The nation’s longest-running study of single adults finds Americans rethinking marriage, money, children and even AI in their search for a partner

The romantic outlook of single Americans is shifting in ways that defy easy labels. They want marriage more, date more selectively and are open to surprise, even as money, politics and AI reshape the search.

Those are among the findings of the 15th annual Singles in America survey, released by the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University. Funded by Match, the study has now polled more than 80,000 people across the United States, making it the country’s longest-running annual look at single adults. The 2026 edition surveyed roughly 5,000 single adults with 120 questions.

Singles Are Warming Up to Commitment

After years of drifting away from relationships, singles appear to be coming back around. The share who said they did not want a relationship peaked at 32% in 2021 and has since fallen to 24%. Meanwhile, 45% now say they hope to marry someday, up from 33% in 2010.

There is a catch. Both the ideal age for marriage and the ideal length of dating before tying the knot have climbed. And about 30% said they would be open to a long-term committed partnership without ever marrying.

Belief in love at first sight jumped from 41% in 2010 to 62% this year, and 47% say they have experienced it, compared with 30% in 2010. Yet the slow burn is thriving too: 49% say they have fallen for someone they were not initially attracted to, often thanks to great conversation, shared interests or a friendship that deepened.

Singles are also getting pickier. The share keeping a mental checklist for a long-term partner rose from 25% in 2021 to 34%.

Money Worries Shape the Search

The economy is pulling singles in two directions. More than half, 52%, said hard times made them more eager to find a partner, nearly double the 27% who said so in 2013. But more respondents now say they need to hit career or income milestones, build savings, pay down debt or buy a home before settling down.

Finances topped the list of daily stressors at 54%, and more money was the most popular answer, at 56%, when respondents were asked what would make them happier.

A Sharp Turn on Children and Caregiving

Only 38% of singles aged 18 to 49 said they want children, with men (42%) outpacing women (32%). Half cited financial stability as a key factor in deciding whether to become a parent, and many said money and the state of the world have pushed their timelines later.

Openness to alternative paths to parenthood has plunged. Willingness to consider IVF or other fertility treatments fell from 44% in 2017 to 18%, egg freezing from 33% to 17% and adoption from 53% to 27%.

Attitudes about gender roles are also shifting. Just over half, 51%, said women should be the primary caregivers for children, up from 34% in 2013. Among Gen Z men, that figure hit 70%, though 72% said it would be fine in their own relationship to be a stay-at-home parent.

Politics Becomes the New Dealbreaker

Singles, particularly men, have grown more open to partners with different views on religion, social issues and money. Since 2019, willingness to fall for someone with different religious beliefs rose from 43% to 57%.

Politics is the exception. Party labels, whether Republican, Democrat or Independent, have increasingly become reasons to rule someone out, especially among Gen Z.

What singles want most is stability. Trust topped the list of desired traits, and mutual respect, open communication and a sense of safety were named as the hallmarks of a healthy relationship. Dr. Amanda Gesselman, a senior research scientist and study co-lead, said traditional relationship milestones now matter less than the kind of person a partner is.

Ghosting’s Gentler Cousin and the Rise of AI

Rejection is getting quieter. Only about a third of singles would tell a date face-to-face or by text that they are not interested. Instead, many signal it by offering to split the check or trading a kiss for a hug. Yet 60% said they would prefer a direct, in-person message themselves.

Technology is also moving in. About 39% of singles have used AI in dating, including 67% of Gen Z but just 5% of boomers. Men were more likely than women to use it, 47% to 30%. Still, 34% consider AI-altered profile photos a dealbreaker, and 66% say AI could never replace human connection.

Find the full 2026 dataset with all the findings at https://news.iu.edu/kinseyinstitute/live/news/52787-15th-annual-singles-in-america-study-released

Source: EurekAlert!