One in three unmarried Indian men feel lonely, Match Group survey finds
A Match Group survey of 1,000 unmarried Indians finds a third feel lonely often, even as most keep actively seeking meaningful relationships.
Modern lifestyles across Asia are making it harder for unmarried young people to find meaningful relationships. In India, the problem is not meeting people or being seen, but finding a genuine, meaningful connection in a fast-paced, digitally connected world.
India's young people are still looking for social and romantic relationships, but work stress, fatigue and the growing gap between online conversation and real-life relationships have made it harder than before to feel a real sense of closeness.
To understand this changing shape of human relationships, Match Group asked Ipsos to survey young unmarried people in India on their experience of loneliness, social relationships, and dating. The study found a curious pattern: India's young people are making a real effort to form relationships, but being around people and staying digitally connected is no guarantee that loneliness will go down. For many, meeting people in new ways and building fewer but stronger, more meaningful relationships has become the need of the hour.
The Match Group Human Connection survey of 1,000 unmarried people aged 18 to 45 in India found that 35 percent of India's unmarried people feel lonely often or always, while 70 percent are making a real effort to form new social relationships and 75 percent meet people face to face more than once a week. This shows that the loneliness is not due to a lack of desire or opportunity to form relationships, but because of the rising stress of today's life.
The survey shows that 64 percent of India's unmarried people prioritise work or studies over social life, while 55 percent say they are so tired after their daily work that meeting and talking to people becomes difficult. In addition, more than half, or 58 percent, say that while they stay connected to people online, they feel lonely in real life. This shows the gap between staying connected in the digital world and feeling a meaningful human connection in real life.
Despite these difficulties, the desire to form relationships has not gone down. 72 percent of India's unmarried people prefer building stronger relationships over more relationships, while 70 percent are working to form new social relationships. This shows that India's young people are not running away from relationships, but are making thoughtful decisions about the kind of relationship they want.
This desire extends to romantic relationships too. 78 percent believe in true love and 77 percent are confident they will eventually find the right person for themselves. Also, 85 percent say they are looking for a long-term relationship, and among Gen Z this figure is 89 percent.
63 percent would rather keep looking than settle for the wrong partner, while 72 percent say they will only date people with whom they see a long-term future. Anukul Kumar, Regional Head and Senior Director for India and the Middle East at Match Group, said: "India's young people know what kind of relationship they want. This study found that 35 percent of India's unmarried people feel lonely often or always, yet 70 percent are making an effort to form new social relationships and 72 percent are prioritising fewer but stronger relationships. This shows that while a busy lifestyle and digital conversation have made it harder to build a real relationship, the desire for a meaningful relationship is still there. Technology can play a big role in helping people find a true, right and meaningful relationship."
Currently, 40 percent of unmarried people in India use dating apps, while 63 percent say dating apps make them feel connected to others and reduce loneliness. More than half, or 55 percent, say they are considering using a dating app in the next 12 months, while 60 percent say their online dating experience has been good.
The survey also found that trust matters most to people when connecting online. 60 percent of India's unmarried people say they keep safety and inclusivity in mind while dating online, while for 52 percent, verified profiles and strong security are the most important factors when choosing a dating app.
Ipsos conducted this Match Group Human Connection survey in India as well as Japan, South Korea and Thailand, to understand the experience of loneliness, social relationships, and dating among young unmarried people. In India, the survey covered 1,000 unmarried people aged 18 to 45 in major metros and tier-1 cities.
