

adults (31%) say they are single – that is, not married, living with a partner or in a committed romantic relationship – that share varies widely across demographic groups. Share of adults who are single varies by race, age, education and sexual orientation But meeting online is common among younger adults and those who are lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB). This group includes singles of all ages and most of them are open to a relationship if one comes along.Īmong those who are married or in a relationship, meeting through friends or family is the most popular way to have met their partner. In particular, daters younger than age 40 are less likely than older daters to be looking for only casual dates.Ī small share of singles report that they are, in fact, currently casually dating someone. Of the half who are not looking for a relationship or dates at the moment, having more important priorities and enjoying being single are their top reasons why they are not looking to date.įor those who are on the dating market, about half are open to either a relationship or casual dates, and relatively few are looking only for something casual.

That said, it may say a lot about what you valued, what you hoped for, and the people you surrounded yourself with.Many single adults in the U.S. "Currently there is no research to indicate that personality in particular has much to do with the age people have their first real relationship," Dr. People start dating at different ages for all sorts of reasons, both personal and external. As Womble says, "Many times people who wait longer to get into relationship develop high (sometimes unrealistic) expectations of romance or have a lot of fear around being vulnerable, so they’ve put off getting into a relationship."īut, of course, this isn't true for everyone.

Waiting until this age can also make dating a bit more difficult, as many people begin to create an idealized version of love in their head. You may have chosen to focus on school, or your career, and never found any time to date as a result. "Some wait to get into relationship because they’re afraid of how it will negatively impact their independence," Womble says. If you had your first relationship when you were well into your 20s, it may indicate you were more cautious and protective of your time and space. Here's what it all might mean, according to experts. Thirteen to 17 are the teen years, 18 to 24 are the college years or when a person might kick off their career, and 25 to 30 (plus) are the young adult years. If you're looking for a relationship, put yourself out there, and meet the right person, it can happen at any age - whether you're 18, 25, or beyond.īelow, ages have been broken down into brackets based on common experience. "There’s no right time to get into your first relationship," relationship expert Lily Womble, founder of Date Brazen, tells Bustle. But the thing to keep in mind is it doesn't really matter. It is interesting to think about why some folks have relationships while they're younger, while others take more time. "Our personality is not truly formed until adulthood, and even then, can change as the years pass and we have more life experiences." "Our age during the first romantic relationship appears to be more dependent upon the quality and length of our relationships with our friends during our teenage years than personality factors," licensed psychologist Dr. Or, at the very least, about the factors that were going on around you. How old were you during your first relationship? Whether it was a hand-holding middle school love, a head-over-heels college moment, or a let's-move-in-together-right-now thing in your late 20s, the age when you first started dating can say a lot about you.
