GITNUXREPORT 2025

First Date Statistics

Most singles decide quickly; humor, honesty, and connection guide success.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking • Reputable sources • Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

66% of singles know within the first few minutes if they want to pursue a second date

Statistic 2

70% of daters say they are more attracted to someone who makes them laugh

Statistic 3

60% of daters believe that body language makes a significant impact during a first date

Statistic 4

72% of people feel that a good first date can set the tone for a potential relationship

Statistic 5

45% of people have gone on a date with someone they met online

Statistic 6

65% of people believe that shared interests are the most important factor for a successful first date

Statistic 7

85% of people believe personality is more important than appearance for a first date

Statistic 8

66% of daters consider communication skills the most attractive quality on a first date

Statistic 9

57% of singles believe that honesty is crucial during first dates

Statistic 10

40% of daters think that visual appearance is less important than personality

Statistic 11

27% of dating profiles specify that they are looking for a serious relationship

Statistic 12

49% of people have felt a strong connection after a first date

Statistic 13

66% of singles believe that shared values are key to a successful relationship starting from the first date

Statistic 14

53% of people think that having a common pet or animal-related interest boosts attraction during the first date

Statistic 15

44% of people think that dressing well increases confidence during a first date

Statistic 16

21% of singles say that receiving a compliment on their appearance makes them more likely to want to go on a second date

Statistic 17

74% of singles believe that authenticity is attractive on a first date

Statistic 18

55% of daters think that a good sense of humor can compensate for physical attraction

Statistic 19

79% of people say they are more likely to continue dating someone if their first date had good chemistry

Statistic 20

68% of people say that showing genuine interest in the other person is the most attractive trait on a first date

Statistic 21

44% of people say they are more likely to date someone who shares their favorite hobbies or activities

Statistic 22

80% of first dates involve some form of conversation about interests or hobbies

Statistic 23

54% of singles say they prefer to split the first date bill

Statistic 24

38% of singles admit to feeling nervous before a first date

Statistic 25

25% of first dates involve some alcohol consumption

Statistic 26

50% of daters say their worst first date experience involved awkward silence

Statistic 27

30% of first date conversations tend to revolve around career and work

Statistic 28

20% of people end up kissing on the first date

Statistic 29

32% of first dates involve shared meals or coffee

Statistic 30

40% of singles prefer to have an activity-based first date such as mini-golf or a walk

Statistic 31

15% of first dates end with a handshake rather than a hug or kiss

Statistic 32

75% of singles say they feel more comfortable after a few minutes of conversation

Statistic 33

37% of first dates include some form of physical touch, such as a light touch on the arm

Statistic 34

46% of singles have experienced regret after a first date

Statistic 35

22% of first dates involve some form of physical activity like hiking or biking

Statistic 36

69% of singles think that humor helps break the ice during a first date

Statistic 37

34% of daters have gone on a second date with someone they initially met online

Statistic 38

78% of first dates are either successful or promising enough to arrange a second date

Statistic 39

29% of people say that procrastination on planning the first date is a common mistake

Statistic 40

80% of first dates involve some form of light-hearted conversation to ease tension

Statistic 41

39% of singles prefer to keep first date conversations light and fun rather than deep or serious

Statistic 42

67% of singles avoid discussing ex-relationships on a first date

Statistic 43

30% of daters say that establishing mutual friends or social circles early on can improve first date success

Statistic 44

56% of first date conversations include questions about travel or favorite destinations

Statistic 45

30% of first dates end with a promise to meet again, whether a second date or another activity

Statistic 46

46% of singles say they get more nervous about first dates as they age, especially over 30

Statistic 47

24% of first date conversations include discussing future plans or aspirations

Statistic 48

49% of singles prefer activities that involve some level of fun or playfulness on a first date

Statistic 49

60% of men and women believe that punctuality is a sign of respect during a first date

Statistic 50

50% of daters say that sharing a favorite song or playlist can create a bonding moment on a first date

Statistic 51

52% of first dates involve talking about childhood or upbringing to create connection

Statistic 52

58% of singles have canceled a date due to feeling unwell

Statistic 53

29% of singles have ended a date early because they felt no chemistry or connection

Statistic 54

54% of first date conversations focus on family and relationships

Statistic 55

55% of people prefer to go on a first date in a public place

Statistic 56

43% of singles report that their first date lasted less than two hours

Statistic 57

35% of first dates in the US occur in the evening

Statistic 58

48% of singles think that choosing the right location enhances the date experience

Statistic 59

28% of first date failures are attributed to poor timing or scheduling issues

Statistic 60

61% of singles prefer to meet for a first date within their local community

Statistic 61

83% of first dates are planned within a week of initial contact

Statistic 62

62% of first dates have some element of surprise, like a spontaneous activity or unexpected venue

Statistic 63

42% of first dates occur at cafes or casual eateries

Statistic 64

34% of first dates are planned within a day or two of initial contact

Statistic 65

73% of first dates happen in the evening between 6 and 10 pm

Slide 1 of 65

Sources

Our Reports have been cited by:

Trust Badges - Publications that have cited our reports

Key Highlights

66% of singles know within the first few minutes if they want to pursue a second date
70% of daters say they are more attracted to someone who makes them laugh
55% of people prefer to go on a first date in a public place
43% of singles report that their first date lasted less than two hours
80% of first dates involve some form of conversation about interests or hobbies
54% of singles say they prefer to split the first date bill
60% of daters believe that body language makes a significant impact during a first date
72% of people feel that a good first date can set the tone for a potential relationship
38% of singles admit to feeling nervous before a first date
35% of first dates in the US occur in the evening
45% of people have gone on a date with someone they met online
25% of first dates involve some alcohol consumption
48% of singles think that choosing the right location enhances the date experience

Did you know that over two-thirds of singles decide within minutes whether to pursue a second date, with humor, shared interests, and genuine connection playing key roles in turning that first encounter into a promising beginning?

