How many people are single in the world? Answered 2024

Finding love and partnership is a universal human desire. Yet despite our shared hopes for connection, a significant portion of the global population is currently unpartnered.

Recent statistics suggest that singlehood is on the rise, with more people living without a spouse or romantic partner than ever before.

This trend raises important questions about modern relationships and the evolving nature of family.

So, just how many people around the world are flying solo?

According to the most recent data, an estimated 2.1 billion individuals worldwide are currently single.

Let’s take a look at the key stats of single people by age, gender, education, and other notable aspects.

Key Stats

  • 89% of singles choose not to date because they believe they aren’t good at flirting.
  • 75% of all singles consider being too picky a reason for not dating, but among women, this figure is even higher at 82.1%, suggesting that women tend to be pickier than men in dating.
  • There are approximately 2.1 billion single people worldwide.
  • Having a higher level of education reduces the likelihood of being single. 34% of American high school graduates are single, compared to only 25% of those with at least a bachelor’s degree.
  • There are many reasons for not dating, but two common reasons are “bad luck in the past” (18%) and “health problems” (11%).
  • The rate of single Americans is similar between men and women, with 31% of both genders being single.
  • Between the ages of 30 and 49, Americans are least likely to be single, with only 23% in this age range being single.

How many single people in the world are there exactly?

Single People In The World
  • In the United States in 2021, 126.9 million adults were single.
  • In Russia in 2012, there were 34.8 million single adults, with 17.6 million women and 17.2 million men. (TheDailybeast)
  • Denmark had 2.93 million single/never married people in 2023, making up 49.29% of the population. (Statista)
  • China had 200 million single adults as of 2018. (Statista)
  • Canada had 18.27 million single individuals in 2022. (Statista)
  • England and Wales had 28,392,544 single people in 2020. (Statista)
  • In France in 2018, 27.7 million people, or 41.3% of the population, were single.
  • Sweden had 5,656,900 unmarried individuals in 2022. (Statista)
  • Iceland has 90,239 unmarried singles as of 2023. (Statista)
  • The Netherlands had 8,851,656 singles as of 2023 who had never been married. (Statista)
  • Belgium had 5,910,276 unmarried singles as of 2023. (Statista)
  • In South Africa 51.85% of adults were single, totaling 30.7 million individuals as of 2022. (Statista)

Apart from the countries we talked about earlier, the United Nations has collected information about people’s marital status of around 1.6 billion singles in 216 different countries. Below are the findings.

