Growing population of youngsters and changing cultural dynamics are set to boost the country's online dating market, with the count of users likely to touch 115 million in three years, feel market players.Though at a nascent stage, market players said number of users exposed to online dating are gradually rising in India.
According to StepOut.com, an online dating site that started its operations in India last year, currently there are about six million people who use online dating services in the country.
Going by the site, the count is anticipated to touch 115 million by 2015, with market size to be around USD 206 million.
Currently, the market is worth over USD 130 million, according to estimates.
Globally, the market for online dating is estimated to be worth about USD 4 billion.
"Dating culture in India is evolving rapidly. Changing cultural dynamics like the increase in average marriage age... are shifting the dating paradigm significantly," StepOut co-founder and CEO Adam Sachs told PTI.
Another online dating site QuackQuack.in, that also began operations last year, expects the online dating industry to see an annual growth rate of 20 per cent.
"They (users) see dating as a healthy sign of making close companionship and knowing someone well in advance before taking a plunge to marriage.
"Also people are willing to use Internet dating service mainly due to its convenience and accessibility," QuackQuack.in Marketing Head Sahana said.
Over the last few years, with the booming economy and young generation adapting the urban culture, a fast paced life have become the norm, she added.
Meanwhile, some web application developers are looking to catch on the rising popularity of online dating. For instance, Rocke Talk, a firm that develops applications for social networking sites, is planning to tap online dating sites.
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