dated at least monthly
Unmarried adults ages 22–35
DATING RECESSION / SURVEY CHECK← Standards calculator
Is Gen Z dating less?
Read the sample first.
QUICK ANSWER31%dated monthly+See the source and definition ↓31%dated monthly+
of surveyed unmarried young adults dated once a month or more
2025 National Dating Landscape Survey of 5,275 U.S. adults ages 22–35; this age range spans Gen Z and younger Millennials.
THE ANSWER
What this answer includes.
One 2025 survey found that 31% of unmarried U.S. adults ages 22–35 went on dates at least monthly.
What this covers: The survey included 5,275 unmarried adults. It covers older Gen Z and younger Millennials. It does not cover all Gen Z adults.
What this does not show: The survey can describe reported dating activity. It cannot prove why dating activity was low or that one factor caused it.
Where the data comes from: State of Our Unions 2026. Institute for Family Studies report based on the 2025 National Dating Landscape Survey of 5,275 unmarried U.S. adults ages 22–35.
single but interested
Interested in starting a relationship
named money a barrier
58% of men; 46% of women
satisfied with options
39% were dissatisfied
DIRECT COMPARISON
Monthly dating and low activity by sex
| Survey measure | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Dated once a month or more | 26% | 36% |
| No dates or only a few in prior year | 74% | 64% |
| Money is a dating barrier | 46% | 58% |
National Dating Landscape Survey, 2025. Respondents were unmarried U.S. adults ages 22–35; these are survey estimates, not official record totals.
MORE DETAIL
How to read the answer.
What “dating less” means here
The survey asked how often people dated. Thirty-one percent reported dating once a month or more. Most men and women reported no dates or only a few in the prior year. The report uses the term dating recession because activity was low while interest in relationships remained.
This does not cover all of Gen Z
The National Dating Landscape Survey covers ages 22–35. It includes older Gen Z and younger Millennials. Bank of America’s separate ages 18–29 survey is fully Gen Z by its definition. It measures relationship status and spending, not annual date frequency.
Many people still want relationships
Fifty-one percent were single but interested in beginning a relationship. This gap between interest and activity is more useful than saying young adults do not want partners.
Money is one reported barrier
Fifty-two percent said not having enough money made dating difficult. The gender split was 58% of men and 46% of women. This is a reported obstacle. It does not prove that cost alone caused low dating activity.
Bad experiences may also matter
Only 28% said they stayed positive after a bad date or relationship setback, and 55% said breakups made them more reluctant. The survey asked people once. It cannot prove that breakups caused lower dating activity.
Zero spend is a different statistic
In Bank of America’s 2026 survey of 1,133 adults ages 18–29, 51% reported $0 in monthly romantic-date spending. Forty-five percent were single but not actively dating. These facts are consistent with lower activity. They should not be merged into one survey group.
SOURCES FOR THIS PAGE
Where this answer comes from.
- 01Read the original source ↗
State of Our Unions 2026
Institute for Family Studies report based on the 2025 National Dating Landscape Survey of 5,275 unmarried U.S. adults ages 22–35.
- 02Read the original source ↗
Better Money Habits 2026 Gen Z Report
Bank of America and Ipsos survey of 1,133 U.S. adults ages 18–29, fielded February 10–28, 2026.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Is Gen Z actually dating less?
Recent national surveys support a dating slowdown among young adults. In the 2025 National Dating Landscape Survey, only 31% of unmarried adults ages 22–35 dated at least monthly. The sample is not only Gen Z. The clearest conclusion is that young-adult dating activity is low.
What is the Gen Z dating recession?
It is a label for the gap between interest in relationships and actual dating activity. The report found that many young adults wanted relationships while fewer dated regularly.
What percentage of Gen Z is single?
Bank of America’s 2026 survey found that 56% of its ages 18–29 sample was single. This includes 45% who were single and not actively dating and 11% who were single and actively dating. It is one survey estimate, not an official Census relationship-status measure.
Why is Gen Z dating less?
The surveys report several barriers, including money, dissatisfaction with available options, and reluctance after bad experiences. They do not prove one cause or rank every possible explanation.
Are dating apps causing the decline?
These results do not show that. App behavior, offline social networks, economics, and personal experiences can overlap. The cited surveys asked people at one point in time, so they cannot separate the effect of dating apps.
How reliable are these statistics?
Both reports give their samples and methods. The National Dating Landscape Survey covered 5,275 unmarried adults ages 22–35. The Bank of America/Ipsos study covered 1,133 adults ages 18–29 and reported a plus-or-minus 3-point margin. Survey wording and group definitions still matter.
MORE ABOUT GEN Z DATING AND COST
Separate dating activity from dating spend.
These pages keep active dating, relationship interest, monthly spend, and financial pressure as separate survey measures.