Experts in dating explain why many women are opting to remain unmarried

Every year, more and more women choose to be single. But why?

DailyMail.com spoke exclusively with Brittney LaBonte, a counselor and family wellness program manager at Mountainside Treatment Center, and Daniella Szetela, a dating and relationship expert for the dating safety app Tea, to understand why so many women today are choosing to stay single.

In short, Daniella said: ‘There’s been a simple but profound shift in the dating space: Women are realizing that protecting their peace is their number one priority.

‘They’re afraid of losing themselves in relationships that ask them to shrink, settle, or self-abandon.’

She added that this choice isn’t one ‘rooted in bitterness’ but in ‘clarity and strength.’ 

‘Choosing peace over chaos, purpose over pressure, and emotional safety over surface-level connection,’ she detailed to FEMAIL. 

The relationship expert revealed the ‘most powerful’ aspect behind making this choice.  

‘Many of these women would rather wait than walk into something that isn’t going to serve them,’ she said.

Every year, more and more women choose to be single. But why? (stock image) 

‘They’re not waiting for love to complete them — they’re protecting the wholeness they’ve fought so hard to feel. Because for today’s woman, being single isn’t a failure — it’s a form of self-love.’

Brittney, a former dating coach and relationship counselor, emphasized an important distinction: ‘Being single is NOT the same as being lonely. 

‘In fact, single living can be empowering, fulfilling, and downright joyful.’

She also explored the multiple reasons why women in 2025 have made the active choice to remain single.  

‘Now more than ever, women are embracing the freedom to chase their dreams — whether that’s traveling the world, pursuing new career paths, or diving into hobbies and passions they’ve always had on their minds,’ she stated.

‘Women are creating lives that are rich with experiences and accomplishments, not bound by the pressure to “settle down.” 

‘It’s about being a whole, complete person before bringing someone else into the mix.’

She emphasized to DailyMail.come that being single ‘doesn’t mean you’re a nun or shutting yourself off from love,’ it instead means that finding a partner isn’t life’s only goal.

Daniella said it was due to a ‘simple but profound shift in the dating space’ (stock image)

‘Many women today are waiting to find someone whose lifestyle, values, and aspirations align with theirs,’ she detailed. 

‘Some are even enjoying dating multiple people, exploring different connections and experiences before finding someone who truly clicks. 

‘And for others, the local “fish in the sea” just isn’t cutting it, so they choose to invest their time and energy elsewhere — like on themselves.’

A 2023 study by the Pew Research Center found that 34 percent of women under 30 defined themselves as single. 

It also found that the percentage of women looking for a romantic relationship has decreased since 2019, going from 38 percent to 35 percent.

These numbers are a sign that being single is no longer a ‘bad’ or ‘wrong’ thing, but, instead, a powerful and fulfilling choice.    

Brittney urged women to embrace and enjoy the journey of being single.

‘If you’re single, don’t let anyone make you feel like you’re missing out,’ she advised.

‘The best relationships come when you’re your best self — and that takes time, introspection, and a whole lot of self-love. Be patient with yourself, and remember, there’s no rush.’