Chances of Meeting a Serial Killer on a Dating App
Estimates for the number of serial killers operating in the U.S. at any given time vary, but they are often cited as being between 25 to 50, averaging 37.5.
Considering that the population of the United States is over 330 million people, the odds of coming across one of these serial killers can be estimated at 0.00001136%.
So how many people would you have to date in order to meet a serial killer?
Let’s calculate that:
330,000,000 (the U.S. population) divided by 37.5 (estimated number of serial killers) equals approximately 8,800,000.
So, you would theoretically have to date around 8,800,000 people before you met one serial killer. [1, 2]
Read more about dating app statistics: 2023 Statistics: Online Dating Sexual Assault, Violence, & Murders
Chances of Meeting a Convicted Rapist on a Dating App
The average number of convicted rapists in the U.S. is 3,258 which means that the odds of coming across one of these rapists is 0.000988%.
So how many people would you have to date in order to meet a rapist?
Let’s calculate that:
330,000,000 (the U.S. population) divided by 3,258 (estimated number of convicted rapists) equals approximately 101,233.
So, you would theoretically have to date around 101,233 people before you met one rapist.
To put it all together, you’re 87 times more likely to meet a convicted rapist on a dating app than a serial killer.
Notes
However, this estimation is quite simplified and comes with several important caveats:
- Serial killers/ rapists are not evenly distributed among the population. Certain regions may have higher or lower numbers.
- Not all serial killers/ rapists would necessarily be using dating apps. Their methods and means of selecting potential victims vary.
- Serial killers/ rapists do not conform to any specific demographic. They can be of any gender, age, occupation, etc. Your chances of encountering one can be influenced by your dating preferences.
- The number of serial killers/ rapists is an estimate, with the actual number potentially being higher or lower.
These calculations provide a stark perspective on just how rare these individuals are within the population.
Nonetheless, when it comes to online dating, it's essential to always exercise caution and good judgment when meeting new people. [3]
Read more about dating app statistics: 2023 Statistics: Online Dating Sexual Assault, Violence, & Murders
Sources
[1] Aamodt, Michael & Leary, Terence & Southard, Larry. (2020). Radford/FGCU Annual Report on Serial Killer Statistics: 2020. 10.13140/RG.2.2.33405.38884.
[2] https://datacommons.org/place/country/USA/?utm_medium=explore&mprop=count&popt=Person&hl=en
[3] https://www.thehivelaw.com/blog/how-many-rapists-are-convicted/
[4] https://datingarmory.com/online-dating-sexual-assault-violence-murder-statistics-and-data/
