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The State of Online Dating 2026

New Zealand and the World

Findings from the DatingScout research survey, which continuously asks visitors of our websites worldwide about their dating lives. All figures are free to use with a link to this page.

Country vs country
vs.
Share this study
The online dating industry in numbers
13.67 billion NZD
combined annual revenue of 72 companies
5.81 billion NZD
Match Group, the biggest company
3.1 billion NZD
Tinder, the biggest single service
55%
earned by companies from USA
Full online dating industry market analysis →

Findings worth a headline

  • New Zealand

    40.8% of online daters in New Zealand want a long-term relationship in 2026; Hungary leads worldwide with 69.7%, Singapore is lowest at 31.6%.

  • New Zealand

    22.8% of people looking for a dating site in New Zealand in 2026 are not single (married, in a relationship or “it’s complicated”); worldwide it peaks at 37.6% in Italy and is lowest at 15.3% in France.

  • New Zealand

    19.5% of online daters in New Zealand want casual dating in 2026, 40.8% a long-term relationship; casual outranks long-term only in Italy (32.5% vs 32.4%); Spain (38.8% vs 36.6%).

  • World

    62% of online daters in 2026 have never met a match in person; 38% have met at least one person and 4.7% say a relationship came out of online dating.

  • World

    17.3% of women aged 18 to 29 looking for a dating site in 2026 name sugar dating as their goal, compared with 1.2% of women aged 45 and older.

  • New Zealand

    30.7% of people looking for a dating site in New Zealand in 2026 are women and 69.3% are men; worldwide the most women are found in Hungary (45.4%), the fewest in Spain (19.7%).

  • World

    13.67 billion NZD is the combined annual revenue of the 72 companies behind the dating services DatingScout reviews; Match Group alone earns 43% of it.

What singles search online

Relationship goals
Long-term relationships
40.8%
–
Casual relationships
19.5%
–
Flirting and fun dates
11.8%
–
Exploring my options
13.9%
–
Swinging & Open Relationships
4.9%
–
BDSM & Fetish dating
3.7%
–
Sugar Dating
5.4%
–
Polyamorous relationships
0%
–
Share who want a long-term relationship, by country
Hungary
69.7%
Denmark
65.9%
Sweden
59.2%
Brazil
51.9%
Finland
51.4%
Austria
46.8%
France
46.7%
Switzerland
46.1%
Germany
44.3%
New Zealand
40.8%
UK
39.5%
USA
38.3%
Spain
36.6%
Netherlands
35.7%
Australia
34.9%
Hong Kong
34.5%
Italy
32.4%
Singapore
31.6%

Italy and Spain are the editions where casual outranks long-term (32.5% vs 32.4%, 38.8% vs 36.6%). In Brazil, Denmark, Finland, Hungary and Sweden more than half of all online daters want commitment.

DatingScout, The State of Online Dating 2026

Cheating? Not everyone searching is single

Relationship status
Single: 77.2%Married: 10.1%It’s Complicated: 7.8%In a Relationship: 4.9%
New Zealand
Single: –Married: –It’s Complicated: –In a Relationship: –
Single77.2%–
Married10.1%–
It’s Complicated7.8%–
In a Relationship4.9%–
22.8%New Zealand
of online daters say they are not single: married, in a relationship, or “it’s complicated”.
Share of online daters who already have a partner, by country
Italy
37.6%
Switzerland
33.5%
Germany
31.2%
Netherlands
29.6%
Singapore
29.6%
Austria
28.8%
Australia
27.2%
Hong Kong
26.3%
UK
26%
Spain
23%
New Zealand
22.8%
USA
21.8%
Finland
21.4%
Brazil
20.8%
Sweden
19.1%
Denmark
18.2%
Hungary
17%
France
15.3%

Italy (37.6%) has the most attached searchers, followed by Switzerland 33.5% and Germany 31.2%. France is the outlier at 15.3%.

