Half of American singles no longer view a two-person partnership as their preferred arrangement. The Match.com 2024 Singles in America study, conducted with the Kinsey Institute and surveying over 5,305 adults, found that 49% of respondents considered traditional monogamy their ideal setup. The other half either favored something else or had not made up their minds.

This represents a population rethinking what relationships can look like. Consensual non-monogamy, polyamory, open partnerships, and various hybrid arrangements have moved from fringe topics to mainstream conversation. About 31% of singles in the same study reported having explored consensual non-monogamy at some point.

What Younger Generations Actually Want

The data on younger daters produces some contradictions worth noting. A Rayden Solicitors survey found 42% of people aged 18 to 24 believe monogamy is no longer a realistic ideal. A 2023 Tinder report showed 41% of Gen Z users are open to non-monogamous relationships.

Yet research from Feeld and the Kinsey Institute tells a different story. Among Gen Z members on Feeld, monogamy emerged as the most preferred relationship style at 23%, with only 15% preferring non-monogamy. The same research found 81% of Gen Z have had monogamous fantasies, and 44% think about monogamy often, nearly double the rate seen in older generations.

Millennials in 2004 widely reported one-night stands as common among their peers at 78%. In contrast, only 23% of Gen Z reported the same in 2024. Additionally, 21% of singles said they do not want a sexual relationship right now.

These numbers suggest something more complicated than a simple rejection of commitment. Younger people appear open to different structures while still holding monogamy as a desired possibility.

Choosing What Works

Relationship preferences vary based on personal goals and life circumstances. Some people seek traditional partnerships, while others prefer arrangements that allow for greater flexibility or specific dynamics. Sugar relationships, age-gap dating, and open partnerships all fall under this umbrella of alternative choices that people make based on what suits their needs at a given time.

The Match.com 2024 Singles in America study found that only 49% of singles said a traditional two-person relationship is their ideal scenario right now. The remaining half are open to other formats or remain undecided, which points to a population willing to consider options beyond conventional models.

Platform Engagement and Profile Trends

Dating apps have recorded measurable increases in users identifying with non-traditional relationship styles. The CEO of Feeld reported to Axios that the company has seen a 500% increase over the past three years in users, including terms like ethically nonmonogamous and polyamorous in their profiles.

OkCupid data shows 33% of current users would consider an open relationship, up from 27% in 2014. The platform also recorded a 45% increase in profile mentions of non-monogamy-related terms between 2021 and 2023.

The OPEN 2024 Community Survey, with 4,554 respondents from 71 countries, found that 46.5% identified as polyamorous. Among this group, 57% reported practicing non-monogamy for more than three years. The majority of respondents, 67%, were between 25 and 44 years old.

Money and Relationship Structure

Financial pressure has become a consistent factor in how people approach partnerships. For the second consecutive year, singles in the Match study listed money issues as their top stressor. Personal day-to-day finances topped the list at 24%, followed by concerns over the economy and inflation at 21% each.

As a result, 73% of singles say financial stability is a top quality they look for in partners. Some reporting suggests that as marriage rates continue to decline and cost of living increases, more people approve of non-traditional family arrangements to find companionship, pursue careers, and manage expenses. Open marriages and other configurations offer some couples a way to share resources while maintaining separate romantic or sexual connections.

Legal Recognition in a Few Places

Polyamorous relationships have gained limited legal recognition in specific municipalities. In 2020 and 2021, three Boston-area municipalities became the first in the country to extend domestic partnership definitions to include polyamorous relationships. Somerville led, followed by Cambridge and Arlington.

In March 2023, Somerville passed an ordinance prohibiting discrimination against polyamorous people in employment and policing. Oakland City Council passed legislation banning discrimination based on family and relationship structure in April 2024. Berkeley followed in May 2024 with a law banning such discrimination in businesses, city services, and housing.

A 2022 survey found 30% of U.S. adults support the legalization of polyamory, with 40% opposing. The 18 to 44 age group showed the highest support at 42%, while 52% of respondents aged 65 and older opposed it.

External Pressures on Dating Behavior

The overturning of Roe v. Wade has affected the dating and sex lives of nearly 9 in 10 singles, with 87% of daters under 50 reporting an impact since the 2022 ruling. This figure represents an increase from 78% the previous year. Nearly 1 in 5 Gen Z women reports being worried about having sex due to restrictive legislation.

Political and legal developments have become factors in how people approach intimacy and partner selection. Some have pulled back from casual encounters entirely, while others have become more deliberate about who they date and under what circumstances.

Optimism Remains

Despite all these variables, 79% of singles and 83% of Gen Zers believe they can still have a lifelong marriage. Research from Bumble found that 72% of users globally reported focusing on finding long-term partners within the next year. Survey results indicated that in 2024, 87% of Bumble members described themselves as thriving in their dating lives.

The interest in alternative relationship structures does not appear to signal a rejection of a lasting connection. People are exploring different ways to build partnerships, but the underlying goal for most remains stability and companionship over time.