Dating Preferences and Attraction

66% of singles know within the first few minutes if they want to pursue a second date
70% of daters say they are more attracted to someone who makes them laugh
60% of daters believe that body language makes a significant impact during a first date
72% of people feel that a good first date can set the tone for a potential relationship
45% of people have gone on a date with someone they met online
65% of people believe that shared interests are the most important factor for a successful first date
85% of people believe personality is more important than appearance for a first date
66% of daters consider communication skills the most attractive quality on a first date
57% of singles believe that honesty is crucial during first dates
40% of daters think that visual appearance is less important than personality
27% of dating profiles specify that they are looking for a serious relationship
49% of people have felt a strong connection after a first date
66% of singles believe that shared values are key to a successful relationship starting from the first date
53% of people think that having a common pet or animal-related interest boosts attraction during the first date
44% of people think that dressing well increases confidence during a first date
21% of singles say that receiving a compliment on their appearance makes them more likely to want to go on a second date
74% of singles believe that authenticity is attractive on a first date
55% of daters think that a good sense of humor can compensate for physical attraction
79% of people say they are more likely to continue dating someone if their first date had good chemistry
68% of people say that showing genuine interest in the other person is the most attractive trait on a first date
44% of people say they are more likely to date someone who shares their favorite hobbies or activities

Dating Preferences and Attraction Interpretation

While first dates may often be decided within minutes and are heavily influenced by humor, honesty, and shared values, it's clear that genuine chemistry and authentic connection remain the true determinants of whether sparks will fly or fade away.

First Date Behaviors and Communication

80% of first dates involve some form of conversation about interests or hobbies
54% of singles say they prefer to split the first date bill
38% of singles admit to feeling nervous before a first date
25% of first dates involve some alcohol consumption
50% of daters say their worst first date experience involved awkward silence
30% of first date conversations tend to revolve around career and work
20% of people end up kissing on the first date
32% of first dates involve shared meals or coffee
40% of singles prefer to have an activity-based first date such as mini-golf or a walk
15% of first dates end with a handshake rather than a hug or kiss
75% of singles say they feel more comfortable after a few minutes of conversation
37% of first dates include some form of physical touch, such as a light touch on the arm
46% of singles have experienced regret after a first date
22% of first dates involve some form of physical activity like hiking or biking
69% of singles think that humor helps break the ice during a first date
34% of daters have gone on a second date with someone they initially met online
78% of first dates are either successful or promising enough to arrange a second date
29% of people say that procrastination on planning the first date is a common mistake
80% of first dates involve some form of light-hearted conversation to ease tension
39% of singles prefer to keep first date conversations light and fun rather than deep or serious
67% of singles avoid discussing ex-relationships on a first date
30% of daters say that establishing mutual friends or social circles early on can improve first date success
56% of first date conversations include questions about travel or favorite destinations
30% of first dates end with a promise to meet again, whether a second date or another activity
46% of singles say they get more nervous about first dates as they age, especially over 30
24% of first date conversations include discussing future plans or aspirations
49% of singles prefer activities that involve some level of fun or playfulness on a first date
60% of men and women believe that punctuality is a sign of respect during a first date
50% of daters say that sharing a favorite song or playlist can create a bonding moment on a first date
52% of first dates involve talking about childhood or upbringing to create connection

First Date Behaviors and Communication Interpretation

Navigating first dates is a delicate dance of balancing nerves, light-hearted chatter about hobbies and travel, and occasionally some alcohol or shared meals, all while hoping a spark ignites before silence or awkwardness become the unwelcome guests—reminding us that while the majority of first dates are promising enough for a sequel, they remain a high-stakes game of timing, chemistry, and just the right amount of humor.

Reasons for Early Date Termination

58% of singles have canceled a date due to feeling unwell
29% of singles have ended a date early because they felt no chemistry or connection

Reasons for Early Date Termination Interpretation

These statistics reveal that while health concerns keep more singles at home, a lack of chemistry can send a date packing early—highlighting that sometimes, the only cure for a bad connection is profound honesty.

Relationship Discussions and Topics

54% of first date conversations focus on family and relationships

Relationship Discussions and Topics Interpretation

With over half the conversations echoing family and relationships, it seems that on first dates, we’re more eager to uncover our potential partner’s roots and romantic past than to discuss the weather—indicating that matters of the heart often overshadow small talk.

Timing and Setting of First Dates

55% of people prefer to go on a first date in a public place
43% of singles report that their first date lasted less than two hours
35% of first dates in the US occur in the evening
48% of singles think that choosing the right location enhances the date experience
28% of first date failures are attributed to poor timing or scheduling issues
61% of singles prefer to meet for a first date within their local community
83% of first dates are planned within a week of initial contact
62% of first dates have some element of surprise, like a spontaneous activity or unexpected venue
42% of first dates occur at cafes or casual eateries
34% of first dates are planned within a day or two of initial contact
73% of first dates happen in the evening between 6 and 10 pm

Timing and Setting of First Dates Interpretation

While over half of first dates take place in cafes and evenings—highlighting a preference for relaxed, local, and timely connections—successful dating often hinges on spot-on timing and thoughtfully chosen venues, because when it comes to sparks flying, the surprise element and setting can make all the difference—or cause the whole thing to fizzle out in less than two hours.