As a dating expert and Digital Matchmaker immersed in the history of online dating, I’ve been following the data from an ongoing Stanford University study with a close digital eye, and the numbers don’t lie.
The latest report found that more than half of couples now meet online, with only 15% meeting through friends. Let that sink in.
The “How Couples Meet and Stay Together” (HCMST), conducted by Stanford University and the University of New Mexico, has been analyzing relationship trends since 1950.
It rolled in computer dating in 1980, which has now evolved into your everyday friendly mobile dating apps, including Bumble, Hinge, OkCupid, PlentyofFish, Tinder, and eHarmony, all taking up prime digital real estate on mobile phones worldwide.
RELATED: Finding love on the run: The fast rise of mobile dating apps
The latest graph from the year 2021 shows the dramatic rise in online dating noted in red with a sharp arrow pointing upward.
Graph courtesy of Michael J. Rosenfeld and the How Couples Meet and Stay Together project.
The most accurate data from 2021 reflects:
- 53% of couples meet online
- 20% meet at a bar or restaurant
- 15% meet through friends
For comparison, in 2017:
- 39% of couples meet online
- 27% of couples meet in bars or restaurants
- 20% of couples met through friends
RELATED: The Digital Matchmaker Guide to Finding Love on Dating Apps
The trend is clear: online dating isn’t just the future or the past. Despite the occasional bout of dating swipe fatigue, having an online strategy is essential for singles looking for love.
So, if your friends offer to set you up, go for it. But remember, nearly three times as many couples are meeting online—and in 2025, it’s estimated that almost 62 million singles in the U.S. will be using dating apps.
My advice? Dive in, all ten toes.
Julie Spira is the Digital Matchmaker® and America’s Top Online Dating Expert. She’s an award-winning certified dating coach who’s been helping singles find their perfect match for over three decades. Follow @JulieSpira on IG and @digitalmatchmaker on TikTok.
