How do we love Valentine's Day? Let us count the ways. From 8 billion candy hearts to 35 million boxes of chocolates sold, we've taken a look at Valentine's Day by the numbers. Click on for some sweet surprises!
Valentines Day By The Numbers
By Kim Moreau
How do we love Valentine's Day? Let us count the ways. From 8 billion candy hearts to 35 million boxes of chocolates sold, we've taken a look at Valentine's Day by the numbers. Click on for some sweet surprises!
8 billion: Conversation hearts sold between January 1 and Valentine's Day
Originally called "motto hearts," these chalky treats were introduced in the 1860s, when NECCO candy man Daniel Chase began printing sayings on sweets. Today's more familiar version dates back to 1902 and includes the short and sweet sayings we know and love like "Be Mine," "Sweet Talk" and "Kiss Me." Whatever the message, people seem to like them: every year, NECCO sells out all of their hearts -- or 100,000 pounds a day -- in just six weeks.
110 million: Roses sold and delivered on Valentine's Day
Everything's coming up roses on Valentine's Day! Within a three-day time period, 110 million roses will be sold and distributed, the majority of which will be the classic romantic red. But while all of those buds are big business, V-Day still ranks third in fresh flower sales behind Christmas/Hanukkah and Mother's Day.
35 million: Heart-shaped boxes of chocolate sold each Valentine's Day
Chocoholics take note - you are not alone. The number of people who want to give their sweetheart a sweet treat is astonishing, with 35 million heart-shaped boxes of cocoa-goodness sold by companies like Whitman's each year. No statistics are available on how many pineapple nougat-filled pieces of said chocolates go untouched.
11: Percentage of people who give jewelry
Diamonds may be a girl's best friend, but according to the US Census Bureau, most of them aren't getting any. The Bureau reports that only 11 percent of households celebrate by gifting each other jewelry. Accessories actually come in last in the rankings, after greeting cards (65%), date night (44%), candy (38%), flowers (32%), gift cards (29%), plush animals (21%), other gifts (17%), and perfume (12%).
650 million: Valentines exchanged by children 6 to 10
Your crush might be dreamy, but when it comes to scoring Valentines, the average third-grade teacher has him beat. Educators statistically receive more V-Day cards than any other heartbreakers, followed by mothers, wives, kids... and then lovers. School is a pretty romantic place -- 650 million store-bought or hand-made Valentines are passed around by pupils (aged six to ten) each year.
$163.37: Amount men will spend on Valentine's Day
They say it's a man's world, but not when it comes to gifts on Valentine's Day. According to a 2008 survey from the National Retail Federation, men planned to spend an average of $163.37 on their significant others. Women planned to spend on average $84.72. Sorry guys!
120: Number of single men to every 100 single women
Ladies, if you're spending this Valentine's Day alone, it's not the odds that are against you. The US Census Bureau counts 120 single white men in their 20s (never married, widowed or divorced) for every 100 white women the same age. The odds differ by race: Hispanics are 153 per 100; Asians are 132 per 100; and African Americans shift down to 92 black males for every 100 black females in the same age range.
1000: Letters addressed to Juliet each year
Shakespeare may have concocted the story of two star-crossed lover from his imagination, but the real-life city of Verona is still feeling the repercussions. Each year, Romeo and Juliet's hometown receives over 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet around Valentine's Day.
191 million: Valentine's Day cards exchanged
You may have outgrown the pun-happy, perforated cards of your youth, but Valentine's Day greetings are still major business. According to the Hallmark Corporation, nearly 200 million cards are exchanged each year-and that doesn't include the cartoon-style packaged kids' valentines that fill decorated shoeboxes each year. V-Day is the second most popular holiday for card giving, right behind Christmas.
