staT1STIcs
It is estimated that 45% of women ages 25–44 will be single by 2030 - 77.5 million women. Being single exists any stage of life, at any age due to many factors and increasingly by choice. Single women are pushing back against the long standing narratives that suggest life lived solo is an admonishment or someone to be pitied. Statistics show women are increasingly and deliberately single - more so they are happy. In the past 18 years, there has been a 20% decrease in marriage in the US. Many women have moved away from pursuing marriage, instead making themselves the priority. 61% of single women say they are, “happy being single.”
60% US WOMEN AGES 18-29 ARE SINGLE. 💅🏾
57% OF WOMEN ARE NOT CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR A RELATIONSHIP OR CASUAL DATING. 🫣
70% OF WOMEN INITIATE DIVORCE. 👩🏽⚖️
OVER 50% OF DIVORCED WIVES NEVER WANT TO REMARRY. ⚖️
80% OF WOMEN DO NOT REGRET INITIATING A BREAKUP 💔
women are waiting to get married until later in life. The rates of first marriages in midlife have increased by 74% for women 1990. 👰🏽♀️
10% of people marrying for the first time are ages 40 to 59. 💘
S1NGLE WOMEN BY THE NUMBERS
It is estimated that 45% of women ages 25–44 will be single by 2030 - 77.5 million women.
“THE PARADIGM SH1FT”
A profound paradigm shift has reshaped the behaviors and desires of single women, challenging traditional notions that equate marriage and parenthood as the pinnacle of success for women.
Single women are embracing unexplored levels of independence, recognizing that her worth extends far beyond societal expectations of marital and parental status. In this transformative narrative, women are rewriting their life stories. Women are no longer tethered to men for economic life support therefore making deliberate choices about our own lives.
Education, career pursuits, and financial independence are at the forefront of this evolution, as single women increasingly prioritize personal fulfillment and self-discovery.
The societal definition of success is being redefined, with women flourishing in high-earning professions, enjoying vibrant social lives, indulging in travel, health and wellness pursuits and enriching romantic and/or platonic relationships.
EV1DENCE
Contrary to the unfounded stereotype, singleness and selfishness are not mutually exclusive, research shows that single women contribute significantly to their communities, families and friendships.
This paradigm shift not only liberates single women from outdated constraints but also contributes to the construction of a more inclusive and supportive societal framework, where individual agency, diverse lifestyles, and meaningful relationships are celebrated as key components of a life well lived.
Single women are dismantling patriarchal standards steering away from the long-held notion that a woman's value is contingent on her relationship status.
This seismic shift reflects a broader cultural awakening, where women celebrate their autonomy, break free from traditional molds, and assert their right to lead lives characterized by individual choices, aspirations, and achievements. More important, women have begun to shed the negative connotation and shame attributed to their single status.
staT1STIcs II
F1NANCE
If you’re not able to support yourself as a woman, you put yourself in a vulnerable situation, women need to protect themselves and earn a living because relationships don’t always last and often are interrupted by divorce, death, or an illness. For single women, financial decisions are about more than the bottom line. Long-term financial planning for women looks a lot different because of their unique life circumstances. Single women tend to invest and fund specific goals, leaving an inheritance to children or siblings children, supporting a post-retirement lifestyle, funding a small business, or making a social impact in their community. 67% of women invest outside of retirement plans, more specifically, 71% of millennial women , 67% of Gen Xers and 62% of baby boomers invest outside of their retirement plans. Women investors get better investing returns than men, with studies finding differences of 0.4% to nearly 1%.
HEALTH + 1NSURANCE
Single women pay a higher percentage of their income toward health insurance than men in every age breakdown and the gap widens with age. Single women 65 and older spend 11.7% of their annual income on health insurance. Single women who earn less than $15,000 a year pay an exorbitant 20.7% of their income on health insurance. Single women also pay 2.4% of their income, on average, toward auto insurance and women put 0.7% of their income, on average, toward life insurance.
HOMEOWNERSH1P
Single women own 58% of 35.2 million homes owned by unmarried Americans. The top three states with the greatest level of single female homeownership are Delaware, Florida and Maryland.
