#relationship statistics

There is no single reliable percentage for how common rebound relationships are. Research usually defines a rebound relationship as one that begins shortly after a breakup, before feelings about the previous relationship are fully resolved. Studies suggest rebounds are common enough to be studied as a distinct post-breakup pattern, but the exact rate depends on age, dating culture, relationship length, and how soon after the breakup a new relationship begins.

Why People Search for Long-Distance Relationship Statistics

Most people don’t search for long-distance relationship statistics when everything feels easy.

They search when something starts to feel uncertain.

When conversations feel different. When replies take a little longer. When the distance suddenly feels more real than usual.

Statistics, in those moments, aren’t just numbers.

They’re reassurance.

You want to know whether what you’re experiencing is normal. You want to know whether other people have made this work. You want to know whether distance is something relationships survive — or something they slowly fade under.

Long-distance relationships are more common than most people think.

People meet online. People move for work. People fall in love before living in the same place.

Distance has quietly become part of modern relationships.

And when something becomes more common, people naturally want to understand it.

That’s where statistics come in.

Not because numbers can predict your relationship. But because they help you understand what’s possible.

Some couples grow closer through distance. Others struggle with uncertainty and time apart. Most experience both at different moments.

Distance changes things.

It changes how communication feels. It changes how time is experienced. It changes how reassurance works.

And when you’re inside that experience, it’s natural to wonder how often long-distance relationships actually work.

long-distance relationship statistics and what the data actually shows

If you're curious about what the numbers really say, you can read the full breakdown here.

Relationship Statistics On How Many Relationships Work Out In 2024:

Relationships are a complex and multifaceted aspect of human life, and studying statistics on their success rates can be challenging. The success of a relationship is subjective and can vary greatly from one couple to another. However, let's take a look at some general statistics and explore why some relationships thrive while others falter.

Animals are the cornerstone to a happy life. While they may bring you snuggles of joy and lots of laughter they are doing absolutely nothing for your online dating profile. 

Holidays mean family time, and for some couples, the stress of meeting potential (or current) in-laws can be a harrowing experience. Others who are welcomed easily into new families find the holidays with their partner's relatives to be a very positive experience. To find out more about couples and their families during the holidays, we asked our users, "Have you spent a holiday with your partner's family? If so, how was it?"

As might be expected, people who were married were more likely to have spent a holiday with a partner's family. However, over half of those in less serious dating relationships had done it as well, showing that meeting the folks was quite a popular holiday activity.

Recurring sentiments that came up to describe the experience included "drinking," "interesting," "boring" and "chaotic" or "hectic." Many people talked about being "accepted" and some compared other families to their own to gauge the experience.  As one man said:

Yes, it's better than reading out of the bible with my family

Or alternatively, one woman responded:

Yes, it's just like spending a holiday with my own family! 

Among those who had not spent a holiday with their partner's family, some specified their actual feelings about the potential experience. Women were far more likely than men to specify they had negative feelings, including dread or nervousness, whereas men were more likely to specify they were looking forward to the experience. 

One woman explained that she hadn't yet met her boyfriend's family because:

No his family hates me :( as much as I tried to get them to like me, they just don't :(

For some, logistics made it difficult. As one man told us:

No, and I don't know when it will be possible. He lives so far away, and I work full time so its hard to get away.

Among those who had spent a holiday with the "other" family, those specifying their feelings about the experience were still overwhelmingly positive compared to those who said it was negative. Married women were the most likely to say the experience with in-laws was negative (14%) and least likely to say it was positive (57%). One woman had quite a lot to say on the subject:

Yes. His moms side doesn't like me since I'm not a perfect size 0 and act like I'm below them. With his dad we start out having a good time but before the night is through there is always an argument and someone gets offended before most everyone passes out from being drunk. 

Dating men were the inverse of married women and were most likely to say it was positive (81%), and least likely to say it was negative (2%). One man in a dating relationship said:

it was phenomenal meeting her relatives and other family who is wicked nice. the best part is seeing my babe and eating dinner with her and her family

This week, People magazine reported on Taylor Lautner, werewolf star of the hit Twilight series and his interview in December's issue of Cosmopolitan.  On the subject of relationships with exes, he told the magazine, 

There's no ex out there who I'm not friends with today [...] and I'm extremely thankful for that.

Curious if the perspective of the 20-year-old superstar was indicative of current overall trends, we asked our users "Do you believe it's OK to be friends with your exes?" and here were their responses.

Overall, with no consideration for age or relationship status, the numbers were relatively consistent for men and women, though women were 6% less likely than men to approve of exes as friends at all. Men were slightly more open to the possibility of friendship (by 4%), and also 3% more open to being friendly or cordial, which was specified as a step down from actual friendship.

The majority of those against the idea were quite passionate about how much they disapproved, with many responses beginning with "HELL NO" and "NOOOOOOOOOOOO." For those who were open to friendship, they specified boundaries such as limited communication or group-only activities. One man set clear limits in his response:

It is ok. But that friendship should not ever infringe on your relationship and it should be transparent to your partner. IE he/she can read your messages or hear your conversations. 

Though overall, most women did not believe it was okay to be friends with an ex, those women who were accepting were often considerably positive: 

Yes. In fact, I'd say the way my husband embraces my past and present relationship with my ex makes me love my marriage more and more.

Both women and men in the 25-32 year old age range were the most likely to say it was okay being friends with a ex. 

For those who said "it depends on the ex," there were several components to what determined a suitable ex-as-friend:

If they had children together

How long they were together

If the ex respected the new partner

If the previous relationship was purely sexual

If there was any possibility of rekindling a spark

How often they made contact

How close or far away they lived

Based on relationship status, women who were married, engaged, or in a domestic partnership were the least accepting of exes as friends (45% said it was not okay), whereas men in dating relationships were most likely to say it was okay (39%).

Many people who wanted to be understanding and trusting also questioned the value of such a friendship. One woman in a domestic partnership stated:

I have mixed feelings on this topic. Trusting my partner is number one but I would be curious to know what my partner would want to gain from keeping in contact with her ex. It's ultimately up to her but it definitely makes me uncomfortable.

And though we aren't quite sure what to make of his response to the question, one man's strategy was quite clear with this simple statement:

I'm gonna "bite my tongue to keep the peace" in our marriage.