DatingScout, The State of Online Dating 2026

Countries compared: where commitment is the norm

Want a long-term relationship
40.8%New Zealand
38.3%USA
Want casual dating
19.5%New Zealand
21.1%USA
Men / women ratio
MenWomen
New Zealand
69%
31%
USA
70%
30%
Average age
44.5New Zealand
39.5USA
Not single
22.8%New Zealand
21.8%USA
All countries
Rank by
Country Long-term Casual dating Men / women Avg. age Not single
Hungary 69.7% 17.9% 55 / 45 45.8 17%
Denmark 65.9% 18.9% 58 / 42 50.1 18.2%
Sweden 59.2% 15.7% 59 / 41 49.5 19.1%
Brazil 51.9% 24.8% 57 / 43 43.6 20.8%
Finland 51.4% 22.1% 76 / 24 47.7 21.4%
Austria 46.8% 24.3% 75 / 25 45.5 28.8%
France 46.7% 35% 70 / 30 41.1 15.3%
Switzerland 46.1% 24.6% 74 / 27 46.8 33.5%
Germany 44.3% 23.9% 76 / 24 46.2 31.2%
New Zealand 40.8% 19.5% 69 / 31 44.5 22.8%
UK 39.5% 22.7% 72 / 28 44.6 26%
USA 38.3% 21.1% 70 / 30 39.5 21.8%
Spain 36.6% 38.8% 80 / 20 42.6 23%
Netherlands 35.7% 18.8% 79 / 22 47.4 29.6%
Australia 34.9% 28.2% 77 / 23 45.8 27.2%
Hong Kong 34.5% 20.5% 75 / 25 37.2 26.3%
Italy 32.4% 32.5% 77 / 23 47 37.6%
Singapore 31.6% 22.9% 73 / 27 35.6 29.6%

Does online dating actually work?

People met in person via online dating
Nobody yet
–
–
1 to 3 people
–
–
4 to 10 people
–
–
More than 10 people
–
–
A relationship came out of it
–
–
Reading the numbers
5 in 8
say the conversation stays chat only: they have never met an online match in person.
38%
have met at least one person; 4.9% have met more than ten.
4.7%
say a relationship came out of it, roughly one in 8 of those who met someone.

Sugar dating, swinging & BDSM: who wants what

Swinging & Open Relationships
4.9%New Zealand–
BDSM & Fetish dating
3.7%New Zealand–
Sugar Dating
5.4%New Zealand–
Polyamorous relationships
0%New Zealand–
Men vs. women: New Zealand
MenWomen
Swinging & Open Relationships
5.2%
4.1%
men 1.3× as often
BDSM & Fetish dating
4.3%
2.2%
men 2× as often
Sugar Dating
4%
8.6%
women 2.2× as often
Polyamorous relationships
0%
0%
equal

17.3% of women aged 18-29 name sugar dating as their goal, among women 45 and older it is just 1.2%.

DatingScout, The State of Online Dating 2026

What rules someone out instantly

Deal-breakers
Uses drugs
–
–
Drinks too much
–
–
Has high debt
–
–
Is significantly overweight
–
–
Smokes regularly
–
–
Wants an open relationship
–
–
Has an OnlyFans account
–
–
Still lives with parents
–
–
Spends hours a day on social media
–
–
Is unemployed
–
–
Cheated in a past relationship
–
–
Has had many sexual partners
–
–
None of these
–
–
Is too short for me
–
–
Goes to therapy
–
–
Has opposite political views
–
–
Already has children
–
–
Doesn’t want children
–
–
Has a different religion
–
–

Asked what rules a match out instantly, only 14.3% say none of these applies. The top deal-breaker, “Uses drugs”, is named by 51.2%, 7 times as often as “Has a different religion” (7.2%).

