Though the marriage rate is at a record low in Great Britain, singles have not given up on dating, according to a recent survey. Conducted by the research group YouGov, the results were compiled after surveying 2,473 single people. The number that made headlines was 8 billion pounds per annum. That's how much Britons spends on dating.

The survey recorded the most common trends in Britain's growing dating community. Reliable estimates put its total members at just over 8.6 million. What did they find?

For starters, they discovered that chivalry is not dead. We know this because the survey showed that men spend ten times as much on drinks and meals for their partners than women do. But in the end, it all evens out, since women spend far more on dating preparation (hair, nails, clothing, etc.) than men do.

The most obvious trend in dating is the new ways singles are meeting these days. Fed up with the bar scene, millions of British singles have thrown in the towel and are now looking for love online. More than fifteen percent of the survey group said that they were members of virtual dating sites.

Probably the two most telling statistics were that the average person spends £200 on each date and that he/she only goes on three dates a year. This lets us know that single people in Britain are serious about meeting someone special.