DALLAS, April 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Recent studies of more than 11,000 people revealed that one in six marriages are now between people who met through an online dating site – more than twice the number of people meeting at bars, at clubs and other social events combined.  Additionally, the studies show that one in five new committed relationships, including marriages, are between people who met on an online dating site.

The research reveals the number one way people meet their spouse is through work or school, followed by friend or family member.  People who meet their spouse through an online dating site is now number three, surpassing bars, clubs, and other social events.

The following details the way people have met their spouse over the last three years:

     1) Through work/school                    36%

     2) Through friend/family member      26%

     3) Via Online Dating site                   17%

     4) Through bars/clubs/social events   11%

     5) Other                                           7%

     6) Through church/places of worship    4%

"The world has changed," said Greg Blatt, CEO of Match.com.  "We get married older, we work longer hours, we move around more, we're generally busier.  These changes have put pressure on the way we traditionally have met our significant others.  Luckily, with these changes has come an increasing openness to doing new things.  Online dating has grown so much in part as a response to these societal changes, having become the third most important way we meet our significant others, even though it didn't even exist 15 years ago."  

The studies also demonstrate how integral online dating has become in American social life in other ways.  The findings include:

Finally, the studies reveal that Match.com is by far the most successful online dating service, having led to approximately twice as many dates, relationships and marriages as its closest competitor.

"The studies confirm what we have known for quite some time – Match.com is the clear leader in online dating," said Blatt. "We don't overpromise.  We don't tell people we've figured out the secret to human happiness.  And we don't say we're the answer.  We're simply a new and effective way to do an old and important thing, which is meet great new people with whom you really have a chance of hitting it off.  If you're single, there is no good reason not to join Match.com.  It's just something a single person should do in addition to all the other things you do to meet people and put yourself in a position to find romance."

Visit http://www.match.com/cmbstudy to learn more about the studies quoted in this press release.

About Match.com

Match.com pioneered online dating when it launched on the Web in 1995 and continues to lead this exciting and evolving category after more than a decade. Throughout its 15-year history, Match.com has helped millions of singles meet and fall in love. Match.com provides a rich tapestry of ethnicities, interests, goals, ambitions, quirks, looks and personalities from which to choose. Match.com operates some of the leading subscription-based online dating sites in 25 countries, in 8 languages and spanning five continents, as well as oversees its ongoing investment in Meetic. Match.com also powers online dating on MSN across Asia, Australia, the United States and Latin America. Match.com is an operating business of IAC.

SOURCE Match.com