Long-Distance Relationship Statistics – What the stats are saying

H. is sitting at her desk and wondering if her long-distance relationship is going to work?

She wishes she can glance into a crystal ball and see the future of her relationship.

I may not have the crystal ball to help predict the outcome.

We may also never know what the outcome will be.

But together, we can look at some of the long-distance relationship statistics and see what science has to say about the success of any long-distance relationship.

Long Distance Relationship Statistics Overview

1. Statistics showed that about 14 to 15 million people in the United States considered themselves in a long-distance relationship.
2. About 25Million people in the UK have been in an LDR relationship.
3. About 10% of adults in Western Europe, the US, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia live apart together,
4. 75 % of all engaged couples have been (at some point) in a long-distance relationship
5. 2.9 % of all married couples in the states live in a long-distance relationship
6. 10 % of all marriages in the states started out as a long-distance relationship
7. 4.5 months – the average time before a long-distance relationship breaks down
8. 40 % of all long-distance relationships end with a break-up
9. 70 % of all failed long-distance relationships fail due to unplanned changes.
10. Most people in long-distance relationships tend to be at least 125 miles away from each other.
11. They tend to visit each other less than twice a month and call each other at least once every three days.
12. The average person in a long-distance relationship writes each other a letter about 3 times a month.
13. 125 miles – the average distance in long-distance relationships
14. 1.5 times – the average number of times couples visited each other (per month)
15. 3 letters – the average number of letters couples write to each other (per month)
16. 2.7 days – the average number of days between couples calling each other
17. 14 month – the average number of months before couples expect to move back together
18. 60% of all long-distance relationships are successful
19. 25% to 50% of college students are in an LDR at any given time
20. 27% LDR over 6 months break up
21. 37% LDR over 3 months break up
22. 11% LDR over 6 months break up
23. 8% LDR over 1 year break up. This means the longer your LDR, the less the possibility of breaking up.
24. Most long-distance relationships last an average of 3months to 4 years
25. 85% of people in a long-distance relationship communicate via the telephone. 84% via email and 75% via instant messages.
26. The average conversation length for a long-distance relationship is 15mins and 90mins while people in a long-distance relationship communicate about once or two in a day 75%
27. 49% of people in a long-distance relationship visit their significant half at least once a month.
28. 68% of people in a long-distance relationship fly to visit their significant half while only 27% drive their own vehicle.
29. The average cost of a round trip to visit a significant half is approximately $500
30. 51% of people in a long-distance relationship send a gift to their loved ones at least once every 4 months.
31. Cards and personal gifts make up 99% of gift people in an LDR send to their significant half
32. 81% of people in a long-distance relationship are younger than 33%.

How Long Do Long Distance Relationships Last?

However, according to a survey, on the average, a long distance relationship breaks down after 4.5 months but most LDRs last an average of 3 months to 4 years.

If you are in a long-distance relationship, it is normal and even expected that you would want to know how long a long-distance relationship lasts. One thing you need to note is that the success rate of relationships of all kinds are subject to different factors, so it is unclear what exactly will be the outcome of yours. What this basically means is that while long-distance relationships that fail last at least 4.5 months before break up, most actually last till 4 years. We can, therefore, say that the number that doesn’t fall under this category are those that either didn’t last between 3-4 months or lasted more than that.

What Is Considered A Long Distance Relationship

most people in long distance relationships tend to be at least 125 miles away from each other

In the first place, are you in a long-distance relationship or do you simply consider yourself to be in one when you aren’t? After all, there has to be a certain distance between the couple for it to qualify as a long-distance relationship. According to the survey. So, on average, to qualify as being in an LDR, you have to live at least 125 miles away from each other. If it is less, the possibility of seeing each other often is more and you might not necessarily have to go through the hassle of being in a long-distance relationship even if it is quite a distance.

What Is The Success Rate Of Long Distance Relationships?

• 40 % of all long-distance relationships end with a break-up.
• 60% of all long-distance relationships are successful.
• 27% LDR over 6 months break up.
• 37% LDR over 3 months break up.
• 11% LDR over 6 months break up.
• 8% LDR over 1 year break up.

The success rate of LDRs is probably one of the major questions that plague the mind of a couple in a long distance relationship. It is only expected that you will want to know your chances of the relationship surviving. Find below quick stats curated on the success rate of long distance relationships;

If we look closely at these statistics, we will see clearly that the longer your LDR, the less the possibility of breaking up. It makes sense when we think about it based on the fact that – in more cases than not – the longer people are in a relationship, the more knowledge they have in overcoming their challenges and resolving their conflicts because they have had more practice over time. Also, the foundation of the relationship and the resolve to keep the relationship together is probably stronger for those who have been with each other longer.

How Often Do Long Distance Relationships Work?

60% of all long-distance relationships are said to be successful.

Long-distance relationships already sound like a lot of work, especially with so much sob stories we have around that are usually blamed on distance in an LDR. But LDRs are not as doomed as we seem to make it look like. Clearly, that is as against the numbers we probably have in our heads; some of us may have been certain not up to 50% of LDRs are successful but instead, more than half of them are actually successful. We could infer that LDRs break up rate is probably on the same rate as that of close proximity relationships.

How Long Is Too Much To Be Apart For A Relationship Long Distance?

Based on statistics, the average number of months before couples expect to move back together is 14 months.

People in long-distance relationships know that they need to get back together; that is really the only way it can work. There has to be a plan for one or both of them to move back together at some point. Apart from the fact that it brings hope, being in a long-distance relationship forever is not ideal. Of course, many have stayed longer than that, especially, in the case of marriage but the couple should always plan to get back together. Also, although constant communication is important in all relationships, it is even more important in an LDR. On average, couples in LDR do not spend more than 2.7 number of days before calling each other. They also tend to visit each other less than twice a month and write to each other an average of 3 letters in a month.

What Percentage Of Long Distance Relationships Break Up?

40 % of all long-distance relationships end with a break-up

Are we going to last long or we are going to break up? When are we going to break-up? These are some of the questions couples in long distance relationships ask themselves as it relates to whether it is worth it to be in an LDR. While this may seem overwhelming to think about, it is actually an optimistic case based on statistics. It means more than half of long distance relationships don’t end in break-up; this is a positive result and it should make you hopeful if you are in a long distance relationship.

Why Long Distance Relationship Fail?

The data says that 70 % of all failed long-distance relationships fail due to unplanned changes

A lot of people might not agree that long-distance relationships are very similar to close proximity relationships and they go through practically the same challenges besides the distance. And the statistics actually agree that long-distance relationships do not necessarily fail because of the distance but because of unplanned changes. This is to say a large number failed because they failed to or could not plan for the changes that the LDR would bring. What this tells us is that LDRs are more likely to succeed if the couple can adjust properly to the new situation.

Long Distance Relationship Cheating Statistics

Understandably, couples in LDR are usually plagued with the fear of being cheated on but based on statistics, long distance relationships are no more likely than others to result in infidelity.

Perhaps, the greatest hindrance to long-distance relationships is the belief of one or both of the couple that the relationship will fail because of the distance and this is usually as a result of the fear that their partner will cheat on them, so they give up without really putting in the work or giving their best to the relationship. We can say at the end of the day that cheating in a relationship is about the person involved and not so much about the distance between the couple.

Sources:

• tandfonline.com
• MUSE.

Even though a lot of people dread, long-distance relationship, it is not all impossible. If you need a comprehensive guide about making your long-distance relationship work, check out this guide to long-distance relationships.