Online Dating Survey

Online Dating In India

Online Dating in India

Research Conducted by-

Pratik Krishnan

Ranjeet Chandran

Executive Summary

The Indian population is rapidly modernizing, and with it so is their attitude towards subjects like relationships, dating, sex etc. This creates new markets for marketers to tap into, with the new needs and wants that arrive along with this openness that the people display. Though Online Dating in India is a growing market there hasn’t been much of conclusive research in this field. Thus, we decided to undertake this study and we have been surprised with the patterns that have emerged.

This survey highlights the need for quality online dating services that cater to a more mature audience namely to people aged 30+, who are actively embracing online

dating but have some specific requirements and good paying power.

Current Market Scenario

• Online Dating Market The current size of the online dating market in India is around USD 130 million. By 2015, it is estimated to rise to USD 206 million, representing a CAGR of 16 percent

• India represents around 17 percent of the global population, however, India’s market size accounts for only 3.25 percent of the global market. This difference represents a huge opportunity for upcoming and current players in India.

• The US with a market size of USD 2000 million accounts for the largest pie of the market. Even though US is mature market, it is growing at a rate of 12-15 percent. Thus, India being a developing market, industry sources predict a growth of 15-20 percent in the coming years.

Source: Dating websites upbeat on India, Online Dating Statistics & Facts

Future Market Scenario

• According to industry sources, India and UK have witnessed a steep rise in the popularity of online dating.

• In India, presently only 6 million people are using online dating services, according to StepOut.com. By 2015, the number is estimated to rise to 115 million, a CAGR of 167 percent.

Research Objectives

Primary objectives beyond this survey is to understand the attitude of people towards online dating. To find out the motivations of these people to engage in online dating, their behaviour patterns and

expectations with respect to online dating.

Research Methodology

An in-depth questionnaire has been devised to gain as much insight as possible from each respondent.

More than 200 people have been surveyed. The primary method for survey is through online questionnaire by the use of Google Docs. Also, over 40 people have in interviewed either personally or

telephonically to get additional insights on each question.

On final count, 225 people had been surveyed.

Primarily respondents belonging to metropolitan cities have been targeted for the survey.

DEMOGRAPHICS

Gender RatioFemales- 54% Males- 46%

AGE GROUP

17-25: 54% 25-30: 21% 30-35: 19% 35+: 6%

46%54%

CITY

Mumbai- 76% Delhi- 11% Pune- 3% Other- 10%

RELATIONSHIP STATUS

Single- 52% Engaged- 7% Seperated- 2%

Dating- 31% Divorced- 3% Married- 5%

SEXUAL ORIENTATION

Straight- 96% Lesbian/Gay- 1% Bi-sexual- 3%

Sample Profiles

Farhana Sheikh, 17

FYJC Arts, St. Xavier’s College,

Mumbai

Manjot Singh, 21

BMM Student, Khalsa College,

MumbaiKhushmita Shetty, 24

Assistant Brand Manager, Guess Watches,

Pune

Rajat Khanna, 45

Restaurant Owner,

Bangalore

Arunoday Sen, 33

Operations Head, Accenture,

Delhi

Research Findings

Comfort with sharing sexual orientation online

Yes- 75% No- 24% Maybe- 1%

Have you ever formed a friendly connection with a stranger through a social networking website or an instant messaging app?

Yes- 81% No- 19%

Have you ever formed a relationship with a person through a social networking website or an instant messaging app?

Yes- 61% No- 39%

Which mediums are used to form online relationships?

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

Texting

Facebook

Other SNS

Skype

Email

Whats App

Other Messaging Apps

Others

Which factors are important in an online partner?

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160

Education

Interests

Finances

Appearance

Other

Are you or were you ever a member of a dating website or use or have used a mobile app for dating?

Yes- 47% No- 53%

If yes, which site or app do you use?

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Mingle2.com

Tinder

Cupid.com

Thrill

Singles Around Me

Match.com

Metordate.com

IndiaDating.com

Floh.com

Other

How long have you been a member?

1 Week- 1 Month: 26% 1 Month- 6 Month: 17% 6 Month- 1 Year: 19% 1 Year+: 38%

How often do you or did you log onto your dating profile?

