The following is a list of television Nielsen ratings and rankings for American daytime soap operas from 1950 to the present, as compiled by Nielsen Media Research. The numbers provided represent the percentage of TV households in the United States watching that particular show in a year. Ratings beginning with the 2013-14 television season count Live+Same Day households as opposed to Live+7 Days. Before 1996, the season average included only ratings from late September through mid-April. Since 1996, the numbers represent full-year ratings, from September through September.
1950s 1950–1951 SeasonWaggett (1997). "Soap Opera Nielsen Ratings". Soap Opera Encyclopedia. pp. 626-628. 1. Hawkins Falls 13.7 (Debut: June 17, 1950) 2. The First Hundred Years 10.5 (Debut: December 4, 1950) 3. Miss Susan 9.8 (Debut: March 13, 1951)
1951–1952 Season 1. Search for Tomorrow 14.1 (Debut: September 3, 1951) 2. Love of Life 13.9 (Debut: September 24, 1951) 3. Hawkins Falls 13.7 (Debuted on primetime the previous year) 4. The Guiding Light 9.2 (TV Debut: June 30, 1952; had been on radio since January 25, 1937) 5. The First Hundred Years 7.1 (Final Season: June 27, 1952) 6. The Egg and I 6.8 7. Fairmeadows USA 5.7 8. Miss Susan 4.8 (Final Season: December 28, 1951)
1952–1953 Season 1. Search for Tomorrow 16.1 (Current record for daytime soap ratings) 2. Love of Life 15.1 3. Hawkins Falls 13.7 4. The Guiding Light 11.3
1953–1954 Season 1. Search for Tomorrow 15.8 2. The Guiding Light 14.4 3. Love of Life 14.0 4. Hawkins Falls 11.7 5. Valiant Lady 10.2 (Debut: October 12, 1953) 6. The Brighter Day 8.4 (Debut: January 4, 1954) 7. The Secret Storm 8.1 (Debut: February 1, 1954) 8. Woman with a Past 7.5 (Debut: February 1, 1954) 9. Portia Faces Life 7.1 10. The Bennetts 6.1
1954–1955 Season 1. Search for Tomorrow 15.2 2. The Guiding Light 14.6 3. Love of Life 13.1 4. Valiant Lady 10.5 5. The Secret Storm 8.5 5. Modern Romances 8.5 7. The Brighter Day 8.4 8. Hawkins Falls 7.7 (Final Season: July 1, 1955) 8. One Man's Family 7.1 9. Concerning Miss Marlowe 7.0 10. First Love 6.8 11. Way of the World 6.3 12. Portia Faces Life 5.9 13. The Seeking Heart 5.4 14. The Road of Life 4.7 15. Three Steps to Heaven 4.0 16. Golden Windows 3.9 17. The Greatest Gift (TV series) 3.2
1955–1956 Season 1. Search for Tomorrow 13.1 2. The Guiding Light 13.0 3. Love of Life 10.9 4. The Brighter Day 10.5 5. The Secret Storm 10.2 6. Valiant Lady 9.2 7. Modern Romances 9.0 8. First Love 6.5 9. Date with Life 5.9 10. Way of the World 5.2
1956–1957 Season 1. The Guiding Light 11.4 2. Search for Tomorrow 11.0 3. The Secret Storm 10.0 4. The Edge of Night 9.7 (Debut: April 2, 1956) 5. The Brighter Day 9.2 6. Love of Life 9.1 7. Modern Romances 9.0 8. As the World Turns 8.4 (Debut: April 2, 1956) 9. Valiant Lady 7.0
1957–1958 Season 1. The Guiding Light 10.1 2. As the World Turns 9.9 3. The Verdict is Yours 9.9 4. Search for Tomorrow 9.8 5. The Secret Storm 9.7 5. The Edge of Night 9.7 7. The Brighter Day 9.3 8. From These Roots 9.0 (Debut: June 30, 1958) 9. Modern Romances 8.1 10. Love of Life 7.9 11. Kitty Foyle 5.1 12. Hotel Cosmopolitan 4.7
1958–1959 Season 1. As the World Turns 9.8 1. Search for Tomorrow 9.8 3. The Guiding Light 9.7 4. The Verdict is Yours 8.7 5. The Secret Storm 8.6 5. The Edge of Night 8.6 7. The Brighter Day 8.2 8. Love of Life 7.5 9. From These Roots 7.3 10. Young Doctor Malone 6.9 (TV Debut: December 29, 1958; had been on radio since 1939) 11. Today is Ours 5.2
1950s Rankings: #1: Search for Tomorrow; #2: The Guiding Light; #3: Love of Life
1960s 1959–1960 Season 1. As the World Turns 9.9 2. The Guiding Light 9.6 3. Search for Tomorrow 9.5 3. The Edge of Night 9.5 5. The Secret Storm 8.9 6. The Verdict is Yours 8.6 7. The Brighter Day 8.2 8. Love of Life 8.0 9. Young Doctor Malone 7.0 10. From These Roots 6.3 11. For Better or Worse 5.5
