Singles Report 2026 – Single Life and the Longing for Love in Sweden

Nearly one in three singles in Sweden strongly longs for a partner. Yet only 12% are actively trying to meet someone. The gap is particularly striking among singles aged 30–39, where 43% strongly desire a relationship, but only 16% are actively looking. Men are more likely to long for a partner than women: 34% of men compared to 25% of women. Men are also more active in their search, at 16% compared to 9% of women. But what's holding back those who actually want to meet someone?

One of the report’s most interesting findings highlights the lack of natural opportunities to meet new people. Among singles who strongly long for a partner but aren't actively looking, 57% say they struggle to find good ways or social settings to meet someone. At the same time, 40% of this group find dating emotionally challenging. Only 18% cite a lack of time, and the same proportion say they have grown tired of dating. This suggests that for many, the barrier isn't simply a lack of time or motivation, but how and where they can actually meet new people. Wanting to find love is one thing. Knowing where to start is another.

What is actually the hardest thing to find when dating? The Singles Report reveals that nearly half of all singles, 49%, find it difficult to meet someone they can build a long-term relationship with. Only around 6% say it's easy. Sex, on the other hand, is perceived as much more accessible. While 24% say sex is easy to find, 22% say it's difficult. When it comes to emotional closeness, the picture is quite different. 39% find emotional closeness difficult to find, while only 12% say it's easy. At the same time, emotional closeness is one of the things singles long for most. Among those who are open to meeting someone, 43% say they want to experience emotional closeness, and 41% want someone to share experiences with. So it isn't necessarily a lack of contact that's the problem, but the opportunity to build something deeper.

Single life has many advantages. As many as 67% say they enjoy being single. The biggest benefit is freedom. Two in three appreciate not having to compromise with a partner, and 58% value having more time for themselves. Women enjoy single life more than men: 71% compared to 62%. But enjoying being single doesn't mean never feeling lonely. 49% experience unwanted loneliness often or sometimes, in a way they associate with being single. Among 18–39-year-olds, the figure is around 60%. When loneliness sets in, what singles miss most is having someone to share experiences with and a sense of emotional closeness. Single life can offer both freedom and independence – alongside a longing to share life with someone.

Another interesting finding concerns how open Swedish singles are to exploring different types of relationships. 18% have considered dating someone of a gender they don't usually date. Around 4% have also done so. This openness is greatest among younger singles. Among 18–29-year-olds, 34% have considered it, compared to 29% of those aged 30–39 and 6% of people over 60. What's behind this curiosity? Among those who have considered dating someone of a different gender, 32% say they have felt attracted to someone of a gender they don't usually date. Another 28% find it difficult to meet a compatible partner among the people they typically date, while 24% say that what they look for in a partner has changed over time. The findings suggest that our ideas about who we might consider dating aren't always fixed, but can evolve with experience and changing life circumstances.

How do Swedish singles feel about their chances of finding what they're looking for? Among those who have been single for at least a year, 28% are less hopeful than they were a year ago. Only 12% have become more hopeful. Most concerning is that those who long for a partner the most are also more likely to have lost hope. Four in ten in this group feel less hopeful than before. Younger singles, however, stand out. Among 18–29-year-olds, 21% have become more hopeful over the past year.

The Singles Report also reveals that being single affects more than just our love lives. 34% have missed out on or postponed something they really wanted to do because they are single. Among those who have held back, 56% have skipped a trip or holiday, while 53% have avoided going to restaurants, bars, cinemas or events. This highlights just how much of our social lives is still organised around couples and relationships. But do you really need to be a couple to enjoy doing things together?

The fact that so many singles struggle to find good social settings to meet someone is one of the reasons MinglMe was created.

MinglMe is a Swedish dating concept that brings singles together through shared real-life activities – such as dinners, after-work drinks, shuffleboard, wine tastings and other experiences. Instead of starting with swiping and chatting, singles can get to know each other by doing something fun together. At the same time, the concept creates new opportunities for local restaurants, bars and activity providers. By welcoming singles to shared activities, businesses can fill available spots, attract new guests and introduce more people to what they have to offer. The idea is simple: more natural connections between people, while helping local businesses attract new visitors.

Want to learn more about how singles in Sweden view love, relationships, loneliness and dating? The full Singles Report 2026 includes more findings, charts and comparisons between women and men, different age groups and how long people have been single. You can also download the report as a PDF.

The Singles Report 2026 was commissioned by MinglMe and conducted by Bilendi between October 1–9, 2026. The survey includes 1,000 online interviews with singles in Sweden aged 18 and over. The results are weighted by gender, age and region based on population statistics from Statistics Sweden (SCB).

Source: Singles Report 2026, MinglMe/Bilendi.

For press and media: Want to learn more about the findings, interview MinglMe's founder or access press materials? Visit MinglMe's press page.

Press contact: Olga Engvall, Founder of MinglMe
crew@minglme.se