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As highlighted in Section 1, one in three Britons are currently single. This section examines how they feel about that.
How happy are Britons being single?
Of the one in three Britons who say they are single at the moment, most (57%) say they are happy to be unattached, although only about half of these (30%) are “very happy” to be single.
A further 24% are neutral about their single status, while 17% are unhappy with being by themselves.
Older singletons prove to be much happier being single, at 65% of the over-60s compared to 48% among the under-40s. Single women are also more likely to be happy with their unattached status than single men, by 63% to 50%.
How many single Britons want to be in a relationship?
A quarter of single Britons (24%) say they want to be in a relationship now. A further third (35%) don’t currently mind their single status, but want to be in a relationship in the future, while 23% don’t want to find a partner.
Younger singletons are the most likely to be unhappy with their current circumstances, with 32% wanting to be in a relationship as we speak, compared to only 12% of those in their sixties or older who are single.
What are the most common reasons Britons are single?
Topping the list of reasons people give for being single is “I have not met the right person”, at 42%.
Many are simply in no hurry to find someone; 35% say they prefer being single in general, while 30% are not interested in being in a relationship at present.
A further three in ten say that they do not trust people easily (29%) and the same number say they find dating stressful or difficult.
Younger single Britons are more likely to say they are single because they haven’t met the right person (47%), but also because they’re focusing on themselves (37%) or on work or studies (22%). They are also more likely to say they find dating difficult or stressful (36%).
Meanwhile, older Britons are more likely to say they prefer being single (45%) or are not interested in being in a relationship at present (40%).
Likewise, the biggest difference between single men and women is that women are also more likely to say they are not interested in being in a relationship at the moment (37% vs 23%).
What are the best things about being single?
Given a list of ten benefits of being single and asked to choose up to three, the most common answer single Britons give is “having more control over my living space or routine”, at 38%.
This answer is also the one most likely to divide the sexes – while it comes top of both lists, it is more likely to be cited by women (45%) than men (31%).
A further 32% of single Britons say “avoiding relationship stress or arguments”, with the same number saying “not having to worry about someone else’s expectations”.
A similar 31% say “having more independence”, while 29% like “having more time for myself”.
Less important reasons include “being able to date or meet different people” (5%), “having more time for friends and family” (11%), “being able to focus on work, education or hobbies” (15%) and “having more control over my money” (15%).
What are the worst things about being single?
Given a list of eleven downsides of being single and asked to choose up to three, several answers come close to the top spot.
A quarter (24%) of single Britons complain most of “not having regular companionship”, while 22% similarly miss “not having someone to talk to about everyday things”. Another 22% are most bothered by not receiving physical affection, 21% from not having emotional support from a partner and 20% not feeling loved romantically.
While a lack of sex is listed by 16% of single Britons, this comes up notably more frequently among single men (23%) than single women (10%).
The biggest gap in the opposite direction is single women citing a lack of practical support for chores, errands or problems (22%) compared to single men (10%).
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Photo: Getty