Most Women Are Now Willing to Date Younger Men, Survey Finds

When it comes to attitudes about dating, times, they are a-changin’.

Bumble, the online dating app that sets itself apart by allowing only female users to make the first contact with matched male users, surveyed over 26,800 global members in September to gain some insight into dating trends heading into 2024. And among the many revelations are that women are now increasingly becoming okay with dating younger men. 

Although the research found that 63 percent of total users are open to dating with an age gap; 59 percent of women, specifically, say that they’re now more open to dating someone younger. And while women traditionally tend to date men older than them, 35 percent say they’ve become less judgmental towards relationships with an age gap over the last year.

But that’s not the only dating trope that’s getting shaken up. Monogamy and marriage are also being put under a microscope, as singles are becoming more open to non-monogamous relationships and marriage is no longer the end goal for most women.

Of the women surveyed, 31 percent say they’re no longer focused on adhering to traditional timelines and milestones. And while 72 percent are looking for a long-term relationship, only 23 percent of women are looking to get married. Avoiding partners who pressured them was a consideration of 16 percent of women globally and 18 percent in the U.S.

In our increasingly divided times, dating those whose values align with your own is also important to many. Not only are singles are looking for partners that care about the same social causes, but actively engage—otherwise know as “Val-Core” dating. One in four Bumble users think it’s important that their partner to be engaged in political and social causes. And 33 percent of women say they’re less open to dating someone with different political views, finding it a turn-off when a partner is unaware of current issues.

“These trends highlight a positive shift toward celebrating who you are, as you are, moving away from traditional timelines, redefining outdated expectations, and seeking shared values,” said Bumble’s sex and relationships expert, Shan Boodram.