Nov 29, 2023 · Share of individuals worldwide reporting feelings of loneliness in 2022, by age group The most important statistics Share of U. They wanted to identify psychological and environmental risk factors connected to Nov 29, 2023 · Share of individuals worldwide reporting feelings of loneliness in 2022, by age group The most important statistics Share of U. The effect of loneliness and isolation can be as harmful to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day and is more damaging than obesity. 7% versus 3. 24% of people aged 50+ living in England feel lonely some of the time, while 7% (equating to around 1. Creating more age-friendly communities by improving access to transportation and information If you'd prefer for someone else to host, Re-engage is a charity that holds regular free Sunday afternoon tea parties for people over the age of 75 who live alone. The number of people who live alone has increased Feb 9, 2021 · The global pandemic has deepened an epidemic of loneliness in America. 8% to 12. Bottom Line. Recent work suggests that a high proportion of adults aged 60 years and over (i. May 30, 2022 · The research results showed an upward shift in school loneliness between 2012 and 2018. Within the next decade, 2 million people aged 50 and over in England are projected to be lonely if efforts to tackle loneliness are not made (Age UK, 2018a). adults who thought select health issues were a crisis 2022 Nov 29, 2023 · Share of individuals worldwide reporting feelings of loneliness in 2022, by age group The most important statistics Share of U. This comes as overall levels of chronic levels of loneliness Nov 29, 2023 · Share of individuals worldwide reporting feelings of loneliness in 2022, by age group The most important statistics Share of U. Mund et al. 7%), with those aged between 30-49 close behind at 8. We also have specialist advisers at over 120 local Age UKs. , 2019; The Lancet, 2023). Apr 4, 2023 · Loneliness Highest Among Young Adults, Lower-Income Households. Dec 18, 2023 · In 2023, the World Health Organization launched a new commission on social connection, framing loneliness as a "pressing health threat" on a global scale and social connectedness as a global priority. Loneliness is a global issue that affects people from all walks of life. Jan 1, 2021 · In 2021, the mean wellbeing score of adults in England was 26. While one might think that older people might feel lonelier, the study showed that the opposite is true: Older people Apr 12, 2023 · Younger Brits report higher levels of loneliness. Age UK are here to help those overcome loneliness. Family and friends are important for our well-being. Rates of loneliness vary Dec 6, 2022 · Most studies have revealed a non-linear, U-shaped relationship between loneliness and age, whereby loneliness increases during young adulthood and older age, and substantially decreases in middle Dec 1, 2021 · In a sample of one million adolescents, school loneliness increased between 2012 and 2018 in 36 out of 37 countries around the world. Several studies report that loneliness among both younger and older people has considerably increased during the pandemic due to maintaining virus mitigating measures such as social distancing, self-isolation, shelter in place, work from home, etc. 3%, age 13 years: 7. People around the world experienced an increase in loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic, which, although small, could have implications for people’s long-term mental and physical health, longevity, and well-being. adults who thought select health issues were a crisis 2022 Jan 30, 2024 · In May 2023, U. May 9, 2022 · We are facing a loneliness epidemic. Apr 30, 2024 · Loneliness in adulthood follows a U-shaped pattern: it's higher in younger and older adulthood, and lowest during middle adulthood, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study that examined nine Dec 8, 2020 · In this study, we analyzed the gender and age differences in the levels of loneliness reported by people without and with moderate and severe disabilities in Germany. High degree of loneliness precipitates suicidal ideation and parasuicide. Dec 11, 2019 · According to this data, those aged 16 to 24 are the group most likely to report feeling lonely, with 10% feeling lonely “often or always”. J. Loneliness among heart failure patients was associated with a nearly 4 times increased risk May 13, 2024 · Source: Statista . Oct 6, 2023 · Recent research measured how lonely people feel and how much time they spend alone in daily life. adults who thought select health issues were a crisis 2022 Apr 30, 2024 · Feinberg School of Medicine. 6 percent. , called loneliness a public health epidemic. adults who thought select health issues were a crisis 2022 Feb 2, 2021 · The BBC Loneliness Experiment provided a unique opportunity to examine differences in the experience of lonelines across cultures, age, and gender, and the interaction between these factors. 