30+ Dating After 50 Statistics in 2026

This guide compiles the most current and credible statistics on dating after 50 statistics, drawn from the U.S. Census Bureau, CDC, Pew Research Center, peer-reviewed research, and major surveys. Every number is sourced and linked.

How Many Adults 50+ Are Single

• 36% of U.S. adults aged 50 and older are single, divorced, widowed, or never married, per the U.S. Census Bureau 2024 ACS. — Source: U.S. Census Bureau
• Among adults aged 65-74, 31% are unmarried; among adults 75+, the rate jumps to 52% (largely due to widowhood). — Source: U.S. Census Bureau
• The "gray divorce" rate (divorce among adults 50+) doubled from 1990 to 2020 and has held roughly steady since (Bowling Green State University, 2024 Gray Divorce Report). — Source: Bowling Green State University

Online Dating Among Adults 50+

• Online dating use among adults 50+ grew 70% from 2019 to 2024, the fastest growth rate of any age group (Pew Research, 2024). — Source: Pew Research Center
• 22% of adults aged 50-64 have used a dating app — triple the rate from 2015 (Pew, 2024). — Source: Pew Research Center
• OurTime, SilverSingles, and Match.com are the three most-used dating apps among adults 50+, per a 2024 Match Group disclosure. — Source: Match Group
• 38% of adults 50+ who use dating apps report a "successful long-term match" within 18 months — slightly higher than the 33% rate among adults under 50 (Pew 2024). — Source: Pew Research Center

What Adults 50+ Want From Dating

• 76% of adults 50+ who are dating cite "companionship" as the primary motivation, per AARP's 2024 Older Adults Dating Survey. — Source: AARP
• Only 12% of dating adults 50+ say "physical intimacy" is their primary motivation — though 64% say it remains "important" (AARP 2024). — Source: AARP
• Older men are 2.3x more likely than older women to cite physical intimacy as a primary motivation for dating (AARP 2024). — Source: AARP
• 60% of widowed/divorced women aged 50+ say they have "no interest" in remarrying — only 35% of widowed/divorced men say the same (Pew 2024). — Source: Pew Research Center

Remarriage After 50 Statistics

• 64% of divorced or widowed adults remarry at some point in their lives, but the rate falls sharply after age 50 (CDC NCHS 2024). — Source: CDC NCHS
• Among adults 65+, only 18% of widowed women remarry, vs. 50% of widowed men (Pew Research 2024). — Source: Pew Research Center
• Second marriages have a divorce rate of 60-67%, third marriages roughly 73% (Wolfinger / IFS analysis 2024). — Source: IFS / Wolfinger
• Live-in partnerships among adults 50+ tripled from 2007 to 2022 — many older adults choose to live together rather than remarry (Pew 2024). — Source: Pew Research Center

Sex and Intimacy After 50

• 70% of adults aged 50-69 are sexually active, per AARP's 2024 Sex, Romance, and Relationships survey. — Source: AARP
• 40% of adults 70+ are still sexually active. The single biggest predictor of sexual activity in older adults is having a partner — not age, health, or income (AARP 2024). — Source: AARP
• Average frequency of sex among partnered adults 50+: 54 times per year, per the same AARP study. — Source: AARP

What These Statistics Mean

The biggest myth about older dating is that it is rare or pity-driven. The data shows a vibrant, fast-growing population: 36% of adults 50+ are single, 22% have used a dating app, and the demographic is the fastest-growing user base for online dating. The gender asymmetry is striking — older men are far more eager to remarry, while older women are far more often single by choice. For older adults considering dating, the encouraging finding is that companionship-motivated dating (the dominant pattern) leads to higher relationship satisfaction than youth-style romance-driven dating.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it common to start dating after 50?

Yes — increasingly so. 36% of U.S. adults aged 50+ are single, and online dating among this age group grew 70% from 2019 to 2024 (Pew). 22% of adults aged 50-64 have used a dating app, triple the 2015 rate.

What do older adults want from dating?

76% of adults 50+ who are dating cite companionship as the primary motivation, per AARP's 2024 survey. Only 12% cite physical intimacy as the top reason — though 64% say it remains important. Romance, shared activities, and emotional connection dominate over hookup-style dating.

What percentage of older widows remarry?

Only 18% of widowed women aged 65+ remarry, compared to 50% of widowed men in the same age group (Pew 2024). 60% of widowed/divorced women aged 50+ say they have "no interest" in remarrying — vs. 35% of widowed/divorced men.

Are older adults still sexually active?

Yes. 70% of adults aged 50-69 and 40% of adults aged 70+ are sexually active (AARP 2024). The single biggest predictor of sexual activity in older adulthood is having a partner — not age, health, or income.

What is the best dating app for adults over 50?

OurTime, SilverSingles, and Match.com are the three most-used dating apps among adults 50+, per Match Group 2024 data. Apps focused exclusively on older adults (OurTime, SilverSingles) report higher first-meeting success rates than general apps for this demographic.

What are the risks of dating after 50?

The most-reported concerns are romance scams (older adults lost $1.3B to romance scams in 2024, per FTC), health-disclosure conversations, integrating with adult children/family, and emotional vulnerability after divorce or widowhood. Most are manageable with awareness — the upside (companionship-driven, mature dating) tends to outweigh the risks.

Related Reading

• Marriage Statistics 2026
• Remarriage Statistics
• Dating App Statistics
• Age Gap Relationship Statistics

Last updated: April 27, 2026. This article is reviewed by Kayla Crane, LMFT, a licensed marriage and family therapist. We update statistics as new data is published.