LONDON, January 30 /PRNewswire/ --

- Internet Dating Statistics: 12 Million Dates Will be Arranged Online in
2009

- Saturday 31st January scheduled to be the year's biggest night for
      first dates
    - Nearly half of singles say they feel most lonely in January
    - 700,000 new relationships of blossom by February



January has a reputation as the peak month for relationships to break up,
for couples to file for divorce and for singles to feel overwhelmed by
loneliness, but new statistics have provided grounds for optimism: January is
bonanza time for budding romances, with Saturday 31st January scheduled to be
the year's biggest night for first dates.

A survey of 5,000 singles by PARSHIP.co.uk, Europe's largest
scientifically-based online dating service, revealed that Britain's singles
will go on a staggering 2.5 million first dates this January - nearly three
times more than in December and twice as many as any other single month of
the year. But it's Saturday 31st January that is scheduled to be the year's
biggest night for first dates, of which an estimated 700,000 will blossom
into new romance by February.

According to Dr Victoria Lukats, psychiatrist and PARSHIP.co.uk's dating
expert, there's a simple explanation:

"These findings are consistent with previous surveys. We know that more
people join internet dating services in January than any other time of year.
We also know that internet dating has now become the single most common way
of finding a partner. The explanation could be down to the post-Christmas
malaise, pressure from well-meaning friends and relatives or New Year's
resolutions. Perhaps people who have been putting off dating for a while may
tell themselves they will make an effort in the New Year."

In a recent poll of 1,300 singles by PARSHIP.co.uk, three out of four
people (81%) said they would actively look to meet someone in January,
regardless of the downturn in the economy. That's 47% looking for a committed
relationship, 13% for a casual relationship and 21% for any type of
relationship. What's more, nearly half (47%) of singles, 45% of men and 50%
of women, admitted to feeling particularly lonely in January -- that would
factor up to more than 6 million people nationwide

Dr Victoria Lukats continued.

"According to this survey, Saturdays and Fridays are the most popular
days for a first date. Interestingly, a similar survey in 2006 had found
Thursday to be the most popular day of the week for a first date. Unless a
survey is very large, it's difficult to draw certain conclusions but if
indeed the favourite day of the week for a first date has shifted, it's
tempting to hypothesize that this could be due to the economic downturn.
Maybe people only want to spend money going out once a week, rather than
reserving Fridays and Saturdays just for seeing friends."

As more and more singles reach out for love in 2009, over two thirds,
67%, will turn to paid-for dating services to arrange a date. An estimated 12
million first dates will be organised online in 2009.

PARSHIP.co.uk is Europe's largest dating and relationship service with
millions of members. Unlike other dating services, PARSHIP matches people
using a unique scientific personality test, created by Hamburg University.

Based on 40 years of scientific research, the PARSHIP compatibility test
is able to match people who share similar and complementary personality and
character traits - the requirements for a harmonious relationship.

Research suggests that people are twice as likely to develop a lasting
relationship with PARSHIP's help than with any other method.

Regional statistics

    Singles looking for love in January

    North - 81%
    Midlands - 81%
    Wales - 78%
    London - 87%
    Scotland - 76%

    Singles who admitted to feeling lonely in January

    North - 51%
    Midlands - 50%
    Wales - 40%
    London - 46%
    Scotland - 49%