Worried about being single? Forget it, everyone is

Ever get self-conscious about those nights you spend in your flat alone disinterestedly swiping Tinder with a takeaway on your lap? Don't worry about it – everybody in America is probably doing the same thing. According to a new report, more than half of adult Americans are single. This marks the first time that single people have made up the majority of the population since the government started collecting relationship statistics in 1976.

The number of people coupling up has steadily declined since the 70s. In 2013, just under half of the population did not have a partner, but singles now make up 50.2% of the US. These solo fliers have major implications for the American economy.

Economist Edward Yardeni argues in Selfies (yes, that is the name of his report) that singledom enforces certain lifestyle choices: singles are more likely to rent rather than buy houses, and they're far less likely to have children – both factors that have a big impact on the economy.

Yardeni also believes that the increase in people living all on their ownsome is distorting income inequality figures in the US. "While they have less household earnings than married people, they also have fewer expenses, especially if there are no children in their households," he explains.

So here's a shout out to all you singles reppin' it out there. Remember you guys are probably the (childless) future, so in honour of your independence here are a few of our favourite "single" moments.

BEYONCE IN "SINGLE LADIES"

OK, so this is the big one. If a shout out to singledom ever sang louder than this then we'd like to hear it. Still though, the world's leading independent woman is apparently still drunk in love with Jay. Hypocrite.

PATRICK BATEMAN IN AMERICAN PSYCHO

This is the point in American Psycho where the shallow, vain and murderous Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale) breaks off his engagement to the equally shallow and vain Evelyn (Reese Witherspoon) in favour of a life of rampaging and singledom. It's probably for the best.

FRANCES HALLADY IN FRANCES HA

In Noah Baumbach's superb 2013 film Frances Ha, the show is stolen by the "undateable" Frances Halladay (Greta Gerwig), a hopeless romantic who dreams of a completely unrealistic true love and consequently ends up alone, referring to herself throughout the film as "undateable". Gerwig's iconic namesake Greta Garbo also uttered the famous words "I want to be alone" in the 1932 film Grand Hotel.

SAMANTHA IN SEX AND THE CITY

OK, all the characters in Sex and the City are single most of the time, but at least Samantha (Kim Cattrall) really brings a sense of power to the situation.

MICHAEL FASSBENDER IN SHAME

This is one instance on film where being single looks like a bit of a drag. Michael Fassbender plays Brandon, a porn-obsessed sex addict with an all encompassing inability to emotionally connect with anyone. In many ways he's a similar character to Bateman, but at least Bret Easton Ellis' murderous enfant terrible has a good time.