How many singles are there in Mexico? The real numbers.
Nearly 30 million Mexicans are single, and once you add people who are separated, divorced or widowed, almost half of all adults aren’t living with a partner. Here’s what the official data says, and what it means for you.
- 29.6% of people aged 15 and over are single: roughly 29.6 million people (INEGI, ENADID 2023).
- 45 in every 100 people aged 15 and over are neither married nor living with a partner (single + separated, divorced or widowed).
- There are more single men (33.5%) than single women (26.1%), but far more previously partnered women (20.4% vs. 9.9%).
- Among young people aged 15 to 29, 68.7% are single.
If you’ve ever felt like “the only single person” at a family gathering, the numbers have news for you: you’re not, not even close. Mexico has one of the largest single populations in its history, and the way we pair up is changing faster than ever.
The official figure: 29.6% of Mexicans are single
According to INEGI’s National Survey of Demographic Dynamics (ENADID) 2023, Mexico is home to 99,982,443 people aged 15 and over. Of them:
The remaining 15.4% are previously partnered: separated, divorced or widowed. And here’s the stat almost no one mentions: add singles and the previously partnered together and 45 in every 100 people aged 15 and over are neither married nor living with a partner. That’s roughly 45 million people.
Men and women: two different stories
Singlehood isn’t evenly split. There are more single men than single women, but women who were once in a relationship and no longer are outnumber men in the same situation two to one.
Why? Partly life expectancy (women are widowed more often) and partly because, after a breakup, men tend to re-partner sooner. The result: after 60, almost half of women (46%) have been in a relationship and no longer are. We dig into this in our article on being single at every age.
Age changes everything
| Age group | Single | Married | Cohabiting | Prev. partnered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 29.6 | 35.9 | 19.1 | 15.4 |
| 15 to 29 | 68.7 | 8.0 | 19.3 | 4.0 |
| 30 to 59 | 14.5 | 47.0 | 23.3 | 15.2 |
| 60 and over | 6.8 | 51.3 | 7.4 | 34.5 |
Between 15 and 29, being single is the norm: 68.7% (75.6% of men and 61.7% of women). Between 30 and 59, nearly 3 in 10 people have no partner (14.5% single + 15.2% previously partnered). And from 60 on, more than 4 in 10 are once again without a partner.
Why do I sometimes see 29.6% and other times 33.1%?
Because different surveys measure at different times and in different ways. The ENOE (National Occupation and Employment Survey) for Q3 2023 reported 33.1% of people aged 15 and over as single, and the 2020 Census had put it at around 30%. They all agree on the essentials: between 3 and 3.3 in every 10 Mexican adults are single.
Having a partner isn’t the same as being married
Marital status measures legal status and living arrangements, not whether you’re dating someone. That’s why another figure is useful: INEGI’s Self-Reported Wellbeing Survey (ENBIARE) 2021 asked people aged 18 and over directly whether they had a partner. 71.5% said yes and 28.5% said no.
The same survey measured satisfaction with people’s love lives:
The takeaway is clear: being single isn’t the problem; half of all singles say they’re satisfied with their love life. What weighs most is the breakup: only 37.4% of people who separated, divorced or were widowed are satisfied. That’s where serious support makes the biggest difference.
What this means for you
- You’re not behind. The average age at marriage is now 31.7 for women and 34.7 for men. We break it down in at what age do Mexicans get married.
- The pool is huge, but scattered. There are millions of singles, but the traditional ways to meet them (school, work, friends) dry up with age.
- More options doesn’t mean better options. The bigger the pool, the more it matters to filter for what really counts: values, life stage and intention.
Frequently asked questions
How many singles are there in Mexico?
According to INEGI’s ENADID 2023 survey, 29.6% of people aged 15 and over are single: about 29.6 million people. Add those who are separated, divorced or widowed and 45 in every 100 adults are neither married nor living with a partner.
Are there more single men or single women in Mexico?
There are more single men (33.5%) than single women (26.1%). However, previously partnered women (separated, divorced or widowed) make up 20.4%, more than double the share of men in the same situation (9.9%).
Which Mexican state has the most singles?
Based on the 2020 Census (population aged 12 and over), Mexico City has the highest share of single people in the country, around 38%, followed by Jalisco and Querétaro.
What percentage of young Mexicans are single?
Among people aged 15 to 29, 68.7% are single: 75.6% of men and 61.7% of women (INEGI, ENADID 2023).
- INEGI — Statistics for Valentine’s Day / Día del Amor y la Amistad (release 42/25, ENADID 2023, ENBIARE 2021, ENUT 2019)
- INEGI — Statistics for February 14 (release 123/24, ENOE 2023, marriage data 2022, ENBIARE 2021)
- INEGI — Marriage Statistics 2023 (release 572/24)
- UnoTV — World Singles Day: INEGI reveals how many singles live in Mexico (2020 Census)
TovLov TeamPersonalized matchmaking in Mexico. We research and write about relationships using official data.
