Widow Dating Statistics UK
Quick answer
There were around 3.13 million widowed people in England and Wales in 2022, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Meanwhile, online dating among adults aged 50 and over has grown faster than any other age group in recent years, according to Pew Research Center analysis, reflecting a much larger and more active pool of older daters than many assume.
The widowed population
ONS population estimates put the number of widowed people in England and Wales at approximately 3.13 million in 2022. The proportion of adults who are widowed has actually declined over time, from 9.1% in 1991 to 6.1% in 2021, reflecting longer life expectancy and demographic shifts, per ONS census analysis. There's a significant gender imbalance at older ages: over the age of 80, there are around 1.1 million widows compared with roughly 259,000 widowers in England and Wales — more than four widows for every widower, according to ONS data analysed by retirement specialist Just Group.
Dating trends among older adults
Online dating use among adults aged 50 and over grew by around 70% between 2019 and 2024 in the US, the fastest growth of any age group, according to Pew Research Center. In the UK specifically, adults aged 55 to 64 make up only around 6% of dating app users but spend more time on them than any other age group — an average of roughly 5 hours 43 minutes per month, per UK market analysis. Around 62% of older daters say they prefer platforms designed specifically for their age group, since shared life stage and context make it easier to find compatible matches.
Practical tips
- Know you're far from alone. Millions of people in England and Wales alone are widowed, and older-adult dating is a genuinely growing space.
- Consider an age-focused platform, since most older daters report preferring them.
- Don't be discouraged by low representation figures. Engagement and outcomes matter more than raw population share.
- Expect a real, active community of people in a similar position to you.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming you're an outlier. Widowhood, especially at older ages, is common, and dating again at this stage is increasingly mainstream.
- Confusing population share with activity. Older daters may be a smaller share of users but are highly engaged.
- Overlooking the gender imbalance at older ages, which shapes the dating pool differently for widows and widowers.
FAQs
How many widowed people are there in the UK?
Is the widowed population growing or shrinking?
Are there more widows or widowers in the UK?
Is online dating growing among older adults?
Conclusion
Widowhood is common at every stage of later life, and dating again at this age is an increasingly active, mainstream part of the picture — you're joining a genuinely large community, not a small exception.
Sources
- Office for National Statistics, population estimates by marital status and living arrangements, England and Wales.
- Just Group analysis of ONS data, "Four times as many widows as widowers aged 80 plus," February 2024.
- Pew Research Center, "How Americans 50 and older use online dating sites and apps," 2023.
Related articles
Marriage After Bereavement Statistics
How common is remarriage after bereavement compared with cohabitation?
Average Age of Widowhood
What's the average age people become widowed? Real, sourced figures.