WEALTH TRANSFER
Researchers believe that the greatest wealth transfer in U.S. history is here. Recent estimates suggest that some $84 trillion will be passed down from older Americans to millennial and Gen X heirs through 2045—and that $16 trillion will be transferred within the next decade. Women are set to be the largest beneficiaries of the current wealth transfer, and that share is likely to grow in the future. Women currently control about $11 trillion in assets. By 2030, they are expected to control much of the $30 trillion in wealth that baby boomers possess.
WELLNESS
Studies consistently show Single women, tend to enjoy higher life expectancies. Data consistently reveals that single women often boast better health outcomes and longer life expectancy compared to their married counterparts. The research suggests that the stressors associated with marriage, childbearing and caregiving responsibilities, may contribute to a decline in overall health for married women.
Single women tend to be healthier and less depressed, living longer than married women. Single women generally experience fewer stresses and compromises than married women. Furthermore, single women feel more empowered, enjoying greater personal autonomy and freedoms than married women largely because they don’t juggle challenging multiple roles at work and home.
WORKFORCE
The increasing number of single women in the U.S. workforce represents a significant societal shift, reflecting changing attitudes towards women's roles and opportunities. As of recent data on Women in the Labor Force, 59% of women in the United States are active participants in the workforce, comprising a substantial 67 million individuals, 74% engaged in full-time employment. 54.3% of employed women are unmarried, indicating a substantial and growing segment of the workforce. A significant portion of this demographic includes unmarried women without children, challenging traditional expectations and stereotypes about women's professional aspirations. This trend signals a broader movement toward economic independence and career-focused lifestyles among single women, suggesting that societal norms around marriage and motherhood are evolving. The increasing presence of single women in the workforce not only highlights the resilience and determination of these individuals but also underscores the importance of acknowledging and supporting diverse paths to fulfillment and success in contemporary society.
ECONOM1CS
There is a surging economic influence of single women in the US. Contributing a staggering 7 trillion dollars to the economy, single women have emerged as a formidable force propelling growth in the job market, homeownership, educational pursuits while having outsized spending. across industries, from fashion and personal care to dining, luxury goods and electric cars. Most notably, the ownership of 20.3 million homes of the 58 million owned by unmarried Americans are owned by single women. This single-women-spending further exemplifies a financial prowess and commitment to long-term investments. As single women continue to ascend as a significant economic demographic, their influence is poised to catalyze innovation, entrepreneurship, and societal progress.
EDUCAT1ON
American colleges and universities now enroll roughly six women for every four men. This is the largest female-male gender gap in the history of higher education, and it’s getting wider. In 2021, the census estimated that 21.1 million, 56% or 12 million of them were female and nearly 10% of all U.S. undergraduate students, or 1.7 million students, are single mothers.
The data indicates more than who is paying tuition or paying off student loans. These graduates have the potential to change the American population for generations. (For decades, data showed men were more educated and married people of equal or lower educational attainment.) In the long term, the increasingly educated women of America impress the possibility of impactful change in business, economy, the labor force, matrimony politics and policy.
LE1SURE
Single women have the freedom and flexibility to enjoy a number of leisure experiences, from travel to gaming, ballroom dancing, book clubs and personal care. Between 2016 and 2019, online searches for “female solo travel” increased by 62%. 80% of travel is booked by women while 85% of solo travelers are women. 95% of spa-goers are women and 55% are single women. By 2025, the gaming industry is set to be worth over $268 billion, the average female gamer is 44 years old and women represent 48% of the global gaming market. 38% of single women consider themselves sports fans. Women make up 65% of theatre audiences and spend more than $3500 on dining out annually.
POLIT1CS
In every presidential election since 1980, the proportion of eligible female adults who voted has consistently surpassed that of eligible male adults, a trend persisting since 1964. Women generally exhibit higher voter registration rates than men. Notably, unmarried women constituted 23% of the electorate in 2012, emerging as a potent voting demographic.
The galvanization of voters can be attributed to frustration over the crumbling social constructs, antiquated abortion legislation, lack of healthcare, inaction supporting gun legislation, pay inequities, the pink tax, student loan debt and predatory lending - all issued that directly impact single women. Single women have a set of needs that have yet to be met or acknowledged by government. In fact, women pressing for political change have historically been criticized.