A new analysis on Valentine’s Day through a statistical lens, revealing a holiday that is far more complex than its romantic reputation suggests. While February 14 is widely associated with proposals, gifts, and celebrations, the data also shows clear spikes in stress, disappointment, divorce interest, and domestic violence. The findings highlight the dual nature of the holiday and the measurable patterns that emerge each year.
How Americans Spend Valentine’s Day
Survey data from YouGov provides a detailed look at how people in relationships planned to spend Valentine’s Day in 2024. Respondents could choose multiple options, and the results show a mix of traditional celebrations and personal expectations.
Planned activities among partnered Americans included:
- 34 percent planned to dine out
- 25 percent planned to share a meal at home
- 37 percent expected to exchange gifts
- 28 percent expected to exchange cards
- 30 percent planned to have sex
A separate 2025 survey asked partnered adults how important romance is to a successful relationship. The responses show that romantic gestures still hold significant weight.
- 66 percent of men said romance is essential
- 59 percent of women said the same
Spending patterns also reflect the cultural emphasis on the holiday. Women spend an average of 57 dollars on Valentine’s Day, while men spend an average of 249 dollars.
Despite the focus on affection, not all experiences are positive. A 2020 study found that 6 percent of Americans consider Valentine’s Day stressful and feel pressure to meet their partner’s expectations. Among more than 33,000 adults surveyed by YouGov, 48 percent of women and 23 percent of men reported feeling disappointed by a romantic partner on Valentine’s Day. These numbers suggest that the holiday can amplify emotional expectations and create opportunities for conflict.
Valentine’s Day as a Major Proposal Date
Data cited by Dellino Family Law Group shows that Valentine’s Day remains one of the most popular days of the year for marriage proposals. Approximately six million proposals occur on February 14 annually, and 36 percent of Americans consider a Valentine’s Day proposal romantic.
Proposal data from November through February shows that 41.2 percent of all annual proposals occur during this four month period. Valentine’s Day leads with 17.2 percent of proposals, making it the single most popular proposal date.
A comparison of proposal percentages across major holidays shows how strongly Valentine’s Day stands out:
| Holiday | Percentage of Annual Proposals |
| Thanksgiving Day | 6.6 percent |
| Christmas Eve | 10.3 percent |
| Christmas Day | 9.1 percent |
| New Year’s Eve | 8.5 percent |
| New Year’s Day | 3.4 percent |
| Valentine’s Day | 17.2 percent |
| Any other day between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day | 44.9 percent |
Even when Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are combined, their total only slightly exceeds the Valentine’s Day figure. The data confirms that February 14 is a major turning point for couples who are ready to commit.
Conception Trends Linked to Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day also plays a measurable role in conception patterns. According to CDC and Social Security Administration data, 10,408 babies are born in November following a Valentine’s Day conception. Research from MooseRoots ranks Valentine’s Day as the sixth most common conception date in the United States.
The top ten conception dates include:
- Christmas
- New Year’s Eve
- Thanksgiving
- Halloween
- Presidents’ Day
- Valentine’s Day
- St. Patrick’s Day
- Mardi Gras
- Memorial Day
- Cinco de Mayo
MooseRoots reached these rankings by analyzing more than 14 million birth records from 1936 to 2012 and calculating conception dates based on an average pregnancy length of 38 weeks. The findings show that Valentine’s Day consistently ranks among the most common days for couples to conceive.
Divorce Interest Spikes Around Valentine’s Day
The same holiday that inspires millions of proposals also coincides with a significant rise in divorce-related activity. Dellino Family Law Group cites a 2014 study from AVVO showing that searches for divorce information increase more than 40 percent in the weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day. The pattern is so consistent that researchers refer to it as the Valentine’s Effect.
Additional findings from the AVVO study include:
- 67 percent of people seeking divorce attorneys during this period are women
- The highest search volumes come from Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, Phoenix, and Dallas
February is the busiest month of the year for divorce filings, with activity rising 18 percent above the monthly average. People are also 38 percent more likely to search for a divorce attorney immediately after Valentine’s Day.
Google Trends data from February 2025 shows the following peak dates for divorce related searches:
- February 18: search index 100
- February 5: search index 97
- February 19: search index 96
These numbers suggest that the emotional expectations of Valentine’s Day may intensify existing relationship problems, prompting many individuals to seek legal information or take steps toward separation.
Domestic Violence Increases During the Holiday
One of the most concerning findings in the study is the link between Valentine’s Day and domestic violence. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, intimate partner violence accounts for 15 percent of all violent crime in the United States. Hospital data shows that 15 percent of assault related injury visits occur during holiday periods.
Additional national statistics include:
- More than one in three women and one in four men have experienced physical violence, rape, or stalking by a partner
- Domestic violence hotlines receive more than 20,000 calls per day
- Hotline call volume increases by up to 22 percent during major holidays
The study notes that heightened expectations, financial strain, and increased alcohol consumption can intensify conflict during Valentine’s Day. Organizations such as Women’s Aid report a noticeable rise in abusive behavior during this period. Family law practitioners also see increased demand for legal protections such as non molestation and occupation orders.
A Holiday Defined by Contrasting Realities
Americans spent an estimated 27.5 billion dollars on Valentine’s Day in 2025. It remains the most popular day for marriage proposals and one of the top days for conception. Yet the data also shows clear increases in stress, disappointment, divorce interest, and domestic violence.
The study from Dellino Family Law Group illustrates that Valentine’s Day is not simply a celebration of love. It is a day that magnifies both the strengths and weaknesses of relationships, often revealing underlying tensions that may otherwise remain hidden.
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