India Saw 50% Increase In Dating-Related Searches Last Year

13th March 2017 Simon Edmunds

Searches for online dating in India increased dramatically last year, according to Google.

In its Year in Search report, Google revealed there was a big increase in online dating-related searches in India throughout 2016.

The report said: “Searches and app downloads for dating were hand in glove in 2016. Dating related searches grew by 50%, along with a 53% increase in downloads for dating apps.”

This hike was also seen with searches related to weddings and wedding planning, Google finding that: “Consumer interest in wedding affiliated categories like ‘photographers’, ‘wedding planning’, ‘bridal wear’, etc., jumped by 30%.”

Calling it a “transformational year” for India’s online space across the board, Google’s data showed a search increase across a variety of sectors, including banking, ecommerce, education, retail, travel, entertainment and telecom.

In fact, Google India’s VP and Managing Director, Rajan Anandan, said India had emerged as the “second largest internet and smartphone economy” in the world.

Anandan said: “2016 will be remembered as a transformational year for India. India emerged as the second largest Internet and smartphone economy in the world — with over 350 million connected citizens and 220 million smartphone users.

“Affordable access to high-speed internet turbo-charged appetites and opened up a new online world for users across the length and breadth of the country.”

This movement came after dating app leader Tinder saw a 400% increase in downloads the year before, with users sending over 1m Super Likes every week and the Hollywood app calling it a key region for the company’s future.

Taru Kapoor, who runs Tinder India, spoke about the region, saying: “India is going through a social revolution but young Indians, especially women, rarely get the chance to interact with people of the opposite gender outside of their college or work environments.

“Dating apps are helping break conventional barriers, providing people with more choices, control and freedom.”