2a and Table 2. Dec 14, 2020 · A wide variety of face-to-face or digital interventions have been developed to reduce social isolation and loneliness among older people. In a survey of members of the AARP Medicare Supplement Plans, insured by UnitedHealthcare, 27% to 29% were lonely; about 9% were severely lonely. May 23, 2024 · This report presents findings from early 2023 with comparisons to prior surveys to describe trends in loneliness and social interactions among adults age 50–80 before and during the pandemic. Our report suggests that 36% of all Americans—including 61% of young adults and 51% of mothers with young children—feel “serious loneliness. (1) Technology can inadvertently create problems but may also offer new solutions. Aug 23, 2023 · Migration-related inequalities in loneliness and the ‘double jeopardy’ hypothesis. Sep 20, 2023 · Key statement. Oct 19, 2022 · This brings the total number of people who say they “often” or “always” feel lonely from 2. Lines are open 8am-7pm, 365 days a year. 8 respectively). For more information see: Table 2. 3 million people as of February 2022. Loneliness can affect anyone. Nov 7, 2022 · However, although studies conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic found that average loneliness was highest in the oldest age group (80 years and older) 18,21,22,23, increased loneliness has also Jun 9, 2020 · The study revealed three interesting findings: 1. , post-retirement age) are working both in India and globally [ 43 , 44 ]. Another concern is that the number of Sep 8, 2021 · Loneliness can make even simple tasks, like shopping, an ordeal. Over 60% of adults in the United States report feeling lonely. Feb 2, 2024 · Share of individuals worldwide reporting feelings of loneliness in 2022, by age group The most important statistics Share of U. 10 in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. , M. In contrast, those aged 65 years and older are the group least likely to report feeling lonely, with 3% feeling lonely “often or always”. Who experiences social isolation? The frequency of social contact, which may include both in-person and online contact, has been declining across all age groups in Australia for decades. Loneliness and Covid-19. In May 2023, the US Surgeon General declared ‘loneliness’ as a new epidemic, 1 and in November 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched an International Commission to look into loneliness as a pressing global health threat. Published by. Of those, 212 estimates for 106 countries from 24 studies were Loneliness and Social Connections. Age affects loneliness. As psychologists worry that the coronavirus pandemic is triggering a loneliness epidemic, new Harvard research suggests feelings of social isolation are on the rise and that those hardest hit are older teens and young adults. 3; Generation X got 45. Mareike Ernst can be reached via email. 2%, according to new analysis of the latest ONS data. 0. D. Young adults between the ages of 18 and 22 are the loneliest age group. The study, “The Global State of Social Connections,” was conducted by Gallup and Meta to understand the loneliness faced by people. 2% to 17. In the majority of countries in our sample, more than 10% of adults in these age groups report being lonely, and in 17 of 27 countries the share was above 25%. Loneliness in adulthood follows a U-shaped pattern: It’s higher in younger and older adulthood, and lowest during middle adulthood, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study that examined nine longitudinal studies from around the world. Among children, loneliness has shown stability over historical time (Lempinen et al. The global results indicate that young adults aged 19 to 29 are the largest age group, experiencing loneliness by 27%, followed by teenagers aged 15 to 18 and adults 30 to 44 years old, who experience equal levels of loneliness by 25%. 514,000 people aged 65+ (4 per cent) expect to feel lonely this Christmas. 1%) in the Eastern Mediterranean region. For more information: Table 9. There was a significant linear-by-linear association between loneliness and age group (Mantel-Haenszel linear-by-linear X 2 = 65. adults who thought select health issues were a crisis 2022 Mar 13, 2023 · As to be expected, loneliness is common among late-middle-aged and older adults around the world. Those aged between 16-29 are over two times as likely to report feeling lonely often or always than those over 70 (9. Mar 2, 2021 · Loneliness has increased across the world. Foto Ltd/Alamy Stock Photo. Sep 6, 2021 · The trend of ageing is becoming a major concern for public health authorities worldwide. In 2022, 49. and UK ( Mojtabai et al Jan 23, 2020 · The report surveyed over 10,000 adult workers in July and August 2019, relying on a measure of loneliness called the UCLA Loneliness Scale, used as a standard within psychology research. 