DatingScout, The State of Online Dating 2026

Would you date someone who…

Men vs. women: yes or no: World
YesNo
Would you be in a relationship with someone who publishes erotic content on OnlyFans? World
Men
54.8%
45.2%
Women
28.6%
71.4%
Could you imagine an open relationship? World
Men
55.2%
44.8%
Women
41%
59%
Would you date someone who cheated in a previous relationship? World
Men
73.3%
26.7%
Women
57%
43%
Would you date someone who smokes regularly? World
Men
67.1%
32.9%
Women
47.7%
52.3%
Would you date someone who is currently unemployed? World
Men
81.1%
18.9%
Women
44.1%
55.9%
Would you date someone who earns much less than you? World
Men
91%
9%
Women
63.8%
36.2%
Would you date someone with completely different political views? World
Men
81.1%
18.9%
Women
68.4%
31.6%
Would you date someone who uses AI to write their dating messages? World
Men
45.4%
54.6%
Women
37.8%
62.2%
Would you date someone who has children from a previous relationship? World
Men
71.5%
28.5%
Women
72.3%
27.7%
New Zealand: not enough answers yet, the world is shown
Does it matter to you how many people your partner has slept with?
World
Men
65%
9.8%
20.3%
Women
42.7%
11.5%
39.6%
  • No, not at all65%42.7%
  • Yes, I prefer little sexual experience9.8%6.3%
  • Yes, a high number would rule them out4.9%11.5%
  • I don’t want to know the number20.3%39.6%
New Zealand: not enough answers yet, the world is shown
How much older or younger may your partner be?
World
Men
26.2%
21.7%
15.2%
36.9%
Women
34%
28.2%
31.1%
  • About my age (up to 5 years)26.2%34%
  • Up to 10 years older or younger21.7%28.2%
  • More than 10 years is fine15.2%6.8%
  • Age doesn’t matter36.9%31.1%
New Zealand: not enough answers yet, the world is shown
Do you want to get married one day?
World
Men
22.3%
32.3%
29.7%
15.7%
Women
34.7%
37.6%
13.9%
13.9%
  • Yes, definitely22.3%34.7%
  • Maybe, with the right person32.3%37.6%
  • No, marriage isn’t for me29.7%13.9%
  • I don’t care either way15.7%13.9%
New Zealand: not enough answers yet, the world is shown
Who should pay on the first date?
World
Men
19.4%
43%
33.3%
Women
21.4%
24.5%
49%
  • Whoever asked for the date19.4%21.4%
  • The man43%24.5%
  • Split the bill33.3%49%
  • Whoever earns more4.2%5.1%
New Zealand: not enough answers yet, the world is shown
How tall should your partner be at least?
World
Men
59.5%
19.8%
9.1%
Women
25.5%
23.6%
19.8%
12.3%
8.5%
  • Height doesn’t matter59.5%25.5%
  • At least 160 cm19.8%7.5%
  • At least 170 cm9.1%23.6%
  • At least 175 cm5.8%19.8%
  • At least 180 cm2.5%12.3%
  • At least 185 cm1.2%8.5%
  • At least 190 cm2.1%2.8%
New Zealand: not enough answers yet, the world is shown
And how tall are you?
World
Men
10.3%
12.4%
39.7%
30.2%
Women
17.9%
41.5%
34%
  • Under 160 cm10.3%17.9%
  • 160 to 169 cm12.4%41.5%
  • 170 to 179 cm39.7%34%
  • 180 to 189 cm30.2%2.8%
  • 190 cm or more7.4%3.8%
New Zealand: not enough answers yet, the world is shown

What they want in a partner

Most-wanted personality traits
Sense of humor
60.3%
–
Open-minded
52.6%
–
Compassionate
50.4%
–
Verified profile
37.4%
–
Loves traveling
32.2%
–
Enjoys cooking
30.2%
–
Into music/musician
26.2%
–
Homeowner
27.2%
–
Family-oriented
26.4%
–
Enjoys reading
20.8%
–
Most-wanted physical traits
Long hair
30.9%
–
Slim build
33.1%
–
Doesn’t matter
35.6%
–
Athletic build
32.8%
–
Curvy
26.6%
–
Short hair
28.9%
–
Tall
30.3%
–
Clean-shaven
20.2%
–
Short
12.6%
–
Tattoos
13.7%
–
Where men and women differ most in what they want in a partner: New Zealand
MenWomen

Share of men and of women who want this trait in a partner, sorted by the gap in percentage points.

