Reality TV is a guilty pleasure for many, offering an escape into worlds of drama, comedy, and, of course, romance. Dating shows, a popular subcategory, promise the allure of finding love, fame, or even fortune. We’re drawn to the seemingly genuine connections between contestants, their relatable personalities, and the whirlwind romances that unfold in exotic locations. But how often do these on-screen romances actually last? Prepare to have your expectations challenged as we explore ten dating shows with shockingly low success rates!
The Harsh Reality of Dating Shows
While dating shows offer viewers a captivating glimpse into the search for love, the reality behind the scenes—and after the cameras stop rolling—can be quite different. Many factors contribute to the underwhelming success rates, from the pressures of fame to the artificial environments in which relationships are formed. The promise of a fairytale ending often clashes with the complexities of real-life compatibility.
10 The Bachelor: Less Than 4% Success Rate
The Bachelor, the OG dating show, has spawned countless imitations. A group of women vie for the affection of a single bachelor, all hoping for that coveted engagement ring. Exotic locales, dramatic confrontations, and carefully orchestrated romantic moments create a captivating fantasy. However, USA Today reports a dismal reality: less than 4% of Bachelor couples are still together as of 2022. With 26 bachelors over the show’s run, that’s a pretty sobering statistic. [1]
9 The Bachelorette: 22% Success Rate
The tables turn in The Bachelorette, where a group of men compete for a bachelorette’s attention. Premiering in 2003, this spinoff quickly gained popularity. While the success rate is higher than The Bachelor, it’s still less than a quarter. USA Today notes an overall success rate of 22%. Bachelorettes fare slightly better in finding lasting love, but the odds remain discouraging. [2]
8 Love Is Blind: 12.5% Success Rate
Love Is Blind presents itself as a social experiment: contestants date without seeing each other until they get engaged. If they choose to marry, they enjoy a couples’ retreat. The show aims to prove that love is blind, but the results are questionable. The Cut reports that after two seasons, only 12.5% of engagements resulted in marriages lasting longer than a year. Despite this, viewers are captivated by the contestants’ journeys. [3]
7 Too Hot to Handle: 14% Success Rate
Too Hot to Handle challenges attractive commitment-phobes to form genuine relationships, abstaining from physical intimacy. Set in a paradise resort, contestants face penalties for any sexual contact. The show explores whether commitment-resistant individuals can change. However, the Daily Mail ranks Too Hot to Handle as the “least successful dating show,” with only 14% of couples from its first three seasons still together. [4]
6 Married at First Sight (Australia): 6% Success Rate
Imagine marrying a complete stranger! That’s the premise of Married at First Sight. Couples marry upon meeting and live together, deciding later whether to stay married or divorce. While the show originated in the US, its success led to international spinoffs. The Australian version, however, has a dismal 6% success rate, according to the Daily Mail. Marrying someone at first sight, it seems, is a gamble with very low odds in Australia. [5]
5 Love Island (US): 15% Success Rate
Love Island, set in a luxurious villa, requires contestants to couple up weekly to avoid being voted off. The winning couple receives a prize. Following the success of the British version, Love Island (US) was created. However, the American spinoff has a low success rate. The Daily Mail reports that only 15% of Love Island U.S. couples are still together after leaving the villa. [6]
4 Temptation Island: Less Than 1% Success Rate
Temptation Island tests the bonds of couples by surrounding them with singles of the opposite sex. Isolated from each other, they decide whether to stay together, start anew, or leave with a new partner. Parade found that out of the show’s first four seasons, only three couples remained together, resulting in a success rate of less than 1%! Given the show’s focus on resisting temptation, this outcome isn’t entirely surprising. [7]
3 Are You the One?: 3.3% Success Rate
Are You the One? promises contestants the chance to find their perfect match. Business Insider reports that only one couple paired as a “perfect match” remains together. Including couples formed after the show, only five relationships out of 150 contestants have lasted, giving the show a 3.3% success rate. While it may not be the best place to find a soulmate, the show’s matchmaking process keeps viewers hooked. [8]
2 Perfect Match: 4.5% Success Rate
Perfect Match brings together stars from other Netflix reality shows. TIME Magazine describes it as featuring “stars of nine of Netflix’s other reality shows, selecting a combination of fan favorites and villains.” Despite its name, the success rate is low. Only five couples made it to the end, and just one relationship lasted, resulting in a 4.5% success rate. Even the winning couple split up shortly after the show ended! [9]
1 90 Day Fiancé: 75% Success Rate
90 Day Fiancé explores relationships between people from different cultures. The Atlantic explains, “The show follows real-life couples pursuing a K-1 visa…which allows a U.S. citizen’s foreign partner to enter the U.S. legally, but only for 90 days, the deadline by which they must get married.” This show boasts a relatively high success rate among dating shows. Producers claim a success rate above 75%, which is above the average divorce rate. [10]
Reality Check: Dating Shows and Lasting Love
While dating shows provide entertainment, their success rates reveal a harsh truth: finding lasting love on television is incredibly challenging. From The Bachelor to Perfect Match, many shows promise romance but deliver fleeting connections. However, shows like 90 Day Fiancé offer a glimmer of hope that love can blossom even in the world of reality TV.
What are your thoughts on dating shows? Do you think they offer a genuine path to love, or are they just entertainment? Leave your comment below!