Country NameNumber of SinglesYear of Data Collection
Afghanistan7,512,5511979
Åland Islands15,5672020
Albania1,190,5692011
Algeria20,900,9052008
American Samoa12,7412000
Andorra33,1252001
Angola7,023,1312014
Anguilla7,4492001
Antigua and Barbuda27,2862001
Argentina15,652,4122010
Armenia555,4192019
Aruba52,4742010
Australia6,668,9102016
Austria3,627,9562011
Azerbaijan4,106,6582020
Bahamas226,0282010
Bahrain833,8002020
Bangladesh33,504,0632001
Barbados150,5582010
Belarus1,419,1192019
Belize119,2642010
Benin4,097,0382002
Bermuda28,6062016
Bhutan233,5962017
Bolivia2,761,7892012
Botswana824,9982011
Brazil89,653,4052010
British Virgin Islands3,1082010
Brunei Darussalam208,6042011
Bulgaria3,004,4382011
Burkina Faso3,038,9222006
Burundi2,182,7972008
Cabo Verde136,2841990
Cambodia7,414,8712008
Cameroon3,157,0811976
Cayman Islands16,3432010
Central African Republic638,0571988
Chad1,748,0922009
Chile3,883,2662002
China, Hong Kong SAR2,787,7392016
China, Macao SAR169,8662016
Colombia15,500,4162018
Comoros125,7151991
Congo595,6061984
Cook Islands3,5822011
Costa Rica2,414,3322020
Côte d’Ivoire6,887,8032014
Croatia1,699,8222011
Cuba2,517,2322012
Curaçao89,9452011
Cyprus344,9312011
Czechia4,559,2362020
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea4,709,0662008
Democratic Republic of the Congo7,098,5001984
Dominica29,6382001
Dominican Republic1,783,6012010
Ecuador3,960,6532010
Egypt13,675,2062017
El Salvador1,800,5982007
Equatorial Guinea67,8131983
Estonia618,1042020
Eswatini348,6712007
Ethiopia21,375,0362007
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)1,4032016
Faroe Islands27,8212019
Fiji432,8881986
Finland2,689,0692020
French Polynesia125,3002017
Gabon357,7491993
Gambia306,5721993
Georgia614,3572014
Germany35,791,4452020
Ghana7,087,0982010
Gibraltar13,6392012
Greece4,227,4762011
Greenland16,3082019
Grenada39,1681981
Guadaloupe274,2331999
Guam43,7952010
Guatemala1,275,2851990
Guernsey24,9312001
Guinea2,396,7872014
Guyana20,7421980
Haiti1,735,2071982
Honduras2,165,4982001
Hungary4,345,6612020
India510,945,0302001
Indonesia61,104,8802010
Iran (Islamic Republic of)20,154,6262016
Iraq8,888,3232013
Ireland2,544,1762016
Isle of Man36,1212011
Israel4,534,2542018
Italy25,399,1922020
Jamaica2,069,3082011
Japan29,241,5312015
Jersey37,2062001
Jordan1,276,2092004
Kazakhstan3,925,8222009
Kenya14,164,0902019
Kiribati18,1492010
Kuwait781,7212011
Kyrgyzstan2,778,9752009
Lao People’s Democratic Republic1,295,4932015
Latvia806,2782021
Lebanon2,103,1212007
Lesotho1,094,9912006
Liberia1,186,3472008
Libya1,957,5192006
Liechtenstein16,1322020
Lithuania1,189,7402020
Luxembourg283,2582020
Madagascar3,751,3341993
Malawi4,279,9902018
Malaysia15,025,8662010
Maldives62,3232014
Mali3,131,2022009
Malta180,6942011
Marshall Islands10,3691999
Martinique252,0811999
Mauritania538,1961988
Mauritius526,8562011
Mayotte68,3142012
Mexico35,442,5392021
Micronesia (Federated States of)25,2332000
Monaco11,5062008
Mongolia678,9012020
Montenegro162,8922011
Montserrat2,2292011
Morocco8,396,8732014
Mozambique3,779,1162007
Myanmar16,167,0312014
Namibia1,351,6652018
Nepal7,383,1862011
New Caledonia180,4362014
New Zealand1,099,7222018
Nicaragua1,447,3382005
Niger1,827,5002001
Nigeria45,437,6732006
Niue7412017
Norfolk Island6352011
North Macedonia830,0302002
Northern Mariana Islands22,4622000
Norway2,837,5312020
Oman1,399,6732020
Pakistan37,331,8002017
Palau4,9142005
Panama717,7012010
Papua New Guinea1,757,1361980
Paraguay1,885,3672002
Peru8,922,0732017
Philippines56,454,5042015
Pitcairn231993
Poland14,590,3452011
Portugal4,272,9772011
Puerto Rico1,134,7662019
Qatar456,3592010
Republic of Korea13,376,2372015
Republic of Moldova1,479,4762020
Republic of South Sudan1,877,5112008
Reunion493,7082006
Romania8,109,2162012
Rwanda3,154,4672012
Saint Helena ex. dep.1,7882016
Saint Helena: Ascension4312008
Saint Kitts and Nevis1091996
Saint Kitts and Nevis19,2841980
Saint Lucia38,9342010
Saint Pierre and Miquelon1,2012018
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines31,9742002
Samoa116,2832016
San Marino13,3062018
Sao Tome and Principe107,8512012
Saudi Arabia5,244,4632017
Senegal2,700,2712002
Serbia1,530,6992011
Seychelles49,7312010
Sierra Leone1,330,2422004
Singapore1,090,6662020
Sint Maarten (Dutch part)13,1142011
Slovakia2,388,5342020
Slovenia1,042,5562020
Solomon Islands125,4771976
Spain20,374,8602011
Sri Lanka9,055,5412012
State of Palestine950,8732017
Sudan5,156,7202008
Suriname229,3482012
Switzerland3,843,4392019
Syrian Arab Republic4,596,0601991
Tajikistan1,409,9032010
Thailand16,957,6522010
Timor-Leste171,6292004
Togo1,503,7762010
Tokelau2682016
Tonga59,8602016
Trinidad and Tobago480,1492011
Tunisia5,694,1772014
Turkey34,350,0462013
Turks and Caicos10,5922001
Tuvalu2,3512017
Uganda7,185,6442002
Ukraine7,984,4152001
United Arab Emirates955,2352005
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland29,670,1482011
United Republic of Tanzania28,052,9172012
United States Virgin Islands32,7642000
Uruguay793,4082011
Uzbekistan2,855,2041989
Vanuatu44,6932009
Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)10,332,7592011
Vietnam16,364,9402019
Wallis and Futuna Islands6,7212013
Western Sahara43,4041970
Yemen4,202,7401994
Zambia2,278,0802010
Zimbabwe7,046,2502002