Partner: Homeowner
19.4%
43.7%
Partner: Family-oriented
19.9%
40.5%
Partner: Verified profile
31.3%
51.8%
Partner: Enjoys reading
14.9%
33.3%
Partner: Loves traveling
26.3%
44.1%
Partner: Sense of humor
54.9%
72.5%
Partner: Compassionate
44.9%
61.7%
Partner: Enjoys cooking
26.1%
38.7%

Who’s actually dating online

69.3%New Zealand
men
30.7%New Zealand
women
45New Zealand
years old on average
34.6%New Zealand
Millennials, the largest generation
Age
11.2%
–
20.1%
–
16.4%
–
23.4%
–
18.4%
–
10.5%
–
18-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
65+
Generation
Gen Z
21.1%
–
Millennials
30.3%
–
Gen X
34.1%
–
Baby Boomers
14.5%
–
Men / women, by country
Hungary
55 / 45
Brazil
57 / 43
Denmark
58 / 42
Sweden
59 / 41
New Zealand
69 / 31
France
70 / 30
USA
70 / 30
UK
72 / 28
Singapore
73 / 27
Switzerland
74 / 27
Austria
75 / 25
Hong Kong
75 / 25
Finland
76 / 24
Germany
76 / 24
Italy
77 / 23
Australia
77 / 23
Netherlands
79 / 22
Spain
80 / 20
MenWomen

69.3% men, 30.7% women among the online daters in New Zealand in 2026; Hungary has the most balanced pool at 55 / 45, Spain the most male-heavy at 80 / 20.

DatingScout, The State of Online Dating 2026
Average age, by country
Denmark
50
Sweden
50
Finland
48
Netherlands
47
Italy
47
Switzerland
47
Germany
46
Australia
46
Hungary
46
Austria
46
UK
45
New Zealand
45
Brazil
44
Spain
43
France
41
USA
40
Hong Kong
37
Singapore
36

Hungary (45.4%) is closest to gender parity, followed by Brazil 43.3% and Denmark 41.6%. Singapore has the youngest respondents at 35.6 years on average, Denmark the oldest at 50.1.

DatingScout, The State of Online Dating 2026

Children: have them, want them?

Children
I have children, no more planned
–
–
No children, and I don’t want any
–
–
No children, and I want them
–
–
Undecided
–
–
I have children and want more
–
–

38.7% already have children; 27% want children or more of them. 23.6% are decided against.

DatingScout, The State of Online Dating 2026

Education, work & background

Education
College Graduate/Bachelor’s Degree
32%
–
Postgraduate (Master’s or PhD)
13.6%
–
High School Graduate
18%
–
Some College
12.7%
–
Vocational/Technical Training
11.1%
–
Other
12.7%
–
Work status
Full-time Employee
50.1%
–
Part-time Employee
11.4%
–
Unemployed
13.1%
–
Entrepreneur
11.5%
–
Freelancer
12.1%
–
Retired
1.7%
–
Ethnicity
White
64.6%
–
Asian
7.8%
–
Mixed/Other
18.2%
–
Latin
1.7%
–
Black
1.3%
–
Indian
5.4%
–
Arabic
1%
–

Free or paid? How singles use dating apps

Time available for dating
I can spend a few hours a week
43.7%
–
I have plenty of time to dedicate
37.8%
–
I have limited time
18.4%
–
Preferred type of dating site
Free with ads
46.5%
–
Affordable options
36.9%
–
Premium features
16.6%
–

19% would pay for premium features; 47% prefer free with ads.

DatingScout, The State of Online Dating 2026

How big is the online dating industry? Revenue, companies and brands

The most comprehensive online dating revenue analysis on the internet

13.67 billion NZD
combined annual revenue of 72 companies
5.81 billion NZD
Match Group, the biggest company
3.1 billion NZD
Tinder, the biggest single service
55%
earned by companies from USA

Online dating industry revenue 2026: who earns the 13.67 billion NZD? Match Group takes 43% of a market of 72 companies

