- In Mexico, 41.3% of people aged 60 and over are neither married nor living with a partner.
- The gender gap is huge: 54.1% of women over 60 have no partner, compared with 25.7% of men.
- In the US, the divorce rate among people over 50 doubled between 1990 and 2010, and by 2019 they accounted for 36% of all divorces.
- The WHO estimates that social isolation affects up to 1 in 3 older adults.
The kids are grown, the career is built and there’s finally time for yourself. For millions of people, their 50s and 60s aren’t the end of their love lives: they’re the start of a chapter where love is calmer, freer and less fearful.
The numbers in Mexico
Among people aged 60 and over, 34.5% were once in a relationship and no longer are, and 6.8% never partnered. Among women, almost half (46.0%) are separated, divorced or widowed. Among men, 63.7% are still married.
Why the difference? Women live longer and, after a separation or being widowed, men tend to re-partner sooner, and often with younger people. The result is a large group of mature, independent women with a lot to share.
“Gray divorce”: a global phenomenon
Sociologists Susan Brown and I-Fen Lin of Bowling Green State University coined the term for the rise in divorces among people over 50. In the US, the divorce rate for this group doubled between 1990 and 2010, and by 2019 people over 50 accounted for 36% of all divorces. It shows in Mexico too: the average age at divorce is now over 40.
Behind it is a powerful idea: people are no longer willing to spend another 30 years in a relationship that doesn’t make them happy.
The silent risk: isolation
The WHO Commission on Social Connection estimates that social isolation affects up to 1 in 3 older adults, and links it to a higher risk of heart disease, cognitive decline and depression. Looking for companionship, friendship or love at this age isn’t a whim: it’s health.
The best part of looking for love after 50
- You know who you are. You no longer need anyone to define you.
- You know what you don’t want. That saves years of mistakes.
- Less pressure to start a family or live up to other people’s expectations.
- More freedom to design the relationship: live together or not, marry or not, travel, keep each other company your own way.
7 keys to finding love later in life
- Let go of “at my age, it’s too late.” It’s the only barrier that isn’t real.
- Define the kind of relationship you want: companionship, dating, living together, marriage. It’s all valid.
- Prioritize in-person spaces: trips, dinners, classes and activities with people at your stage of life.
- Protect yourself: be wary of anyone who asks for money or rushes the relationship online.
- Talk to your kids once the relationship is serious, not before. Your life is still yours.
- Take care of your health and energy: the best introduction is a life you enjoy.
- Lean on a human filter that introduces you to vetted people who share your intention.
Frequently asked questions
How many people over 60 in Mexico don’t have a partner?
41.3% of people aged 60 and over are neither married nor living with a partner (INEGI, ENADID 2023): 54.1% of women and 25.7% of men.
What is “gray divorce”?
It’s the rise in divorces among people over 50. In the US, the rate for this group doubled between 1990 and 2010, according to research by Susan Brown and I-Fen Lin.
Where can you meet a partner after 50?
In in-person spaces with people at your stage of life: trips, dinners, classes and intentional communities. Also through processes with a human filter, like matchmaking, that introduce you to vetted people.
Is it normal to look for a partner after 60?
Absolutely. More than 4 in 10 Mexicans aged 60 and over don’t live with a partner, and seeking companionship, friendship or love at this age is also good for your health: the WHO links isolation to a higher risk of heart disease, cognitive decline and depression.
- INEGI — Statistics for Valentine’s Day / Día del Amor y la Amistad (release 42/25, ENADID 2023, ENBIARE 2021, ENUT 2019)
- Bowling Green State University — Research by Susan Brown and I-Fen Lin on “gray divorce”
- World Health Organization — Social connection linked to improved health and reduced risk of early death (June 30, 2025)
- INEGI — Divorce Statistics 2023 (release 571/24)
TovLov TeamPersonalized matchmaking in Mexico. We research and write about relationships using official data.
