Dating Statistics for the UK — How Many People Are on Tinder?

Dating as we know it has changed tremendously. Instead of waiting for prince charming, we pray for a text back and, hopefully, not get ghosted.

Today’s society has us glued to the screen, swiping left and right to meet our soulmates. That’s the reality we live in, but we have to make the most out of it and give online dating a chance. And everyone’s top pick when it comes to dating apps is Tinder.

So, how many people are on Tinder in the UK? Has Tinder successfully brought people closer to finding “the one”?

Dating statistics for the UK, let’s go.

UK Dating Statistics 

If you’re wondering what other single Britons are up to and how they get coupled up, here’s a little inside scoop.

Your future spouse might be just an office away, so don’t hesitate to make the first move (like many single people do).

According to DatingSitesReviews, 50% of single Brits have never asked anyone on a date. Putting yourself out there might be scary, but almost all things worth doing usually are. So, step out of your comfort zone and ask your crush to get a cup of coffee. Really, it’s that simple.

An Independent survey shows us how far Britons would go to find true love. 

UK Online Dating Statistics

Catfishing has become a social phenomenon, and apparently, it’s keeping a lot of people off dating apps. Although the idea of connecting with someone that turns out to be the polar opposite of what they pretended to be is not the most pleasant one, more and more people in the UK tend to get on dating apps.

This explains well why 21% of Britons are steering clear of dating apps until a better vetting process is established. Still, the dating app industry is no joke. 

With the average single Briton going on a date two times a month, it’s not hard to see where those £11.7 billion come from. Romance isn’t cheap, to say the least.

Research done by the dating platform eHarmony concluded that if the current online dating trends continue, the UK will reach its “tipping point” by 2035 and have more than 50% of relationships starting online. 

So, what’s so special about online dating?

What Are the Benefits of Using a Dating App?

Online dating isn’t all that bad, and people have various reasons to give it a chance. Some do so to find friends, others are on the lookout for a serious relationship, and some just want to date casually.

No matter why you ended up joining an online dating app, some of the benefits it offers are the following:

Tinder Overview

Tinder is a location-based networking mobile application that facilitates communication between mutually interested users, allowing them to chat and connect. The app is most commonly used as a dating app but has also been used for making new friends. Tinder is available in over 190 countries and translated into over 50 languages.

Tinder was launched on September 12, 2012, by Sean Rad, Jonathan Badeen, and Justin Mateen. Match Group owns the company and, as of 2021, Tinder has over 750 employees.

During a hackathon in February 2012, Sean Rad and Joe Munoz created the prototype for Tinder, which they called “MatchBox.” Realising the name MatchBox was too similar to Match.com, Rad, his co-founders, and early employees renamed the company to Tinder.

Today, Tinder is the most popular dating app worldwide with over 10 million subscribers.

To download and use Tinder, you must be over 18 years old. When you first open the app, it will ask for your phone number or Facebook login. Next, you will need to create a profile by adding photos and answering some questions about yourself. Once your profile is created, you can start swiping left (to pass) or right (to like) on other users in your area. If someone likes you back, you will be able to start chatting with them.

In 2015, Tinder introduced its premium service, Tinder Plus, allowing unlimited matches. The free version of the app restricts users to a certain number of right swipes in a 12-hour period.

People aged 30 and over had to pay £14.99/month for a Tinder Plus subscription, whereas those younger than 30 only paid £3.99/month.

Today, besides Tinder Plus, you can get a Tinder Gold or Tinder Premium Subscription, with prices varying from £1.27 to £30.35 depending on your age and the duration of your subscription.

How Many People Are on Tinder in the UK?

The UK is the second-largest contributor to Tinder’s revenue aside from the US, and according to Ofcom’s Online Nation Report for 2021, 1.85 million Britons were on Tinder.

Although 1.85 million is a significant number, most UK citizens still find love offline. A YouGov survey pointed out that 18% of British adults met their partner through work, and another 18% of the respondents found their person with the help of their friends. In addition, 15% reported that they met their significant other while they were out and about — bars, pubs, restaurants, parks, etc.

Online dating apps are considered responsible for creating 14% of all current relationships, and Tinder is the number one most used app in the UK and globally.

55% of Brits claim that they’ve used Tinder. Most of them are single, but 13% of the app’s users are currently in relationships (yikes). Online dating, in general, is most popular among millennials, with homosexual and bisexual individuals being far more likely to be on a dating app. On the other hand, 63% of heterosexual people said they’ve never used dating apps or dating sites.