Several Times a Day40%

Once a Day36%

Weekly9%

Monthly1%

Other14%

Several Times a Day Once a Day Weekly Monthly Other

Why did you become a member of a dating website?

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Friendship

Casual Dating

Serious Relationship

Curious about online dating

Sexual Encounter

Marriage

What do you consider to be the most important factor when looking for a relationship online?

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

Physical Attraction

Personality

Wealth

Other

Do you discuss your online dating activities with your family or friends?

Yes- 37% No- 63%

If not, then why?

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

Not comfortable disclosing

Concerned about image

Family/ Peers may disapprove

Consider it a taboo

Other

Do you lie in your online profile?

Yes- 46% No- 54%

If yes, what factors do you lie about?

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Current Relationship Status

Physical Attributes

Caste/Religion

Salary/Designation

Company

Habits

Other

Have you ever met up in person with someone you met on an online dating site or app?

Yes- 55% No- 45%

Have you ever communicated with a member of an online dating site or app for a prolonged time, but have never met up?

Yes- 55% No- 45%

Please discuss your motivations for the above answer?

The primary concern that people display here is that they are not entirely comfortable in meeting people from dating websites, two important factors being safety and awkwardness.

Have you ever developed a relationship with someone from an online dating site or app?

Yes- 50% No- 50%

Are you currently in a relationship that was formed from through an online dating site or app?

Yes- 39% No- 61%

If yes, which of the following best describes the type of relationship you are in?

Infatuation- 5% Romantic Relationship- 33% Compassionate- 20%

Love- 18% Sexual- 20% Marriage/Commitment- 4%

Key FindingsDating Through Social Media and Instant Messaging

• Through personal interviews we have come across a interesting fact, most people belonging to the age group of 17-25, don’t consider any relationship formed through a Social Media Site or Instant Messaging App to be online dating, but a regular part of life.

• As opposed to popular opinion, the younger population is more reserved towards online dating, with only about 39% claiming to have formed a relationship through social channels.

• Interestingly more than 90% respondents above the age of 30 claim to have formed a relationship through Social Media and Instant Messaging, of these nearly 67% are married or committed in one form or the other. The motivations listed among these respondents majorly are friendship, casual relationship and sexual encounter.

Key FindingsDating through Online Dating Services

• Nearly 30% women respondents claim to be active on Dating sites or apps.

• About 44% people who have tried online dating claim they have had a negative experience.

• 71% of people claim they would not use a paid service for online dating. Thus, other monetary options can be explored, such as in app ads.

• 29% claim they would be willing to pay. Of these about 70% would not mind paying Rs. 400- 500 per month and about 30% are okay with spending about Rs. 2000- 3000 for the same.

Yes- 29% No- 71%

Would you pay for a premium paid online dating service?

Key FindingsDating through Online Dating Services

• Since, nearly 63% of the people claim to be not comfortable in their online dating activities, there is need to create services that provide the users with complete discretion and safety when indulging in online dating activities.

• Two niches emerge from this survey, one looking for friendship and companionship and other looking for casual relationships and more specifically sexual encounters, these are 2 markets that marketers can look to aggressively target, especially in the 30+ segment.

Conclusion

• The 30+ age group, containing both men and women, is a major target area for online dating service providers, there is an existing demand in this market and also this age group tends to have good paying power.

• Nearly 30% of the respondents are ok with paying about Rs. 2000 for dating services and about 70% are ok with paying about Rs. 500, thus there is scope for payable premium and ultra premium services

• Since many women are actively a part of dating sites but a lot of people claim to have negative experiences, there is a need to make it safer for women, wherein they should not be spammed by lechers and be able to connect with genuine people.

• Service providers can play on this need and demand a good premium, either from members or can opt for in site/ app advertisements.

Additional Sources

• http://www.slideshare.net/troikatalks/online-dating-and-matrimony-industry-profile?qid=0a3e8196-7785-4d96-a448-c865030627bb&v=qf1&b=&from_search=2

• http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-12-02/news/35546873_1_market-site-new-delhi

• http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/india-new-love-interest-is-online-dating/1/190332.html

• http://gadgets.ndtv.com/internet/features/inside-the-world-of-online-dating-in-india-543639

• http://yourstory.com/2013/02/india-online-dating-sites/

Thank you!