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In legal definitions for interpersonal status, a person who is single is an individual not in a romantic relationship, married, or part of a civil union.
Some single people regard and appreciate solitude as an opportunity. Some people stay single by choice. In addition to choosing singleness as a preferential option, there are also those who forgo marriage due to religious orders that prescribe its forbearance. These religious traditions include:
| +Distribution of single person households by country (2021) !Country !% | |
| 45.34 | |
| 43.14 | |
| 42.14 | |
| 41.08 | |
| 39.24 | |
| 39.15 | |
| 38.50 | |
| 38.34 | |
| 37.97 | |
| 37.78 | |
| 37.57 | |
| 36.99 | |
| 36.88 | |
| 36.64 | |
| 35.81 | |
| 35.50 | |
| 35.47 | |
| 35.16 | |
| 34.42 | |
| 34.00 | |
| 33.63 | |
| 32.51 | |
| 32.35 | |
| 31.40 | |
| 30.81 | |
| 29.35 | |
| 29.16 | |
| 28.87 | |
| 27.80 | |
| 27.61 | |
| 26.98 | |
| 25.12 | |
| 24.77 | |
| 24.49 | |
| 23.44 | |
| 23.14 | |
| 22.79 | |
| 18.88 | |
| 12.46 | |
| 11.27 |
According to the United States Bureau of the Census, in 2016, single adults accounted for over 45% of the US population. 65% of this group had never been married. In 2014, Pew Research Center notes that the highest percentage of never-married adults between White, Black, Hispanic and Asian Americans were Black Americans. The same study also projected that about 25% of millennials may not get married.
The study also revealed that the average American's weekly socializing time had not fully recovered from the pandemic. In 2022, individuals reported spending an average of 4.1 hours per week socializing, which was still below the pre-pandemic average of 4.5 hours per week in 2019.
However, people in Japan who do wish to date have reported that it is difficult to find the time to do so due to being .
The English language has more terms for single, unwed women. These terms typically carry a negative connotation. Single women are sometimes called , especially in festive contexts in American English. However, the historic term for unwed women is spinster. The connotations of the word spinster have changed so much over time that it is now considered a derogatory term. The Oxford English Dictionary says in its usage notes for the word:
Though spinster has a long history of being negative, there are some authors, such as Kate Bolick, who are trying to change the word's connotation into something positive. Additionally, the phrase Spinster is used to describe an unmarried woman.
In 2019, Emma Watson coined the phrase "" to describe her status as happily single.
A study in 2000 by the BioMed Central's public health journal covering the anti-depressant use of 3,500 Finnish people found an 80% increased risk of depression for those living alone. A 2022 finding published in the August issue of Frontiers in Psychiatry using 2,056 studies and data from 123,859 participants found that living alone increased the chances of depression by 42%.
Paul Dolan, professor in behaviorial science at the London School of Economics, explained that "if you're a woman, don't bother getting", as a study from the American Time Use Survey found that single women live longer and happier lives than married women.
People who support singleness have different opinions on it, pointing out that not all marriages are created equal. Healthy people, with psychological well-being, have happy relationships with their partners. In contrast, unhappy marriages will have the opposite effect, "A bad marriage can make a person feel more isolated than being single" " Health Benefits Of Being Single". Huffpost Healthy Living. 12 February 2013. according to sociologist professor Eric Klinenber at New York University.
A study of more than 10,000 adults found that married couples were more likely to gain weight during their process of romantic ventures than singles. " Marriage and men's health" . Harvard Health Publications. 10 July 2011. In other words, married couples have a higher risk of weight gain that may be large enough to pose a health risk, as reported by Zhenchao Qian, professor of sociology at Ohio State University.
have been an area of particular growth in singles-related commerce.Larry Glanz and Robert H. Phillips. (2003) Guy Gets Girl, Girl Gets Guy: Where to Find Romance and What to Say When You Find It, p. 59 Many events are aimed at singles of particular affiliations, interest, or religions.Monica B. Morris. (2005) Falling in love again: the mature woman's guide to finding romantic fulfillment, p. 80 Some of the most strongly attended such events are the Christmas Eve party targeted at young Jewish singles in major cities in North America, particularly the Matzo Ball and its big city competitors.Jessica Gresko, Dec. 24 Becomes Party Night for Jewish Singles, Associated Press (Washington Post), 24 December 2006 A variety of other religious organizations' singles events are also very popular. However, dating via religious-sponsored singles events has also been criticized for fostering invasion of daters' privacy and undue expectations.William July, II. (2003) Confessions of an ex-bachelor, p. 113
Also there is a Single Supplement that adds extra fees to those traveling alone.
In some countries, particular laws may directly or indirectly disadvantage single persons. In the United States, for example, Social Security widow(er) benefits are only available to those persons who have been previously married, and single people in the United States pay more income taxes than married people. In many countries tour and holiday operators impose a penalty (often as much as 100%) on persons who travel alone.
Older singles are also heavily targeted by marketers, for much the same reasons. They are typically divorcees or widowed, perhaps reconciled to being single for the rest of their lives, and looking to make the most of what remains to them. Their children, if any, will typically be financially independent. They may, or may not, be looking for another relationship. There is a whole industry dedicated to making unsolicited telephone calls to this group in the hope of exploiting the ones who cannot distinguish between the honest and the dishonest.
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