Online dating statistics is the gage used to determine how far off online dating has become. Online dating statistics show that online dating is one of the most lucrative businesses in the internet today. While other business are having a hard time staying afloat, it is not so with online dating.

Online dating statistics showed that of the 97 million Americans who are 45 or older, almost 40 percent or roughly 36.2 million of them are single, this according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Another interesting online dating statistics revealed that a number of singles these days has been considering online dating. Proof to that fact is the growing number of people who are into it. As a matter of fact, in a recent survey, 26% of all internet users in the U.S. which accounts for around 39 million Americans visited personals website in December, 2003. This is according to web measurement firm comScore Media Metrix.

Another online dating statistics from the survey by The Sunday Times indicate that "that email relationships can be far more intimate than normal dating. Women are most likely to find a potential lover online, with 72% admitting to having had an online romance, compared to 52% of men. The online dating statistics report also found that 33% of all online relationships led to a date."

Online dating statistics from the Knight Ridder Tribune Business News also revealed that ‘the online portion of the dating services industry makes up a third of the total revenues with $304 million in 2002. The target demographic for these services is the 83 million Americans that are between 19 and 45 and single. They have received a significant

increase in the number of single women in their thirties and forties searching for a connection through a very impersonal medium. This trend has been on the rise since September 11th, an event which made people realize how important life is and how personal attention can ad to your life. That may be why almost 40% of frequent users are married already. 2-3% of internet users visit these sites and 60-70% of those say they have made long-lasting friendships from their encounters."

The Online Publishers Association online dating statistics showed that ‘consumers spent $302 million on paid personals and dating content in 2002, more than three times the $72 million they doled out for the same services the previous year, the study found.’ And online dating statistics according to Fox News showed that "the leader, Match.com, reported a 154 percent growth in revenue, from $49.3 million in 2001 to $125.2 million in 2002.