1960–1961 Season 1. As the World Turns 10.4 2. The Guiding Light 9.9 3. The Edge of Night 9.4 3. Search for Tomorrow 9.4 5. The Secret Storm 9.1 6. The Verdict is Yours 8.0 7. The Brighter Day 7.9 8. Love of Life 7.5 9. Young Doctor Malone 6.6 10. From These Roots 5.9 11. The Clear Horizon 4.8 (Debut: July 11, 1960; aired through March 10, 1961) 12. Road to Reality 2.4 13. Full Circle 1.3 (Debut: June 27, 1960; ended March 10, 1961)
1961–1962 Season 1. As the World Turns 11.9 2. The Guiding Light 10.1 3. Search for Tomorrow 9.5 4. The Edge of Night 8.2 5. The Secret Storm 7.6 6. The Verdict is Yours 7.5 7. Love of Life 7.4 8. The Brighter Day 6.9 9. Young Doctor Malone 6.1 10. Our Five Daughters 5.9 (Debut: January 2, 1962) 11. From These Roots 5.6 (Final Season; ended December 29, 1961) 12. The Clear Horizon 3.5 (Return/Final Season; aired February 26-June 11, 1962)
1962–1963 Season 1. As the World Turns 13.7 2. The Guiding Light 11.7 3. Search for Tomorrow 10.6 4. The Edge of Night 9.5 5. The Secret Storm 9.0 6. Love of Life 8.6 7. Our Five Daughters 5.5 (Final Season; ended September 28, 1962) 7. Young Doctor Malone 5.5 (Final Season; ended March 29, 1963) 9. General Hospital 3.9 (Debut: April 1, 1963) 10. The Brighter Day 3.7 (Final Season; ended September 28, 1962) 11. The Doctors 3.4 (Debut: April 1, 1963) 12. Ben Jerrod 2.4 (Debut)
1963–1964 Season 1. As the World Turns 15.4 2. The Guiding Light 14.2 3. Search for Tomorrow 11.0 4. The Edge of Night 10.5 5. Love of Life 10.3 6. The Secret Storm 9.2 7. General Hospital 5.4 8. The Doctors 3.4 9. Another World 3.3 (Debut: May 4, 1964)
1964–1965 Season 1. As the World Turns 14.5 2. The Guiding Light 12.2 2. Search for Tomorrow 12.2 4. The Secret Storm 11.5 5. Love of Life 10.6 6. The Edge of Night 10.4 7. General Hospital 8.0 8. The Doctors 7.5 9. Another World 6.8 10. Moment of Truth 5.0 (Debut) 11. The Young Marrieds 4.4 (Debut: October 5, 1964) 12. A Flame in the Wind 2.8 (Debut: December 28, 1964; also Final Season)
1965–1966 Season 1. As the World Turns 13.9 2. The Guiding Light 11.2 3. Search for Tomorrow 11.0 4. The Secret Storm 10.9 5. Love of Life 10.3 6. The Edge of Night 9.9 7. General Hospital 7.3 8. Another World 6.9 9. The Doctors 6.6 10. Days of Our Lives 5.3 (Debut: November 8, 1965) 11. The Young Marrieds 4.7 (Final Season; ended March 25, 1966) 12. Moment of Truth 4.3 (Final Season) 13. Dark Shadows 4.1 (Debut: June 27, 1966) 13. Morning Star 4.1 (Debut/Final Season: September 27, 1965 to July 1, 1966) 13. Paradise Bay 4.1 (Debut/Final Season: September 27, 1965 to July 1, 1966) 16. The Nurses 3.9 (Debut: September 27, 1965) 16. Never Too Young 3.9 (Debut/Final Season: September 27, 1965 to June 24, 1966) 17. Confidential for Women 3.4
1966–1967 Season 1. As the World Turns 12.7 2. The Edge of Night 10.9 3. The Guiding Light 10.8 4. Search for Tomorrow 10.7 4. The Secret Storm 10.7 6. Love of Life 9.5 7. Another World 9.0 8. The Doctors 7.6 9. General Hospital 7.0 10. Days of Our Lives 6.9 11. The Nurses 4.6 (Final Season; ended March 31, 1967) 12. Dark Shadows 4.3 13. A Time For Us 4.0 (Debut/Final Season; ended December 16, 1966)
1967–1968 Season 1. As the World Turns 13.6 2. Another World 10.2 3. The Guiding Light 10.0 4. Search for Tomorrow 9.9 5. The Doctors 9.7 6. The Edge of Night 9.4 6. The Secret Storm 9.4 8. Love of Life 9.2 9. General Hospital 8.8 10. Days of Our Lives 8.7 11. Love Is a Many Splendored Thing 7.9 (Debut: September 18, 1967) 12. Dark Shadows 7.3 13. One Life to Live 5.3 (Debut: July 15, 1968)
1968–1969 Season 1. As the World Turns 13.8 2. Search for Tomorrow 10.7 3. Another World 10.5 4. The Edge of Night 9.5 5. Love of Life 9.3 5. The Doctors 9.3 5. Days of Our Lives 9.3 8. Love Is a Many Splendored Thing 9.0 9. The Guiding Light 8.9 10. General Hospital 8.8 11. Dark Shadows 8.4 12. The Secret Storm 7.8 13. One Life to Live 6.4 14. Hidden Faces 3.3 (Debut/Final Season: December 30, 1968 to June 27, 1969)
