Study reveals deep divide in how men and women experience single life in Czechia

Women in the Czech Republic are more likely than men to remain single by choice, according to the latest results from the Contemporary Czech Family project.

On average, 18 percent of the Czech population above the age of 21 is single today, slightly more among women (21 percent) than men (16 percent).

People in their 20s, rather expectedly, are more likely not to be in a serious relationship: more than one-third of young men and one-quarter of women in that age group.

How people live and experience the single life, however, is extremely different depending on age and gender.

“A large group of young men are looking for a relationship but cannot find one,” explains Martin Kreidl, head of the project, from Masaryk University.

Between 20 and 25 percent of single men in their 20s or 30s say they’re single involuntarily and would like a partner, compared to just 5 percent of single Czech women in their 20s for instance. Meanwhile, just 7 percent of all single men and nearly 20 percent of all single women say they’re single by choice.

Across all age groups and gender, the vast majority of respondents – about two-thirds – simply say they’re open to a relationship but aren’t actively seeking one.

Also important to note that the gender gap in how actively people seek relationships widens with age. “It seems that single women over 40 have come to terms with being single,” Kreidl says, but not so much Czech men as they grow older.

A key reason why many women are opting for the single lifestyle? They’re pretty happy with it. On a ten-point scale of satisfaction on being without a partner, men rated an average of 5.5 points, compared to women's 8/10.

Past experiences evidently play a big part in people’s decision to get out there or stay single.

The most common reason that people mention for being without a stable partner is that they haven’t met “the one” yet, as well as fears of getting hurt emotionally, a desire to do things their own way, and bad experience from past relationships.

While some dating apps may seem to have already reached their peak in popularity a few years ago, meeting online remains the go-to solution for those ready to give it another go. About half of single people in Czechia use online dating sites or social networks, and more than one third also download mobile dating apps.

Meeting IRL through friends and at school or work remains quite popular, though, but not so much on vacation, at parties or other social events anymore.