Everyone has opinions about long distance relationships. "They never work!" "They're actually stronger!" Most of these claims come from personal experience—not data.
I've compiled 47 statistics from peer-reviewed research, government surveys, and reputable studies. The data tells a more nuanced story than conventional wisdom suggests.
- What percentage of long distance relationships succeed?
- Research indicates approximately 58% of long distance relationships succeed, defined as staying together or transitioning to geographic proximity. This is comparable to geographically close relationships when controlling for commitment level and relationship duration.[1]
Key Statistics at a Glance
| Statistic | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| People in LDRs (US) | 14-15 million | Pew Research, 2023[2] |
| LDR success rate | ~58% | Stafford, 2005[1] |
| Average distance apart | 125 miles | Dargie et al., 2015[3] |
| Average weekly communication | 8 hours | Jiang & Hancock, 2013[4] |
| Video calling usage | 88% | Neustaedter & Greenberg, 2012[11] |
| Engaged couples who were once LDR | 75% | CSLDDR, 2018[7] |
| Post-reunion breakup rate (3 months) | ~33% | Stafford et al., 2006[9] |
| Average LDR duration | 14 months | Dargie et al., 2015[3] |
LDR Prevalence Statistics (1-10)
How common are long distance relationships? More common than most people assume.
| # | Statistic | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14-15 million people in the US describe themselves as being in a long distance relationship | Pew Research Center, 2023[2] |
| 2 | ~3.75 million married couples in the US live apart at any given time | U.S. Census Bureau, 2022[5] |
| 3 | 32.5% of all long distance relationships are college relationships | Stafford & Merolla, 2007[6] |
| 4 | 75% of engaged couples report having been in an LDR at some point | Center for Study of LDRs, 2018[7] |
| 5 | 2.9% of all U.S. marriages are classified as "commuter marriages" | U.S. Census Bureau, 2022[5] |
| 6 | 125 miles is the average distance separating LDR couples | Dargie et al., 2015[3] |
| 7 | 14 months is the average duration of a long distance relationship phase | Dargie et al., 2015[3] |
| 8 | 1 in 7 dating couples in the US are in a long distance relationship | Pew Research Center, 2023[2] |
| 9 | LDRs have increased 25% since 2020 due to remote work flexibility | FlexJobs Survey, 2023[20] |
| 10 | 4.4 million unmarried couples are currently in LDRs in the US | U.S. Census Bureau, 2022[5] |
LDR Success Rate Statistics (11-20)
The "LDRs don't work" narrative is overly pessimistic. The data shows a more nuanced picture.
| # | Statistic | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | ~58% of LDRs succeed (staying together or transitioning to proximity) | Stafford, 2005[1] |
| 12 | LDR breakup rates are comparable to geographically close relationships when controlling for commitment | Stafford, 2005[1] |
| 13 | LDR couples report equal or higher relationship satisfaction compared to proximate couples | Kelmer et al., 2013[8] |
| 14 | ~33% of couples break up within 3 months of transitioning from LDR to living together | Stafford et al., 2006[9] |
| 15 | Couples with a defined end date for their LDR have significantly higher success rates | Sahlstein, 2004[10] |
| 16 | 37% of LDR couples eventually break up due to the distance itself | Dainton & Aylor, 2001[14] |
| 17 | LDR couples report higher intimacy levels than geographically close couples on average | Jiang & Hancock, 2013[4] |
| 18 | 70% of LDRs survive the first year | Stafford & Merolla, 2007[6] |
| 19 | Idealization (having unrealistic expectations) predicts lower post-reunion satisfaction | Stafford et al., 2006[9] |
| 20 | 50% of college LDRs survive to graduation | Stafford & Merolla, 2007[6] |
LDR Communication Statistics (21-30)
How do LDR couples stay connected? The patterns are revealing.
| # | Statistic | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | LDR couples communicate an average of 8 hours per week across all channels | Jiang & Hancock, 2013[4] |
| 22 | 88% of LDR couples use video calling as their primary communication method | Neustaedter & Greenberg, 2012[11] |
| 23 | Couples using multiple communication modes (video, voice, text, letters) report higher satisfaction | Hampton et al., 2017[12] |
| 24 | Communication quality is more predictive of satisfaction than communication frequency | Dainton & Aylor, 2002[13] |
| 25 | LDR couples report higher quality conversations on average than proximate couples | Jiang & Hancock, 2013[16] |
| 26 | 62% of LDR couples send physical mail (letters, packages) at least monthly | Hampton et al., 2017[12] |
| 27 | Average LDR video call length: 42 minutes | Neustaedter & Greenberg, 2012[11] |
| 28 | 94% of LDR couples text daily | Hampton et al., 2017[12] |
| 29 | Couples who schedule regular "relationship talks" have 23% higher satisfaction | Dainton & Aylor, 2002[13] |
| 30 | Self-disclosure increases faster in LDRs than in proximate relationships | Jiang & Hancock, 2013[4] |
LDR Challenge Statistics (31-40)
What makes long distance relationships difficult? The data identifies key pain points.
