Americans will open their hearts (and wallets) for Valentine’s Day 2024.
In this blog post, our market research company shares several Valentine’s Day statistics, facts, and trends that best encompass the holiday.
So grab a box of candy hearts and find out what’s in store for this lovely holiday!
Below are some of our top Valentine's Day stats from this post:
- Up to 52% of consumers celebrate Valentine's Day
- Around 3 in 10 Americans will go into credit card debt from V-day spending
- 35% of consumers will shop online for their gifts.
- Around 224 million roses are grown specifically for Valentine's Day
- Roughly 6 million people get engaged on Valentine’s Day.
Valentine's Day Celebration Statistics
What a day to celebrate! For those who participate in the festive fun, there are plenty of ways to show your loved ones you care about them. Because of this, V-Day is heavily marketed (step into any store in February) towards consumers wanting to share their love! Check out these Valentine’s Day statistics below.
- Up to 52% of consumers celebrate Valentine's Day
While there are certainly a number of people who enjoy it, it still ranks low on the holiday scale of people's favorite holidays - around 48%. Underdog holidays that beat out Valentine’s Day were Father’s Day and Memorial Day. - Valentine's Day dates back to the 14th century
It's believed that the name "Valentine" references the name of a martyred priest and/or bishop. Truthfully, no one is 100% sure. But the commercial end of Valentine's Day didn't kick off until a few centuries later in the 1700s, when cards were created to celebrate. - 45% of Americans celebrating V-day have a big trip in mind
This is up dramatically from recent years, likely due to the winding down of COVID-19. Popular locations include New York City, Seattle, Honolulu, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, and more. -
Cupid got his start in Greece
The iconic symbol of love, Cupid is depicted as a sweet cherub who plays a matchmaker and is the star of many Valentine’s Day celebrations. However, the character was actually inspired by the Greek god Eros, who had the ability to make two people fall in love. But by the 4th century, the idea of Eros had morphed into the Cupid we know today. Now you can really impress people with your knowledge of Valentine's Day facts and history, huh? -
"Booklets" were created in the 1800s to help people write Valentine's Day cards
We all need a little help writing the perfect V-day note sometimes. That's exactly what these booklets, or writer's guides, did for those who celebrated in the 19th century. Containing sample text, the booklets took the stress out of writing the perfect love note. -
The heart-shaped chocolate box–first came to be in the 1860s
An advertising tactic, Richard Cadbury first came up with the idea to boost sales of the product. Talk about a marketing strategy with staying power.
Valentine's Day Spending Statistics
While Valentine's Day is all about love, some of it is about spending (on the perfect gift). Whether it's a trip, candy, or romantic dinner at a nice restaurant, there are endless options to create a memorable day–these Valentine’s Day statistics speak for themselves.
- Consumers will spend close to $192 dollars to celebrate their Valentine
In fact, this is up from 2022, when consumers spent $175 dollars. Those who are aged 35 to 44 plan on spending around $335 dollars, the highest total out of any age bracket. - Only 21% of consumers will spend money on jewelry for their Valentine
Sure, diamonds are great, but chocolate's sweeter. This is probably why 57% of consumers buy Valentine’s Day candy as a gift for their loved ones. Other popular gifts include cards (40%), flowers (37%), and an evening out (31%). - 49% of consumers keep costs at the forefront when purchasing Valentine's Day gifts
Cost aside, consumers also place heavy value on style (21%), branding (19%), and delivery services (11%). - A romantic Valentine's dinner out costs $121 on average
This is assuming you get dinner and drinks off the menu. Speaking of drinks, consumers will spend around $33 dollars on them when out for their Valentine's dinner. - Consumers spend around $30 dollars on Valentine's presents for family and friends
While Valentine's Day is most known for being celebrated by couples, that doesn't mean you can't share the fun with family or friends. Consider gifts like cards, cookies/candy, or a fun night out. - Around 3 in 10 Americans will go into credit card debt from V-day spending
And 43% of them will hide it from their partner. Ouch. - Those who have been in a relationship for one to two years will spend the most on gifts at $247 dollars
Those in newer relationships (less than a year) will spend around $186 dollars and those in long-term relationships (10+ years) will spend $189 dollars.