Source: UN Data

Single American Stats: Year wise data

In 2005:

  • Over half (55%) of Americans were not in a committed relationship or looking for one.
  • Among the 55% who were single:
    • 42% were single men.
    • 65% were single women. (Pew Research Center, 2006)

In 2016:

  • There were around 111 million unmarried Americans over the age of 18.
  • 53% were women, and 47% were men.

In 2019:

  • 31% of the U.S. adults were currently single.
  • Half of these were surfing on online websites for dates or a relationship.

In 2020:

  • Roughly 89.20 million people in the age group of 15 years were single Americans
  • Of these, 47 million were males, and 41 million were females.
  • Specifically, there were 89,028,650 single Americans in 2020.
  • Among them, 47,510,290 were single males (never married), and 41,518,250 were single females (never married).

As of September 2021:

  • Almost 51% of Americans, approximately 127 million people, were single.

Top Countries with Singles By Percentage

In a comprehensive analysis of countries with the highest percentage of singles aged 20 and older living alone, Denmark emerges as the leader, with a remarkable 24.1% of its adult population falling into this category.

France follows closely behind at 22.8%, making it the second most single-friendly nation in the study.

Finland and Belgium also exhibit notable percentages, with 19.6% and 19.5%, respectively, of their adult populations enjoying single living arrangements.

Further down the list, New Zealand (17.6%) and Switzerland (17.5%) present as attractive destinations for singles, rounding out the top 10.

Lower percentages may not necessarily indicate a lack of single adults but could reflect cultural differences in living arrangements.

Interestingly, the United States, known for its diverse population, finds itself in the 21st position with 13.4% of its adult population living alone and single

In contrast, Turkey, at the bottom of the list, only has 3.9% of its adult population fitting this category.

S.NoCountryPercentage
1Denmark24.1%
2France22.8%
3Finland19.6%
4Belgium19.5%
5Norway19.3%
6Luxembourg19.1%
7Australia18.5%
8Estonia18.2%
9New Zealand17.6%
10Switzerland17.5%
11Latvia16.5%
12Austria16.5%
13Germany16.4%
14Netherlands15.8%
15Japan15.5%
16United Kingdom14.9%
17Czech Republic14.8%
18Slovakia14.6%
19Lithuania14.2%
20Bulgaria14.0%
21United States13.4%
22Hungary12.0%
23Poland11.2%
24Italy10.8%
25Canada10.7%
26Ireland10.6%
27Slovenia9.6%
28Spain8.6%
29Greece8.0%
30Romania7.6%
31Malta7.0%
32Portugal7.0%
33Cyprus6.3%
34Turkey3.9%

Source: FiveThirtyEight

How Many Americans Die Single?

How Many Americans Die Single

Overall, the death rate in the United States decreased slightly from 1,122.1 in 2010 to 1,074.3 in 2019 per 100,000 people.

