Spain’s Love Life, By the Numbers: Why Most Say You Need Romance to Feel Happy

Most people in Spain link a sense of a full and happy life to romantic relationships. According to a new survey by Spain’s Centre for Sociological Research (CIS), 71.2% of Spaniards say that having a partner or being in a romantic relationship is important for a good life. The study is based on more than 5,000 interviews conducted at the end of January.

That said, the single most important aspect of life for Spaniards remains health (99.1%). Next come family (97.8%), friendship (94%) and love (91.5%).

When respondents were asked which words they most associate with love, the majority chose happiness (95%), loyalty (94.7%) and equality (93.6%). The poll also found that 64% agree that true love can overcome any difficulty, while 76.4% believe the fast pace of modern life has a negative impact on relationships.

Most respondents also reject the idea that love works like a marketplace: 80.6% dismissed comparisons between relationships and the laws of supply and demand.

Among the biggest perceived benefits of being in a relationship, Spaniards most often mention the chance to share life with another person (38.2%), the possibility of starting a family (17.5%) and the enjoyment of everyday life together (13.9%). Interestingly, 80.1% say love is possible without sexual relations, and 92.7% believe everyone understands love in their own way.

Some 67% disagree that it’s easier to find love through dating apps than through traditional ways, although 65.1% admit apps make it easier to find sexual relationships.

At the time of the survey, 70.7% of Spaniards were in a romantic relationship; 18.3% of them had been together for 11 to 20 years.