Data Sources & Citations

    Comprehensive list of authoritative sources used in our compatibility calculations

    Government Data Sources

    Official statistics from federal agencies and research institutions

    [1] U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2022

    Government

    Annual demographic data including age, race, ethnicity, and family structure

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    [2] CDC National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017-2020

    Government

    Health and nutrition data including BMI measurements by demographic groups

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    [3] Pew Research Center Political Typology 2023

    Government

    Political affiliation and ideology surveys by demographic characteristics

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    [4] YouGov Feminist Identification Survey 2023

    Government

    Gender attitude and feminist identification polling data

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    [5] General Social Survey 2022

    Government

    Long-term social attitude and family structure trends

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    [6] U.S. Census Bureau Marital Status Tables (B12002)

    Government

    Detailed marital status data by age, sex, and race/ethnicity

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    [7] CDC National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) 2011-2013, 2015-2017

    Government

    Sexual behavior and lifetime sexual partner data by demographic characteristics

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    [8] U.S. Census Bureau Educational Attainment Tables (B15002)

    Government

    Educational attainment by sex, race, ethnicity, and age from American Community Survey

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    Data Quality & Methodology

    How we ensure accuracy and reliability in our statistical calculations

    Source Verification

    All data sources are verified government agencies or peer-reviewed research institutions. We prioritize Census Bureau data, CDC surveys, and established research centers.

    Data Freshness

    We use the most recent data available, typically within 1-3 years of collection. Government surveys often have 1-2 year publication delays after data collection.

    Sample Sizes

    All statistics are based on large, representative samples (typically 10,000+ respondents) to ensure statistical reliability and minimize sampling error.

    Key Sources Summary

    U.S. Census Bureau

    • • American Community Survey (ACS)
    • • Current Population Survey (CPS)
    • • Educational Attainment Tables (B15002)
    • • Marital Status Tables (B12002)
    • • Decennial Census data
    • • Population estimates

    Centers for Disease Control

    • • NHANES health surveys
    • • Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance
    • • National health statistics
    • • BMI and obesity data

    Pew Research Center

    • • Political affiliation surveys
    • • Social trends research
    • • Religious landscape studies
    • • Demographic analysis

    Additional Sources

    • • Bureau of Labor Statistics
    • • General Social Survey (GSS)
    • • YouGov polling data
    • • Academic research papers

    Data Limitations

    Important considerations when interpreting our statistical results

    Temporal Lag

    Government data typically has 1-2 year delays between collection and publication. Our calculations reflect demographic patterns from recent years, not real-time data.

    Geographic Variation

    National averages may not reflect local demographic patterns. Urban vs. rural areas can have significantly different characteristics.

    Individual Variation

    Statistical probabilities describe population patterns, not individual outcomes. Personal networks, social circles, and individual traits affect real-world compatibility.

    Questions about our data sources? Check our methodology page or FAQ section