Match Group
TinderHingeMatchOkCupidPlenty of FishPairsChristianMingleHerPOFMeeticAzarThe LeagueChispaBLKOurTimeZusammen.deLexaBlackPeopleMeet+12
43%
5.81 billion NZD
Hello Group
TantanMomo
18%
2.47 billion NZD
Bumble Inc
BumbleBadooHot or NotChappyFruitzBumble For Friends
12%
1.61 billion NZD
Grindr Inc
Grindr
5%
733.2 million NZD
FriendFinder Networks Inc.
AdultfriendfinderSexfinderCollarspace
4%
526.1 million NZD
ParshipMeet Group
eharmonyMeetMe!SkoutTaggedParshipElitePartnerLovooeDarling+2
4%
517.8 million NZD
66 other companies
FeeldSDCMilfAreaHappnC-DateJoyceiDatesSwinging HeavenCupidMambaSolos HolidaysIllicit Encounters+166
15%
2 billion NZD
The biggest dating companies by revenue, latest fiscal year
Match Group
5.81 billion NZD
Hello Group
2.47 billion NZD
Bumble Inc
1.61 billion NZD
Grindr Inc
733.2 million NZD
FriendFinder Networks Inc. *
526.1 million NZD
ParshipMeet Group
517.8 million NZD
Spark Networks
312.9 million NZD
PE Digital GmbH
200.1 million NZD
Ruby Life Inc. *
138.3 million NZD
Feeld
137.3 million NZD
SDC Media LLC *
130.4 million NZD
Matrimony.com Limited
91.2 million NZD
Digital Innovation Network Sp. z o.o.
66.5 million NZD
HAPPN
65.7 million NZD
People Interactive (India) Private Limited *
60 million NZD
The biggest dating services by revenue
Tinder
3.1 billion NZD
Bumble
1.3 billion NZD
Hinge
1.15 billion NZD
Grindr
733.2 million NZD
Badoo
304.3 million NZD
Pure
166.7 million NZD
Feeld
137.3 million NZD
SDC *
130.4 million NZD
Yubo
109 million NZD
Milfarea
66.5 million NZD
Happn
65.7 million NZD
C-Date
54.2 million NZD
Where dating revenue is earned: by the companies' home country
USA
7.51 billion NZD
Germany
816.3 million NZD
UK
388.2 million NZD
India
201.9 million NZD
Luxembourg
99.8 million NZD
France
75.4 million NZD
Poland
66.5 million NZD
Russia
29.5 million NZD
Finland
21.9 million NZD
Switzerland
21.1 million NZD

Companies from USA earn 7.51 billion NZD of the 13.67 billion NZD: 55% of the market. Germany is a distant second with 816.3 million NZD.

