How do people find love? | YouGov (2024)

Watercooler wooing and flings with friends of friends are the most common ways – but younger people are increasingly turning to dating apps

The office romance is a pop culture classic, riddled with awkward advances and sexual tension - think about Dawn and Tim’s longing looks in The Office or Mark and Sophie’s miserable marriage in Peep Show. In fact, YouGov research shows that nearly a fifth of Brits met their current or most recent partner at work.

If you’re still hopeful this cuffing season (winter officially ends on 20 March), another equally popular route to love is meeting through mutual friends (18%). More niche options include finding a partner through a shared hobby (5%) or through family (3%).

Speed dating and similar face to face events are unlikely to yield results. Less than 1% of people who have been in a relationship found their current or most recent partner this way.

Young people are less likely to ‘bump into’ the love of their lives

Countless love stories in films and TV shows start with an unexpected encounter in a bookshop or at a bar. It does happen in real life too: one in five people aged 50 to 64 met their partner by chance while out and about.

For younger generations, such encounters are increasingly rare. Only one in twenty people aged 20 to 29 met their partner at a bar or elsewhere by chance. So if no one is asking for your number on a night out - it’s not you, it’s just your generation.

Millennial love takes a more practical approach: swiping through digital photographs. Over a fifth of 25- to 34-year-olds met their partner online – 13% through dating apps and 9% websites such as OKCupid or Guardian Soulmates.

Dating websites are most popular with people who are slightly older. One in nine 40- to 44-year-olds (11%) met their partner on a website, while apps are somewhat more unusual at 7%.

How do people find love? | YouGov (2)

What’s the best place to look for a partner?

It depends on your age but most people still meet their partner offline - and it tends to happen where one spends a lot of time.

Young people aged 18 to 24 first spot their crushes at university (18%), school (18%) or with mutual friends (15%). In contrast, 45- to 54-year-olds meet tend to meet at work (22%), by chance (19%) or through friends (16%).

Older couples who, like Homer and Marge Simpson, met at school are rare. Only 4% of 45-to 54-year-olds met this way, while 3% found their current or most recent partner at university. These figures may change over time, as attending university is more common among younger people.

Keep an eye on our new trackers for the most recent numbers on how Brits meet their partners.

How do people find love? | YouGov (3)

How do people find love? | YouGov (2024)

FAQs

How do people find love? | YouGov? ›

More niche options include finding a partner through a shared hobby (5%) or through family (3%). Speed dating and similar face to face events are unlikely to yield results. Less than 1% of people who have been in a relationship found their current or most recent partner this way.

How do most people find love? ›

Research finds that the most successful couples meet through shared social networks or while pursuing a common interest, and couples with weaker social ties outside of each other may take longer to commit to marriage.

How do you actually find love? ›

Tips for finding true love
  1. Don't seek romance; look for partnership.
  2. Be yourself, always.
  3. Don't put too much pressure on yourself or the relationship.
  4. Take things slowly—don't rush into anything.
  5. Keep an open mind and communicate honestly with your partner.
  6. Spend time together doing something you both enjoy.
Feb 21, 2024

How do people find someone to love? ›

Sometimes, the best way to meet someone is to meet lots of new people. Creating an environment where you're always doing new things and coming across people with your interests can make it more likely that you end up finding a romantic connection with someone, and it can enhance your life more generally too.

Why is it so hard to find love? ›

Confidence and self-esteem play a vital role when it comes to love. However, many people are unable to find love because they don't think they're worthy of having it. These types of beliefs often have roots reaching as far back as early childhood and can have a huge impact on our lives.

Why do some people never find love? ›

You may be single because of things like low self-esteem, unresolved trauma, or settling. Put yourself out there and stay optimistic—when you position yourself to find and accept love, it's only a matter of time before it happens.

What if I never find love? ›

It can be challenging to cope when you can't find the love you so desire. It may be helpful to accept your desire for love, examine the root of your difficulties, discover new ways to meet people, consider your ideal healthy relationship, and work on yourself as you continue your journey.

Does everyone find love eventually? ›

Finding love is not necessarily rare, as many people around the world experience love and build meaningful relationships throughout their lives. Love is a fundamental and universal human experience, and it's something that most people desire and seek at some point.

Why is it so hard to meet someone? ›

Many people don't have the time or energy to put themselves out there and actively search for a partner. Another factor is that our culture has become increasingly individualistic. We place a high value on personal autonomy and self-sufficiency, making it difficult to form deep and meaningful connections with others.

What is the 12 date rule? ›

I have the 12 date rule … which, basically, says to wait 12 dates before having sex ... [Keep in mind] a date can be a phone or video call, or something in-person that's between 20 minutes and three hours. And you could have up to two dates in one day.

What age do most people find love? ›

And, according to the findings, the average age you'll find your partner varies from gender to gender. That's right - the research found that the average woman finds their life partner at the age of 25, while for men, they're more likely to find their soulmate at 28.

At what point do people fall in love? ›

The average time for men to fall in love is 88 days, while those same feelings of true love take women 134 days. Another dating site, Elite Singles, did a poll in 2017 and found that 61 per cent of women believe in love at first sight, while 72 per cent of men do. These surveys focused on heterosexual relationships.

How do normal people date? ›

Going public places and doing interactive things that align with both of your interests are normal. The overall goal is to have fun, and to see whether or not the person you are dating is 'your person' or not.

Why am I always single? ›

According to clinical psychologist Carla Marie Manly, Ph. D., sometimes people remain single longer than they might want to be because they simply haven't met the right person yet. "Despite the quest to be partnered, some people find that they can't find the right fit," she tells mbg.

Is it normal to not find love? ›

It's okay to want or not want whatever you like. It's your life; you get to choose how to live it. Many people are aromantic (not interested in love or romantic relationships), asexual (not interested in sex), or both.

Why is dating so hard for me? ›

Dating is so hard for many because of a loss of a sense of control. You may feel you are being judged, compared to others, and a little unsure of yourself. For some, it can feel like a massive mind game, and you even may start to wonder if your mind is playing tricks on you.

What is the most common way people fall in love? ›

According to Hani Henry, chair and associate professor of psychology in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology and Egyptology at AUC, Robert Sternberg's psychological theory covers the most common reasons why we fall in love, namely: intimacy, passion and commitment.

What is the most common age to find love? ›

And, according to the findings, the average age you'll find your partner varies from gender to gender. That's right - the research found that the average woman finds their life partner at the age of 25, while for men, they're more likely to find their soulmate at 28.

Do most people find love eventually? ›

Finding love is not necessarily rare, as many people around the world experience love and build meaningful relationships throughout their lives. Love is a fundamental and universal human experience, and it's something that most people desire and seek at some point.

Where do most people find their love of their life? ›

There are several places (and during different life stages) where you can meet your future spouse, from your teenage years to your adult years. Some of the top places that engaged couples met were at school, work, via online dating, and through friends.

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