When we delve into the specific marital status categories, a striking pattern emerges. In both 2010 and 2019, individuals who were “Never Married” experienced the highest death rates, with 1,466.1 in 2010 and a slightly lower but still substantial 1,423.2 in 2019 per 100,000 people.

This suggests that unmarried individuals faced a higher risk of mortality during this period compared to their married counterparts.

Conversely, those who were “Married” showed the lowest death rates in both years, with 839.8 in 2010 and 747.0 in 2019 per 100,000 people.

This consistent trend indicates that being married was associated with a lower risk of mortality in the United States during this timeframe.

The “Widowed” and “Divorced” categories showed intermediate death rates in both years. In 2010, the death rate for the “Widowed” was 1,567.2, while in 2019, it increased to 1,627.0 per 100,000 people.

For the “Divorced” category, the death rate was 1,366.5 in 2010 and decreased slightly to 1,324.0 in 2019 per 100,000 people.

How Many Americans Die Single?

The data represents the death rates per 100,000 people in the years 2010 and 2019 for different marital status categories.

Marital Status2010 Death Rate (per 100,000)2019 Death Rate (per 100,000)
All Americans1,122.11,074.3
Married839.8747.0
Never Married1,466.11,423.2
Widowed1,567.21,627.0
Divorced1,366.51,324.0

Stats on Americans Who Are Divorced, Unmarried Or Widowed

Single American population by marital status

Single American population by marital status
  • Never married: This is the largest group, making up 66.93% of all single Americans. That’s around 89,028,651 people who have never tied the knot.
  • Widowed: About 11.45% of single Americans fall into this category, which translates to roughly 15,230,473 individuals. These are people who have lost their spouses, often due to death.
  • Divorced: The divorced population constitutes 21.62% of single Americans, numbering approximately 28,767,947 people. These are individuals who have gone through divorce proceedings and are now single.

Single American population by marital status

Marital StatusNumber of PeoplePercentage of Singles
Never married89,028,65166.93%
Widowed15,230,47311.45%
Divorced28,767,94721.62%

Single Men By Marital Status

Single Men By Marital Status

The largest group among single men is those who have “Never married,” constituting a substantial 75.20% of all single men, which translates to approximately 47,510,293 individuals.

Widowed men, make up 5.40% of all single men, totaling around 3,408,813 individuals.

Lastly, “Divorced” men represent 19.40% of all single men, with an estimated count of approximately 12,261,848 men.

Single Men By Marital Status

Marital StatusNumber of Single MenPercentage of All Single Men
Never married47,510,29075.20%
Widowed3,408,8005.40%
Divorced12,261,84019.40%

Single Women By Marital Status

Single Women By Marital Status

“Never married women,” comprising 59% of all singles, which translates to roughly 41,518,358 individuals.

The second group comprises “Widowed women,” representing a substantial 17% of all singles. Approximately 11,821,620 women fall into this category, having lost their spouses due to various reasons.

Lastly, “Divorced women” constitute 24% of all singles, with an estimated count of approximately 16,506,099 women.

Marital StatusNumber of Single WomenPercentage of All Single Women
Never married41,518,35859.44%
Widowed11,821,62016.93%
Divorced16,506,09923.63%

Source: US Census

US Singles Stats by Ethnicity

US Singles Stats by Ethnicity

Black/African Americans exhibit the highest proportion of single adults at 47%, whereas White/Caucasian individuals have a lower percentage, standing at 28%. Hispanic individuals fall in between, with 27% categorized as single adults.

EthnicityPercentage of Single Adults
White/Caucasian28%
Black/African-American47%
Hispanic27%

US Singles Stats by Age and Gender

US Singles Stats by Age and Gender

Age appears to play a significant role in the relationship status of Americans.

Among individuals aged 18-29, a substantial 41% identify as singles, indicating a substantial portion of young adults navigating dating websites or enjoying their independence.

As we move into the 31-49 age bracket, the percentage of singles drops to 23%, suggesting that a sizable portion of this group may have found long-term partnerships or married.

