95% of their elderly citizens living with a partner or extended family, 27% of American seniors live alone.

Living alone can make it more challenging to succeed in dating. You’re more isolated from those you love and become increasingly comfortable in your space. 

Although this is healthy in some ways, it can make you more closed off to social and romantic experiences. 

As you age and your social circles tighten, these limitations become more significant, resulting in fewer opportunities to find love. 

In an attempt to understand how the nation’s recent economic climate has affected older adults, the American Advisors Group created a Modern Retirement Survey and distributed it among 1,500+ participants aged 60-75. Analyzing the responses made it clear that seniors, particularly unmarried seniors, are worried about money. 

This conclusion may not directly correlate with someone’s ability to find love in their later years, but it certainly sheds light on a couple of considerations. The stress of figuring out how to pay the bills could be so debilitating that an older adult doesn’t have the time, energy, or cash to join the dating game. 

However, a single senior’s desire to end their financial worries could also motivate them to return to the dating game (such as turning that single-income household into a double). 

You’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a million times: Marriage isn’t easy, and the data proves it.

In the United States, 43% of first marriages end in divorce, and the percentage only increases when you take a look at second (60%) and third (73%) marriages. 

Given these stats, it makes sense why a 2023 survey conducted by Match reveals that only 10% of single Baby Boomers are interested in taking that trip down the aisle a second time.

It could be that single seniors feel the odds are stacked against them, or they’ve got the “one and done” mentality when saying “I do.”

Finding love as a senior comes with some unique challenges compared to other demographics in the dating space, but that doesn’t mean you should throw in the towel just yet. 

There are plenty of safe and easily accessible platforms — such as Match, eharmony, Tinder, or even Ashley Madison — that have found hundreds of thousands of matches for singles similar to you. 

Many apps even have features tailored specifically to older adults’ needs and to keep them feeling safe and supported throughout their search.

The road toward romance in your golden years may be a long and winding one, but the key is to remember that you aren’t on the journey alone. Lean into the resources provided to you, keep the faith, and find community in those you may meet along the way.