1 and 25. One in six older adults experience abuse, often by their own carers. Jan 10, 2024 · TOP 10 Loneliness Statistics By Country. Using those data, we analysed the frequency of loneliness reported by 46,054 participants aged 16–99 years, living across 237 countries, islands, and territories, representing the full range of Nov 29, 2023 · Share of individuals worldwide reporting feelings of loneliness in 2022, by age group The most important statistics Share of U. The feeling of loneliness is determined by how individuals perceive their social support and not by the number of social connections or emotional ties. For Nov 29, 2022 · Rates of loneliness were similar in 2020, 2021 and 2022. The survey Nov 29, 2023 · Share of individuals worldwide reporting feelings of loneliness in 2022, by age group The most important statistics Share of U. Kantar TNS F2F Omnibus Research polling for Age UK, Nov-Dec 2018 – sample of 1917 people aged 65+ in the UK. Not everyone is lonely. , We offer support through our free advice line on 0800 678 1602. A survey of Canadian adults from January 2022 found that 29 percent of those aged 18 As a whole, loneliness is an incredibly common experience among people worldwide, regardless of age or personal circumstance, which is why it’s so important that we start talking about it openly. adults who thought select health issues were a crisis 2022 Jan 21, 2020 · The BBC Loneliness Experiment provided a unique opportunity to examine differences in the experience of loneliness across cultures, age, and gender, and the interaction between these factors. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, M. B. The relative risk of loneliness is based on the Census 2011 figures for the factors: These four factors predict around 20% of the loneliness observed amongst older people 65 and over as represented in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). It is known to be more dangerous than smoking. The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on many aspects of peoples’ psychological conditions, including loneliness. e. Wellbeing varied with age, with the lowest mean scores amongst those aged 35 to 44 (25. Now, in the year 2022, we are witnessing a decade of internet and digital media's impact on culture, minds Nov 7, 2022 · Age is not a risk factor for loneliness itself, as loneliness can be experienced by people of any age, and some risk factors are specific to certain age groups. Jun 17, 2021 · Loneliness may also increase the risks of serious health conditions such as dementia (by 50%), stroke (by 32%) heart disease (by 29%), mental health disorders (by 26%) and premature mortality (by Poor social relationships (characterized by social isolation or loneliness) was associated with a 29% increased risk of heart disease and a 32% increased risk of stroke. You'll be collected from your home and driven to a volunteer host's home for the afternoon. Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been impressed how statistics producers have adapted to meet new and increased societal needs for information. Loneliness rates were at comparable levels for women and men 50 years of age and older. But over the past 50 years, the share of U. Only 40 percent of people over 65 report feeling occasionally lonely. Apply online or call Re-engage on 0800 716 543. Studies examining historical trends in loneliness have either focused on children, adolescence, emerging adults, or older adults. In the recently released results of a Jan 13, 2017 · Loneliness affects 25% to 60% of older Americans and puts millions of Americans 50 and over at risk of poor health from prolonged loneliness. Share of individuals worldwide reporting feelings of loneliness in 2022, by age group The most important statistics Share of U. Recent U. 1 percent, and the Greatest Generation received 38. Forty-nine percent of people surveyed reported that they are not lonely at all, which translates into approximately 2. Furthermore, the lack of social connection can increase the risk of anxiety, depression, stroke, heart disease, and dementia. The prevalence of loneliness and the rate of population aging are two important factors May 3, 2019 · Worldwide, up until the 1960s, single-person households were exceedingly rare. Seventy three percent of Millennials say they are lonely. Facts and statistics about loneliness. As people get older, they spend more time alone—except if they are in a romantic relationship Feb 17, 2021 · Robust social network is key to easing pain, avoiding downward spiral, study says. Some studies show a U-shaped curve along the life-course, loneliness being more prevalent at younger and older ages (18, 29–31). adults who thought select health issues were a crisis 2022 Feb 9, 2022 · The pooled prevalence of loneliness for adolescents ranged from 9. how loneliness is a product of how societies and the world around us are constructed (Drewelies et al. 8. 99 million people) in the UK reported feeling lonely occasionally, sometimes Loneliness is a major issue that is now widely recognised in society today. Here are the top 10 loneliness statistics by country: United States: In the US, over 35% of adults aged 45 and older report feeling lonely at least some of the time, according to a study by AARP. 4%) in South-East Asia to 14. Researchers at the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s “ Making Caring Common ” project analyzed data from an Nov 29, 2023 · Share of individuals worldwide reporting feelings of loneliness in 2022, by age group The most important statistics Share of U. Cigna Report on Loneliness factsheet reports the following: 3 in 5, or 61 percent of people, report being lonely; 8 in 10, or 79 percent of Gen Z, report loneliness; 7 in 10, or 71 Dec 12, 2014 · Published by Statista Research Department , Dec 12, 2014. Globally, two in five people (41%) report becoming lonelier over the last 6 months, while one in five (19%) have become less lonely. Contrary to the perception that isolation and loneliness primarily affect older people in high-income countries, they impact the health and well-being of all age groups across the world. Jul 26, 2021 · One in four EU citizens reported feeling lonely most of the time during the first months of the coronavirus pandemic, according to Eurofound survey data analysed in a new report from the JRC. During the course of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030), the Demographic Change and Healthy Ageing Unit will be addressing social isolation and loneliness as one of the themes that cuts across the four main action areas of the Decade. 