Valentine's Day Gifts Statistics
Arguably most known for its emphasis on gifts, V-Day brings out the big spenders. Whether it's chocolate, flowers, or diamonds, those who celebrate have many gift options to choose from. Take a look at these Valentine’s Day statistics below (and maybe pick up a few gift ideas while you’re at it).
- 46% of consumers will receive a Valentine's gift they don't like
Oof, that's awkward. So, what do consumers want? Popular gifts include candy, greeting cards, and flowers. - 35% of consumers will shop online for their gifts
This is followed by department stores (34%) and discount stores (31%). To save a little while still snagging the perfect gift, try setting up a budget and looking into items you can buy locally. - Men are the big spenders for Valentine's Day
It's true! Men tend to spend roughly 2X as much as women do on Valentine's gifts. The average spend here comes out to $235 dollars. On the other end, women only spend around $199 dollars. - Around 224 million roses are grown specifically for Valentine's Day
Due to our chillier weather conditions, they’re often imported to the US from countries like Kenya, Columbia, and Ecuador. 64% of men will buy flowers for their partner on V-day, compared to women at just 36%. And studies have also shown that 15% of women will purchase flowers for themselves on Valentine's Day. Treat yo self! - Mixtapes are the least popular V-day gift, with only 13% of people expressing interest
But can anything beat the nostalgia of a mixtape? We don't think so. Other gifts low on the popularity chain include sporting equipment and kitchen appliances. - Kids get more love than their parents
While Valentine’s Day is typically associated with couples, children will get their fair share of gifts, too. A recent poll found that children were more likely to receive gifts for the holiday than spouses.
Relationship Statistics
Are you in the mood for a good rom-com yet? Well, you're about to be. It's no surprise that this holiday is a popular day for engagements and relationships to start, so let's dive into these Valentine’s Day statistics a bit more!
- Roughly 6 million people get engaged on Valentine's Day
No shocker here. What's more, Valentine's is also known as the most popular day to get engaged, with 40% of men agreeing. - Around 25% of marriages begin online
It's straight out of a movie, right? While dating apps may get a bad rap at times, they certainly have their successes. Here are more statistics about dating apps you likely didn't know. - There's only a 2% uptick in online dating app downloads around Valentine's Day
While V-day may not be the biggest motivator for downloading one of the many popular dating apps, they're still wildly popular with 30 percent of adults in the U.S. having used online dating services at some point. - 52% of people believe in true love
And we love to hear it. Maybe that's why over one million Facebook users will change their relationship status to "in a relationship" soon after Valentine's Day.
Final Thoughts
While not everyone chooses to celebrate Valentine's Day, it's hard to deny its social and economic impact across the world. From handing out cards to buying candy and flowers to getting engaged, Valentine's Day represents a time to come together and show a little love, no matter your relationship status!
Sourcing:
- Good Housekeeping
- Wallet Hub
- Apptopia
- Business of Apps
- Alliant Credit Union
- Fully Vested
- National Retail Federation
- Britannica
- Forbes
- WKYC
- Bankrate
- Toast
- Equiflor
- My Bank Tracker
- Yahoo
- YouGov
Contact Our Market Research Company
And that’s all for this year’s Valentine’s Day trivia! Now go and stock up on those gifts.
Drive Research is a market research company based in New York. Our team of researchers will work with your team to create a customized project built around the needs of your business.
If you want to learn more about our market research services, get in touch with us today.
- Message us on our website
- Email us at [email protected]
- Call us at 888-725-DATA
- Text us at 315-303-2040
Lark Allen
As a Content Marketing Specialist, Lark has a strong background and passion for creative, professional, and journalistic writing. She is also a self-proclaimed music freak and 90s enthusiast.
Learn more about Lark, here.