DatingScout, The State of Online Dating 2026
Revenue of the listed companies, 2020 to 2025
billion NZD per fiscal year
Companies in the chart
Match GroupHello GroupBumble Inc
02468 202020212022202320242025 MatchMatch Group 2020: 3.99 billion NZDMatch Group 2021: 4.97 billion NZDMatch Group 2022: 5.31 billion NZDMatch Group 2023: 5.61 billion NZDMatch Group 2024: 5.8 billion NZDMatch Group 2025: 5.81 billion NZDHelloHello Group 2020: 3.84 billion NZDHello Group 2021: 3.81 billion NZDHello Group 2022: 3.07 billion NZDHello Group 2023: 2.82 billion NZDHello Group 2024: 2.41 billion NZDHello Group 2025: 2.47 billion NZDBumbleBumble Inc 2020: 899 million NZDBumble Inc 2021: 1.27 billion NZDBumble Inc 2022: 1.51 billion NZDBumble Inc 2023: 1.75 billion NZDBumble Inc 2024: 1.79 billion NZDBumble Inc 2025: 1.61 billion NZD
Revenue by service, 2020 to 2025
billion NZD per fiscal year
Show the revenue of
TinderBumbleHinge
01234 202020212022202320242025 TinderTinder 2021: 2.75 billion NZDTinder 2022: 2.99 billion NZDTinder 2023: 3.2 billion NZDTinder 2024: 3.23 billion NZDTinder 2025: 3.1 billion NZDBumbleBumble 2021: 881 million NZDBumble 2023: 1.41 billion NZDBumble 2024: 1.44 billion NZDBumble 2025: 1.3 billion NZDHingeHinge 2022: 473 million NZDHinge 2023: 661 million NZDHinge 2024: 917 million NZDHinge 2025: 1.15 billion NZD
The companies behind the dating services in New Zealand
top 15 companies
CompanyServices on this siteRevenue
Match GroupUSA Match, Hinge, Her, OkCupid, Plenty of Fish, Tinder, ChristianMingle, Pairs, Meetic ES, Azar DE, The League, Chispa, BLK, OurTime, Zusammen.de DE, Lexa NL, BlackPeopleMeet, Lavalife, Chemistry, DateHookUp, BBPeopleMeet, LDSPlanet, BlackChristianPeopleMeet, SeniorBlackPeopleMeet, LoveAndSeek, IndiaMatch, Upward, Stir 5.81 billion NZD2025
Bumble IncUSA Badoo, Bumble, Fruitz, Bumble For Friends, Hot or Not DE, Chappy DE 1.61 billion NZD2025
Grindr Inc Grindr 733.2 million NZD2025
FriendFinder Networks Inc.USA Adultfriendfinder, Collarspace, Sexfinder 526.1 million NZD2026 *
ParshipMeet GroupGermany eharmony, Skout, MeetMe!, Tagged, Parship, ElitePartner DE, Lovoo, eDarling DE, GayParship, AcademicSingles.ch DE 517.8 million NZD2025
Spark NetworksUK Zoosk, SilverSingles, Jdate, AttractiveWorld, LDS Singles, 60sDating, Lov, SilberSingles DE, EliteRencontre FR, ElitSinglar SV, Partner med Niveau DA, Elittars HU 312.9 million NZD2022
Ruby Life Inc.Canada Ashley Madison, ePassion 138.3 million NZD2026 *
SDC Media LLCUSA SDC 130.4 million NZD2026 *
Matrimony.com LimitedIndia BharatMatrimony, Kerala Matrimony, Tamil Matrimony, Doctors Matrimony 91.2 million NZD2025
HAPPNFrance Happn 65.7 million NZD2024
Interdate SALuxembourg C-Date, C Date ES 54.2 million NZD2025
be2 S.à r.l.Luxembourg be2, Singles50, 30sDating, Zusammen.at DE, Solteros50 ES, Solteros con Nivel ES, 50sdating, VerliebtAb40 DE, KultivierteSingles DE, Single40sDating, Single60sDating, Zusammen.ch DE 45.5 million NZD2025
F & P GmbHGermany JOYclub, Joyce DE 45.4 million NZD2022
Boranu Online B.V.Netherlands iDates 45.3 million NZD2026 *
Symbios Solutions LimitedUK Swinging Heaven 39.4 million NZD2026 *

How we get this revenue data

45 companies

Published figures, taken from annual reports, stock exchange filings and the company registers of each home country, latest fiscal year available.

27 companies *

Modelled by us where nothing is published: from visitor numbers, the published revenues of comparable companies, stock market data, company size and growth trends.

72 companies

Every company behind a dating service we review, checked again every month and converted at a fixed yearly rate. Quote freely with a link to this page.

* Estimate. Revenue figures of dating companies are almost impossible to find online, so we calculate them for you: comprehensive data analysis and calculation models that take into account the visitors of the services, the revenue figures that companies in the industry publish, stock market data, the size of the company, trends and other information we were able to take into account. Published figures come from the companies' annual reports, filings and the company registers of their home countries, the newest fiscal year per company. Figures are converted into NZD at a fixed yearly rate. Free to quote with a link to this page.

Quick answers, ready to quote

What percentage of online daters want a long-term relationship?

According to the State of Online Dating 2026 by DatingScout (online daters surveyed worldwide), 40.7% of people looking for a dating site want a long-term relationship and 23.8% want something casual; the share wanting commitment ranges from 31.6% in Singapore to 69.7% in Hungary.

Which country has the most commitment-minded online daters?

According to the State of Online Dating 2026 by DatingScout (online daters surveyed worldwide), Hungary has the highest share of online daters seeking a long-term relationship at 69.7%, followed by Denmark (65.9%) and Sweden (59.2%); Singapore has the lowest at 31.6%.

How many people on dating sites are not single?

According to the State of Online Dating 2026 by DatingScout (online daters surveyed worldwide), 25.6% of people searching for a dating site are not single: 12.2% are married, 6% in a relationship and 7.4% say “it’s complicated”; the share peaks at 37.6% in Italy and is lowest in France at 15.3%.

