What Type of Love Lasts the Longest? The Truth May Surprise You

Romantic love fades, but what replaces it matters

Let’s be honest—romantic passion is great at first. Fireworks, butterflies, texting until 3am. But does it last?

Short answer: not usually. Studies (and, well, life) show that the intense, infatuated kind of love typically lasts 12 to 18 months, give or take. After that, the hormones settle. Reality kicks in. You start noticing the weird way they chew or how they leave socks everywhere.

So… is love doomed after that? Nope. That’s when real love starts to take shape.

The longest-lasting love is built on friendship

Emotional connection > physical chemistry

According to psychologists, especially Robert Sternberg’s famous Triangular Theory of Love, the strongest, most durable kind of love is companionate love—a deep friendship with trust, respect, and shared values.

• It doesn’t rely on constant excitement.

• It thrives on emotional safety.

• And yeah, it can still include passion—but it’s not dependent on it.

I've seen this in my grandparents (62 years together!). They still laugh together, bicker gently, and do the crossword every Sunday like it’s a sacred ritual. The spark isn't wild anymore, but the bond? Unshakable.

Trust, respect, and shared experiences

People change over time. The love that lasts is one that grows with the change, not against it. When partners are best friends—when they actually like each other—it shows.

They can:

• Have hard conversations without turning everything into a war

• Support each other's growth without jealousy

• Ride out boring seasons without panic

Let’s face it: life isn’t always romantic dinners and beach walks. Sometimes it’s bills, crying babies, and burnt toast. The couples who laugh through that? They make it.

Why intense passion doesn’t usually go the distance

It burns hot… and then fizzles

Passionate love is addictive. It lights up the same part of the brain as drugs (literally—neuroimaging studies have shown this). But like any high, it wears off. And if there’s nothing deeper underneath?

Crash and burn.

Ever had a relationship where the chemistry was insane, but you couldn’t talk about anything serious? Or every fight felt like emotional warfare? Yep, that’s unstable love. Fun for a while, but rarely forever.

Conflict resolution matters more than kisses

One big myth is that love means never fighting. But actually, the couples who last don’t avoid conflict—they handle it well. They know how to fight fair. No low blows. No cold shoulders for days.

Companionate love develops when both people feel safe being vulnerable. That doesn’t sound sexy, but trust me, it’s powerful.

The role of self-love in lasting relationships

You can’t pour from an empty cup

Okay, this part might sound a little woo-woo—but hear me out.

The love that lasts longest often starts with a stable sense of self. When both partners know who they are, what they value, and don’t rely on the other to “complete” them... they bring something real to the table.

• Less codependency

• More healthy space

• Fewer expectations that love = fixing each other

Honestly, the most attractive people I know are the ones who seem okay even alone. That energy? It’s magnetic.

Interdependence beats dependence

Not being overly dependent doesn’t mean being distant. Long-lasting couples find a sweet spot between closeness and autonomy. They lean on each other, sure—but they’re not leaning so hard that one falls when the other wobbles.

So, what type of love lasts the longest?

Drumroll... it’s the love rooted in deep friendship. The kind that grows slowly, like a tree—not explodes like a firework. Companionate love, with a base of trust, honesty, vulnerability, and mutual respect, is what carries people through decades—not just dates.

Maybe it doesn’t sound super exciting on paper. But in the long run? That’s the love that sticks. That shows up. That stays. And honestly, isn’t that what we all really want?

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.