The 50 to 64 age group sees an increase in the percentage of singles to 28%, potentially reflecting changes in life circumstances such as death or increasing divorce rates.

Lastly, for those aged 65 and older, a significant 36% remain singles, indicating that a considerable number of seniors maintain their single status, perhaps due to personal choices or life circumstances.

Age GroupPercentage of Singles
18 to 2941%
30 to 4923%
50 to 6428%
65 and older36%

US Singles Stats by Gender

GenderPercentage Single
Men31%
Women31%

US Singles Stats by Education

US Singles Stats by Education


34% of single Americans hold a High School diploma or have completed their GED, showcasing a substantial segment of the singles population with this educational attainment level.

Moving on to the next educational ladder, we find that 32% of single Americans have pursued higher education, without completing a Bachelor’s degree.

Finally, a noteworthy 25% of single Americans hold a Bachelor’s degree or higher—a testament to the diversity and educational achievements within the single demographic.

Educational AttainmentPercentage of Single Americans
High School/GED or less34%
Some college32%
Bachelor’s degree or higher25%

U.S. States With Highest Number Of Singles

U.S. States With  Highest Number Of Singles

In a recent analysis of U.S. states, it has been found that Louisiana and Rhode Island share the top spot for having the highest percentage of single adults, with an impressive 55.7% of people identifying as single.

Following closely behind, we have New York at 55.4%, Mississippi at 54.9%, and New Mexico at 53.6%.

These statistics shed light on the relationship statuses of residents in these states, indicating a relatively larger proportion of individuals who are not currently in committed relationships.

RankStatePercentage of Single Adults
1Louisiana55.7%
2Rhode Island55.7%
3New York55.4%
4Mississippi54.9%
5New Mexico53.6%
6California53.5%
7Florida53.5%
8Massachusetts53.5%
9Nevada53.5%
10Maryland53.1%

U.S. States With Lowest Number Of Singles

U.S. States With  Lowest Number Of Singles
RankStatePercentage of Single Adults
1Montana47.7%
2North Dakota47.7%
3Minnesota47.6%
4Kansas47.5%
5New Hampshire47.1%
6Nebraska46.9%
7Iowa46.7%
8Wyoming46.4%
9Idaho44.4%
10Utah43.7%

Reasons for Not Dating Among Singles

There are various factors that lead individuals to remain single, such as feelings of insecurity, fear, sexual orientation, or even other priorities.

The below reasons show why people choose not to wear an engagement ring.

ReasonsAges 18 -49Ages 50+Total
Have other important thing right now61%38%47%
Have other important things right now41%46%44%
Very busy29%14%20%
bad luck in the past18%18%18%
Feel like no one is interested24%12%17%
Not ready because of a past relationship or losing a spouse15%18%17%
I am too old to date4%25%17%
Health is an issue11%11%11%

Why are Women single?

Women can be single for lots of different reasons. Some might not be good at flirting or just want to be free to do what they like. Others might be afraid of getting hurt or have other things in life that are more important right now.

Other less common reasons include wanting to flirt without commitment, facing sexual difficulties, and not being over a past relationship.

Reasons for Not Dating (Top Reasons)

ReasonPercentage
“I don’t flirt very well”89%
“I want to remain. a free bird”87.3%
“I don’t want to get hurt”80.2%
“I have other priorities”79.5%
“I am very choosy”75.2%

Additional Reasons for Not Dating

ReasonPercentage
“I am not a likeable person”64.8%
“I am not a family person”61.4%
“I have Commitment issues”55.1%
“I have health issues”43.5%
“I want to spend time mostly with my friends”34.7%

Less Common Reasons for Not Dating

ReasonPercentage
“I want to flirt with other people”23.5%
“I experience sexual difficulties”18.4%
“I still think about my previous relationship”18.1%
“I want to focus on my children”9.3%
“Sexual identity”7.9%

Rare Reasons for Not Dating

ReasonPercentage
“I move often”5.1%
“I cannot have children”5.1%
“Addiction”3.2%

Source: Frontiers in Psychology