dated at least monthly
Unmarried adults ages 22–35
DATING RECESSION / SURVEY CHECK← Main calculator
Is Gen Z dating less?
Yes—but read the sample.
A 2025 national survey of unmarried adults ages 22–35 found only 31% went on dates at least monthly. That is strong evidence of a young-adult dating slowdown, but it is not a Census count and the sample spans older Gen Z and younger Millennials.
SEE THE EVIDENCE↓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.
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 administrative counts.
THE SHORT ANSWER
What the number can—and cannot—say.
What “dating less” means here
The strongest direct measure is frequency: 31% reported dating once a month or more, while most men and women reported no dates or only a few in the prior year. The report calls this a dating recession because low activity coexists with substantial interest in relationships.
This is not an all-Gen-Z estimate
The National Dating Landscape Survey covers ages 22–35, so it includes older Gen Z and younger Millennials. Bank of America’s separate ages 18–29 survey is fully Gen Z by its definition, but measures relationship status and spending rather than annual date frequency.
Interest is not the missing ingredient
Fifty-one percent were single but interested in beginning a relationship. That gap between intent and activity is more informative than saying young adults simply do not want partners.
Money is one documented barrier
Fifty-two percent said not having enough money made dating difficult. The gender split was 58% of men and 46% of women. That is a reported obstacle—not proof that cost alone caused low dating activity.
Bad experiences can compound the slowdown
Only 28% said they stayed positive after a bad date or relationship setback, and 55% said breakups made them more reluctant. The survey identifies a plausible feedback loop, but a cross-sectional survey cannot establish causality.
Zero spend is a related, different statistic
In Bank of America’s 2026 survey of 1,133 adults ages 18–29, 51% reported $0 in monthly romantic-date spending and 45% were single but not actively dating. Those facts are consistent with lower activity but should not be merged into one denominator.
SOURCE RECEIPTS
Open the evidence yourself.
- 01Primary 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.
- 02Primary 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 FOLLOW-UPS
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 exclusively Gen Z, so the most precise conclusion is that young-adult dating activity is low.
What is the Gen Z dating recession?
It is a label for the gap between relationship interest and actual dating activity. The report found many young adults wanted relationships while comparatively few were dating regularly.
What percentage of Gen Z is single?
Bank of America’s 2026 survey found 56% of its ages 18–29 sample was single: 45% single and not actively dating plus 11% single and actively dating. That is one survey estimate, not an official Census relationship-status measure.
Why is Gen Z dating less?
The surveys document several reported barriers, including money, dissatisfaction with available options, and reluctance after bad experiences. They do not prove a single cause or rank every possible explanation.
Are dating apps causing the decline?
These results do not establish that. App behavior, offline social networks, economics, and personal experiences can overlap, but the cited cross-sectional surveys cannot isolate a causal effect of apps.
How reliable are these statistics?
Both reports disclose 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 with a reported plus-or-minus 3-point margin. Survey wording and population definitions still matter.
POPULAR QUESTIONS
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