1960s Rankings: #1: As the World Turns; #2: The Guiding Light; #3: Search for Tomorrow
1970s 1969–1970 Season 1. As the World Turns 13.6 2. The Edge of Night 10.8 3. Search for Tomorrow 10.0 4. The Guiding Light 9.8 5. Another World 9.6 6. Love Is a Many Splendored Thing 9.5 7. Days of Our Lives 8.8 8. The Doctors 8.6 8. The Secret Storm 8.6 10. General Hospital 8.5 11. Love of Life 8.0 12. Dark Shadows 7.3 13. Where the Heart Is 7.0 (Debut: September 8, 1969) 14. One Life to Live 6.7 15. Somerset (spin-off of Another World) 5.7 (Debut: March 30, 1970) 16. Bright Promise 5.2 (Debut: September 29, 1969) 17. All My Children 4.4 (Debut: January 5, 1970) 18. A World Apart 2.8 (Debut: March 30, 1970) 19. The Best of Everything 1.8 (Debut: March 30, 1970/Final Season; ended September 25, 1970)
1970–1971 Season 1. As the World Turns 12.4 2. The Edge of Night 10.1 3. The Guiding Light 9.7 4. Another World 9.5/32 share 4. Days of Our Lives 9.5/32 share 6. General Hospital 9.5/31 share 7. The Doctors 9.4 8. Search for Tomorrow 9.3 9. Love Is a Many Splendored Thing 9.2 10. The Secret Storm 8.0 11. Love of Life 7.9 12. Where the Heart Is 7.0/27 share 13. Somerset 7.0/22 share 14. Bright Promise 6.8 15. One Life to Live 6.5 16. Dark Shadows 5.3 (Final Season; ended April 2, 1971) 17. All My Children 4.8 18. A World Apart 3.4 (Final Season; ended June 25, 1971)
1971–1972 Season 1. As the World Turns 11.1 2. General Hospital 10.4 3. Days of Our Lives 9.9 4. The Edge of Night 9.5 5. The Doctors 9.3 6. Another World 9.1 7. Search for Tomorrow 8.8 8. The Guiding Light 8.6 9. Love Is a Many Splendored Thing 8.0 10. Love of Life 7.4 11. Return to Peyton Place 7.4 (Debut: April 3, 1972) 12. The Secret Storm 7.4 13. One Life to Live 7.3 14. Somerset 6.5 15. Where the Heart Is 6.3 16. Bright Promise 6.1 (Final Season; ended March 31, 1972) 17. All My Children 5.7
1972–1973 Season 1. As the World Turns 10.6 2. Days of Our Lives 9.9 3. Another World 9.7/33 share 4. General Hospital 9.7/31 share 5. The Doctors 9.3 6. Search for Tomorrow 8.6 7. One Life to Live 8.3 8. All My Children 8.2/28 share 9. The Guiding Light 8.2/27 share 10. The Edge of Night 7.9 11. The Secret Storm 7.3 12. Love of Life 7.2 12. Return to Peyton Place 7.2 14. Love Is a Many Splendored Thing 7.1 (Final Season; ended March 23, 1973) 15. Somerset 6.8 16. Where the Heart Is 6.4 (Final Season; ended March 23, 1973) 17. The Young and the Restless 5.0 (Debut: March 26, 1973)
1973–1974 Season 1. As the World Turns 9.7/33 share 2. Another World 9.7/32 share 2. Days of Our Lives 9.7/32 share 4. The Doctors 9.5 5. General Hospital 9.2 6. All My Children 9.1 7. The Guiding Light 8.1 8. One Life to Live 7.8 9. Search for Tomorrow 7.7 10. The Edge of Night 7.4 11. Return to Peyton Place 7.0 (Final Season; ended January 4, 1974) 12. How to Survive a Marriage 6.4 (Debut: January 7, 1974) 13. The Young and the Restless 6.2 14. Somerset 6.1 15. Love of Life 6.0 16. The Secret Storm 5.8 (Final Season; ended February 8, 1974)
1974–1975 Season 1. As the World Turns 10.8 2. Another World 9.7 2. Days of Our Lives 9.7 4. Search for Tomorrow 9.4 5. All My Children 9.3 6. The Doctors 9.0 7. The Guiding Light 8.5/29 share 8. General Hospital 8.5/27 share 9. The Young and the Restless 8.4 10. The Edge of Night 7.6 11. One Life to Live 7.4 12. Love of Life 7.0 13. Somerset 6.0 14. How to Survive a Marriage 5.7 (Final Season; ended April 17, 1975)
1975–1976 Season 1. As the World Turns 9.4 2. Another World 8.9 3. The Young and the Restless 8.6 4. Search for Tomorrow 8.3 4. Days of Our Lives 8.3 6. All My Children 8.1/31 share 7. Guiding Light 8.1/30 share 8. The Doctors 7.3 9. Love of Life 7.3 10. General Hospital 7.2 11. One Life to Live 7.1