Sheffield, Wolverhampton, Nottingham, Leeds, and Hull are the remaining cities that made Tinder’s fastest-growing cities for swipe surges list, with people aged 18 to 25 representing the majority of the community.

85% of Tinder’s user base in the UK is male

This might not come as a surprise, but men dominate the dating app scene. Namely, only 15% of Tinder’s users in the UK are female. The reasons behind these numbers might be different, but women are generally more concerned about their safety and feel more sceptical towards meeting with strangers.

Once you are actively using your dating app, it becomes an addiction. You want to check if there are new people around, you need your daily ego boost from someone swiping right on your picture, and you definitely want to see if your newest match responded to your message. So, going on Tinder 11 times a day maybe isn’t that extreme after all.

Even though almost all of the Morning Advertiser’s survey respondents have been on a first date at a pub, they agree that it isn’t the most romantic setting. In contrast, establishments offering outdoor dining were found the best for a romantic dinner, alongside rooftop restaurants. 

A first date costs around £41 in the UK

The average first date in the UK costs £41.20, with gender playing a role — men usually spend £50 on first dates, while women spend £36. However, after the first impression is established, the next date usually costs less, or an average of £28.83.

When asked about paying the bill, 40% shared the opinion that men should pay for the first date, while almost half (47%) prefer splitting the bill following a first date, rising to 62% when asked about subsequent dates.

44% of Tinder users have been invited on a first date at McDonald’s

Compared to the fancy restaurants and rooftop bars, it seems obvious why some people would steer clear of online dating apps. But, be honest, can you think of something less romantic than a McDonald’s first date? 

48% of millennials used phrases like “washing my hair” or “I don’t feel well” to get out of a first date.

Tinder Marriage Statistics

Despite its reputation as a casual relationship app, Tinder has proven a successful matchmaker and is responsible for many people’s “I do”s.

According to The Knot 2021 Jewelry and Engagement Study, Tinder was responsible for pairing 27% of newlyweds who met online

Out of all the dating apps, most newlyweds have met on Tinder. The company even donated $100,000 for a dream wedding of an LGBTQ couple. So, if you are looking for a spouse, don’t make excuses and create a Tinder profile. Here’s a little tip — Mondays, 6–9 pm is the time you can get most matches.

Dating apps, in general, have facilitated a decent amount of marriages. That’s not hard to understand, given that most dating app users are looking for serious relationships. For example, 44% of female dating app users said that they joined an app in the hopes of finding a long term partnership, as opposed to 38.4% of men sharing the same intention.

The pandemic helped dating apps flourish. With everyone stuck at home, lonely, and with no other means to meet new people — most of us turned to online dating apps, if not to look for a partner, then to engage in a decent conversation and maybe make a friend or two.

Tinder User Base and Growth

How did Tinder go from 0.3 million subscribers in 2015 to almost 11 million in 2021? Constant innovation, adding new features, and overall newfound acceptance of dating apps are some reasons behind Tinder’s extreme success.

Here’s a little overview of who uses Tinder the most and insight into Tinder’s growth and revenue.

People aged 18–24 make up 27% of Tinder users in the UK, while those aged 25–34 make up 28% of the users, which is almost the same thing. Older generations use Tinder less, but here’s an interesting fact — people aged 55 and above make up 16% of Tinder’s UK users, while those younger (45–54) make up only 9% of the users.

Tinder Plus, Tinder Gold, and Tinder Premium have many fans worldwide, and they make Tinder a lot of money. Match forecasted total revenue growth between 15% and 20% for 2022, compared with an earlier expectation for the rate to approach 20%. That means that Match expects first-quarter revenue between $790 million and $800 million, according to Refinitiv IBES.

430 million downloads explain the 60+ billion matches on the app and over 1.6 billion left and right swipes made on Tinder daily.

Translation: two million people go out thanks to Tinder every week. On top of that, 95% of Tinder matches meet within two to seven days of matching. How encouraging.

Wrap Up

With every area of our lives slowly transitioning online, it’s only natural that we would start dating on the internet. And the most popular place to do so is Tinder.

The dating statistics for the UK show us that Tinder is the number one dating app according to Britons, as well as the rest of the world. Almost two million UK citizens have turned to the app to get closer to finding their partner.

Tinder and online dating apps are the future of love and relationships, so you better brace yourself and go out there and give some right swipes.