Thai Dating Insights 2024: Key Insights and Matchmaking Preferences for Singles Dating in Thailand
By Bangkok Matching, Thailand’s leading and longest-running high-end matchmaking company
Bangkok Matching compiles annual statistics on Thai dating, partner selection, and dating preferences in Thailand. This article highlights the key dating trends and popular preferences among Thai singles for the year 2024, offering valuable insights for anyone navigating the world of dating in Thailand.
Profession preferences
For Thai single women, the most preferred profession for dating, chosen by 99%, remains business owners. The second most popular choice is doctors, followed by other prestigious and socially respected careers such as judges, ambassadors, and high-ranking government officials.
These preferences reflect the emphasis Thai single women place on security and respectability in the realm of Thai dating.
However, a man’s profession alone is not enough to capture the interest of a Thai single woman. Thai women evaluate potential partners holistically, prioritising the following factors in order when it comes to dating:
- Profession
- Income and financial stability
- Educational background
- Personality
- Physical appearance and overall look
- Character and demeanour
Education is a particularly significant factor when Thai women seek Thai partners. However, for foreign partners, women are more flexible. If the man demonstrates financial stability and a successful career, they are often open to partners who may not hold a university degree.
Appearance also plays a significant role in dating in Thailand, as many Thai women decline further consideration if a man doesn’t meet their basic standards for looks.
For single men, whether Thai or foreign, professional status tends to be less of a focus. Around 80% do not prioritise a woman’s profession, though some specify a minimum income level.
About 50% prefer women earning at least 30,000 baht per month, 10% specify incomes higher than 30,000 baht, while the remaining 40% are unconcerned about income as long as the woman is employed in an honest and stable job and can support herself.
This analysis sheds light on Thailand’s dating trends and preferences, shaping how individuals approach matchmaking and dating in Thailand.
Education preferences:
- 80% of single Thai women prefer their partner to hold at least a bachelor’s degree, with 15% favouring a master’s or doctoral degree. However, 5% are open to partners with less than a bachelor’s degree if they demonstrate stable careers and financial security.
- 80% of single Thai men also prefer their partner to have at least a bachelor’s degree, with 5% favouring higher degrees and 15% open to partners without a degree.
- For foreign men, 60% prefer partners with at least a bachelor’s degree, 5% prefer higher degrees, and 35% are open to partners without a degree.
By understanding these dating preferences, singles navigating the world of Thai dating can make more informed decisions when seeking their ideal partner in dating in Thailand.
Height preferences in Thai dating:
- 98% of single Thai women prefer men who are at least 175cm tall, while 2% favour a minimum height of 180 or 185cm.
- 80% of single Thai men (both Thai and foreign) prefer Thai women who are at least 160cm tall, with 20% preferring Thai women taller than 160cm.
The long-standing myth that Thai men prefer petite Thai women (defined by Bangkok Matching as 140 to 155 cm tall) is entirely unfounded. Only 0.0001% of Thai men actively seek partners within this height range, reflecting how modern preferences in dating in Thailand have evolved.
Body type preferences in Thai dating:
- 80% of Thai women prefer men with an average or slightly chubby physique.
- 85% of Thai and foreign men prefer Thai women with a slim and proportionate figure. Interestingly, when men describe a preference for chubby women, they typically mean a well-balanced figure with prominent busts, hips, and curves—what women themselves might call proportionate rather than chubby.
- 100% of Thai women in Thai dating value men who are well-groomed, clean, smart, and dressed appropriately for the occasion.
Appearance and grooming trends in Thai dating:
- The most popular look among Thai singles engaging in dating in Thailand continues to be fair-skinned, East-Asian-inspired features (Chinese-influenced), and tall, for both men and women.
- Hair length is no longer a significant factor for men. Unlike eight to 20 years ago, when long, straight hair was highly preferred, modern men are equally receptive to short hairstyles.
- 50% of men in Thai dating explicitly state they prefer not to match with women who have had breast implants or extensive facial surgeries that result in unnatural appearances.
Dating Trends in Thailand
Based on Bangkok Matching’s matchmaking client data:
- 65% of singles (Thai and foreign) prefer their first date to be dinner, while 35% opt for lunch, often scheduling dates on weekends or public holidays rather than weekday evenings.
- 40% of matches decide to deactivate their matchmaking profiles after the first date to focus exclusively on one another, showcasing the efficiency of dating in Thailand when preferences align.
- 50% of singles decide within two dates whether to continue pursuing their match, while 10% deactivate their matchmaking profiles after the third date to explore an exclusive relationship.
Popular first-date locations in Thai dating:
- Restaurants or cafes in shopping malls remain the most popular choice for first dates in Thailand, followed closely by stand-alone restaurants or cafes outside malls.
These trends and preferences reflect the evolving landscape of Thai dating, offering a clearer perspective on what singles value when seeking meaningful connections.
