Singaporeans too picky for ‘real’ relationships: survey

A couple on the dating app Coffee Meets Bagel. Photo: Coffee Meets Bagel
A couple on the dating app Coffee Meets Bagel. Photo: Coffee Meets Bagel

Singaporeans are real choosy when it comes to finding the right guy or gal and are partial to squeaky clean partners, according to a survey.

Dating app Coffee Meets Bagel said yesterday that most Singaporean ended up with people they did not expect despite averaging more than 24 deal-breakers on their hunt for a dream partner. 

Survey site Rakuten Insight conducted the poll last month of 600 Singaporeans aged 18 to 65 who have dated.

Almost all (96%) were happily involved with someone they did not originally expect to click with. Seven in 10 women were with partners who only ticked half, or even fewer, of their boxes.

The top traits that got everyone turning heads were having fresh breath, good teeth, cheeky smiles, dimples and an all-natural look. Still, women preferred taller partners while men are more transfixed by long locks than legs. 

In all, the survey found women were definitely more selective than men. Women had an average of 19 requirements while men had 15.

Women are twice more likely to eye financial stability than men. Not sure if ego factors, but 23% of women preferred partners who brought in more money compared to only 3% of men who were OK earning less.

Women were also seven times more likely than men to seek someone who loved animals as much as them.

When it came to professions, doctors, teachers, and bankers were most sought-after, with one in five daters saying they would not hesitate to pass on someone based solely on their occupation. 

Moving on to what Singaporeans can’t stand, top turn-offs include being messy, boring, chewing loudly, oversharing on social media and nail-biting.

Other findings include millennials being drawn to someone who is attractive, affectionate and great in bed while older folks desire someone who can compromise, is low maintenance and doesn’t get jealous easily.

Millennial women think good looking partners are two times more important as compared to female Baby Boomers aged 50 to 65. 

Coffee Meets Bagel prides itself on forming more “real” and serious relationships. They claim to have made over 12 million dates happen globally where 600 people go on dates after meeting on the app every day.

Other stories you should check out:

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