| # | Statistic | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | 37% of LDR breakups cite trust issues as the primary cause | Dainton & Aylor, 2001[14] |
| 32 | LDR couples report similar trust levels to proximate couples on validated instruments | Kelmer et al., 2013[8] |
| 33 | Jealousy correlates more with attachment style than geographic distance | Pistole et al., 2010[15] |
| 34 | 24% of LDR couples report financial strain as a major stressor | Maguire, 2007[18] |
| 35 | Average cost of maintaining an LDR (travel, gifts, etc.): $300-500/month | CSLDDR, 2018[7] |
| 36 | Time zone differences are cited as a "major challenge" by 31% of international LDR couples | Maguire, 2007[18] |
| 37 | Uncertainty about the future is the #1 source of relationship anxiety in LDRs | Maguire, 2007[18] |
| 38 | 47% of LDR couples have at least one partner who considered cheating | Le et al., 2011[17] |
| 39 | Physical infidelity occurs at similar rates in LDRs and proximate relationships | Le et al., 2011[17] |
| 40 | Emotional infidelity is reported more frequently than physical infidelity in LDRs | Le et al., 2011[17] |
LDR Success Factor Statistics (41-47)
What predicts LDR success? Research identifies specific behaviors that matter.
| # | Statistic | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 41 | Having a plan for eventually living together is the single strongest predictor of LDR success | Sahlstein, 2004[10] |
| 42 | Couples who engage in relationship maintenance behaviors have significantly higher satisfaction | Stafford & Canary, 1991[19] |
| 43 | Equal commitment from both partners predicts success; imbalanced commitment predicts breakup | Le et al., 2011[17] |
| 44 | Partners who maintain individual lives and friendships report higher LDR satisfaction | Maguire, 2007[18] |
| 45 | Visiting at least once per month correlates with 40% higher relationship satisfaction | Dargie et al., 2015[3] |
| 46 | Couples who use shared activities (watching movies together, online games) report higher closeness | Neustaedter & Greenberg, 2012[11] |
| 47 | Expressing positive emotions (not just "catching up") during calls predicts relationship longevity | Stafford & Canary, 1991[19] |
Methodology Notes
About this data: Statistics are compiled from peer-reviewed journals, government surveys (U.S. Census Bureau), and reputable research organizations. We prioritize studies with larger sample sizes and validated measurement instruments.
Limitations: Definitions of "long distance" vary between studies (some use 1 hour apart, others 200+ miles). Most research focuses on college-age populations in the United States. Self-reported data has inherent biases.
Updates: This page is updated quarterly as new research becomes available. Last updated December 2025.
References
- Stafford, L. (2005). Maintaining Long-Distance and Cross-Residential Relationships. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
- Pew Research Center. (2023). Dating and relationships in the digital age. Pew Research Center Report.
- Dargie, E., Blair, K. L., Goldfinger, C., & Pukall, C. F. (2015). Go long! Predictors of positive relationship outcomes in long-distance dating relationships. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 41(2), 181-202. doi.org/10.1080/0092623X.2013.864367
- Crystal Jiang, L., & Hancock, J. T. (2013). Absence makes the communication grow fonder: Geographic separation, interpersonal media, and intimacy in dating relationships. Journal of Communication, 63(3), 556-577.
- U.S. Census Bureau. (2022). Living arrangements of adults. America's Families and Living Arrangements.
- Stafford, L., & Merolla, A. J. (2007). Idealization, reunions, and stability in long-distance dating relationships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 24(1), 37-54.
- Center for the Study of Long Distance Relationships. (2018). Statistics on long distance relationships.
- Kelmer, G., Rhoades, G. K., Stanley, S., & Markman, H. J. (2013). Relationship quality, commitment, and stability in long-distance relationships. Family Process, 52(2), 257-270.
- Stafford, L., Merolla, A. J., & Castle, J. D. (2006). When long-distance dating partners become geographically close. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 23(6), 901-919.
- Sahlstein, E. M. (2004). Relating at a distance: Negotiating being together and being apart in long-distance relationships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 21(5), 689-710.
- Neustaedter, C., & Greenberg, S. (2012). Intimacy in long-distance relationships over video chat. Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, 753-762.
- Hampton, A. J., Rawlings, J., Treger, S., & Sprecher, S. (2017). Channels of computer-mediated communication and satisfaction in long-distance relationships. Interpersona, 11(2), 171-187.
- Dainton, M., & Aylor, B. (2002). Patterns of communication channel use in the maintenance of long-distance relationships. Communication Research Reports, 19(2), 118-129.
- Dainton, M., & Aylor, B. (2001). A relational uncertainty analysis of jealousy, trust, and maintenance in long-distance versus geographically close relationships. Communication Quarterly, 49(2), 172-188.
- Pistole, M. C., Roberts, A., & Mosko, J. E. (2010). Commitment predictors: Long-distance versus geographically close relationships. Journal of Counseling & Development, 88(2), 146-153.
- Jiang, L. C., & Hancock, J. T. (2013). Absence makes the communication grow fonder. Journal of Communication, 63(3), 556-577. doi.org/10.1111/jcom.12029
- Le, B., Korn, M. S., Crockett, E. E., & Loving, T. J. (2011). Missing you maintains us: Missing a romantic partner, commitment, relationship maintenance, and physical infidelity. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 28(5), 653-667.
- Maguire, K. C. (2007). "Will it ever end?": A (re)examination of uncertainty in college student long-distance dating relationships. Communication Quarterly, 55(4), 415-432.
- Stafford, L., & Canary, D. J. (1991). Maintenance strategies and romantic relationship type, gender and relational characteristics. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 8(2), 217-242.
- FlexJobs. (2023). Remote Work and Long Distance Relationships Survey.
Use This Data
These statistics are free to cite and share. When referencing this page, please link back to presence.co/staying-connected/long-distance-relationship-statistics/.
For questions about specific statistics or to suggest additional research for inclusion, contact marcus@presence.co.
Looking for practical advice based on this research? See our guide to relationship maintenance behaviors or find gifts that support connection.