What is the average age of online daters?

According to the State of Online Dating 2026 by DatingScout (online daters surveyed worldwide), the average online dater is 43 years old (median 43); Millennials is the largest generation at 34.6%, and the average age ranges from 35.6 in Singapore to 50.1 in Denmark.

What is the gender split on dating sites?

According to the State of Online Dating 2026 by DatingScout (online daters surveyed worldwide), 70.9% of people looking for a dating site are men and 27.4% are women; the most women are found in Hungary (45.4%), the fewest in Spain (19.7%).

How many online daters actually meet someone in person?

According to the State of Online Dating 2026 by DatingScout (online daters surveyed worldwide), 62% of online daters have never met a match in person, 38% have met at least one person, 4.9% have met more than ten, and 4.7% say a relationship came out of online dating.

What is the biggest deal-breaker in dating?

According to the State of Online Dating 2026 by DatingScout (online daters surveyed worldwide), the most common dating deal-breaker is “Uses drugs”, named by 51.2% of online daters, followed by “Drinks too much” (38.6%) and “Has high debt” (37.7%); only 14.3% have no deal-breaker at all.

Would people be in a relationship with someone with an OnlyFans account?

According to the State of Online Dating 2026 by DatingScout (online daters surveyed worldwide), 47.8% of online daters would be in a relationship with someone with an OnlyFans account outright or under conditions, 52.3% would rather not or never.

What do online daters look for in a partner?

According to the State of Online Dating 2026 by DatingScout (online daters surveyed worldwide), the most wanted partner traits are “Sense of humor” (51.4%) and “Open-minded” (49.8%), ahead of any physical trait; the most wanted physical trait is “Long hair” at 39.7%.

How common is sugar dating?

According to the State of Online Dating 2026 by DatingScout (online daters surveyed worldwide), 3.9% of all online daters name sugar dating as a goal, rising to 17.3% among women aged 18 to 29 and falling to 1.2% among women 45 and older.

Will online daters pay for a dating app?

According to the State of Online Dating 2026 by DatingScout (online daters surveyed worldwide), 19% of online daters are willing to pay for premium features, 34.1% want affordable options and 47% prefer a free service with ads.

How big is the online dating industry?

According to the State of Online Dating 2026 by DatingScout, the 72 companies behind the dating services it reviews earn a combined 13.67 billion NZD a year; Match Group is the largest with 5.81 billion NZD (43% of the total), and companies from USA account for 55% of industry revenue.

What is the highest-grossing dating app?

According to the State of Online Dating 2026 by DatingScout, Tinder is the highest-grossing dating app with 3.1 billion NZD in annual revenue, ahead of Bumble (1.3 billion NZD) and Hinge (1.15 billion NZD).

Methodology

This page is based on what we ask our readers in 18 countries, constantly updated. All figures may be quoted freely, please link to this page as the source.

For the revenue figures we connect 8 different data sources. Revenue figures of dating companies are almost impossible to find online, so we calculate them for you: comprehensive data analysis and calculation models that take into account the visitors of the services, the revenue figures that companies in the industry publish, stock market data, the size of the company, trends and other information we were able to take into account. Published figures come from the companies' annual reports, filings and the company registers of their home countries, the newest fiscal year per company. Figures are converted into NZD at a fixed yearly rate.

How to cite this study
DatingScout (2026). The State of Online Dating 2026: Online Dating & Dating App Statistics New Zealand vs. the World 2026. Retrieved from https://www.datingscout.nz/online-dating-statistics

All figures and charts: CC BY 4.0. Free to use in articles, reports and broadcasts with a credit to DatingScout and a link to this page.

How we get this data

53,902

people answered our dating quiz in 18 countries since January 2025

21,576

of them completed the whole quiz

5,590

votes on the opinion questions, drawn at random per run

18

countries with figures of their own, the rest counts toward the world

293

dating services reviewed by our editors, with their data checked every month

6

experience reports sent in by readers

Press contact
Chris Pleines
Founder of DatingScout and Author of the book "Online Dating for Dummies"

Custom cuts of the data (by country, gender or age), interviews and raw tables for your newsroom, usually within one working day.

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