63% of adults (25. Download the data for this chart Figure 2. adults who thought select health issues were a crisis 2022 Oct 24, 2023 · The new survey, taken across 142 countries, found 24% of people age 15 and older self-reported feeling very or fairly lonely in response to the question, “How lonely do you feel?”. Dec 4, 2023 · Share of Canadian adults who felt lonely from 2020 to 2022, by age. adults who thought select health issues were a crisis 2022 May 2, 2023 · Across age groups, people are spending less time with each other in person than two decades ago. 7%, and age 15 years: 10. Introduction. Johner Images / Getty Images. May 9, 2022 · American Psychologist, published online May 9, 2022. Loneliness is almost as prevalent as obesity . According to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong, at present, one out of eight people in Hong Kong is aged 65 or above. 9). Surgeon General Vivek Murthy ( 1 ), loneliness and social isolation are reported to occur in approximately one-third or more of older adults with 5% of those often or always feeling lonely ( 2, 3 ). According to a survey published online January 23, 2020 by the health insurer Cigna, more than three in five Americans are lonely, with more and more people reporting feelings of being left out, being poorly understood and lacking companionship. Since 2018 when the survey was first conducted, there has Nov 15, 2023 · Social isolation – having an insufficient number of social connections, and loneliness – and the social pain of not feeling connected, are widespread. 2 billion people across the 142 countries surveyed in this research. A. They do not depend on education. Nov 13, 2023 · The survey, which interviewed people aged 15+ in 142 countries from June 2022 to February 2023, provides insight on the prevalence of loneliness in different age groups. Preeti Vankar , Dec 4, 2023. 001), with . In 2023, one in three adults age 50–80 (34%) reported feeling isolated from others (29% some of the time, 5% often) in the past year. It is considered by many to be one of the largest public health challenges we face. -based research suggests the range is 17% - 57% of persons experience loneliness, a figure Oct 20, 2023 · By 2030, one in six people in the world will be aged 60 years or over. Forty three percent of people ages 18 to 25 report feeling unloved. People in Oct 24, 2023 · Half the World Isn’t Lonely. Using data from the SOEP for the years 2013 and 2017, we used a three-item UCLA Loneliness Scale and estimated OLS models of loneliness separately for males and females, which Nov 22, 2020 · A team of researchers published a new study of loneliness on Nov. Young adults under the age of 30 (24%) and those in lower-income households earning less than $24,000 per year (27%) suffer higher levels of daily loneliness than their older and higher-income counterparts, according to the February 2023 survey. Age and loneliness It is not clear whether loneliness increases or decreases with age. While there are challenges in measuring social Apr 27, 2022 · We believe this finding has significant implications for loneliness in later life, particularly given changing patterns of employment across the world. Age UK works to combat loneliness through influencing, campaigning and service provision. 9%). “What was striking was how consistent the uptick in loneliness is in older May 13, 2024 · Americans and their British counterparts scored higher on loneliness scales compared with people in 13 European nations. May 1, 2021 · One UK study suggested that, in this digital age, as many as 1 in 10 individuals experience loneliness. 6 million people in 2020 to 3. The advisory reported that this was most pronounced in young people aged 15-24 who had 70% less Feb 28, 2018 · A wide variety of face-to-face or digital interventions have been developed to reduce social isolation and loneliness among older people. The 25 to 34 years, 65 to 74 years and 75 years and over age groups were all significantly less likely to be lonely more often than the 16 to 24 years age group. (2020) 25 Meta-analysis of longitudinal studies ( N = 83,667 individuals, k = 208 effect sizes) on the development of loneliness across the lifespan Apr 30, 2024 · CHICAGO --- Loneliness in adulthood follows a U-shaped pattern: it’s higher in younger and older adulthood, and lowest during middle adulthood, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study that examined nine longitudinal studies from around the world. The latest Healthy Minds Monthly Poll from the American Psychiatric Association (APA) finds that, early in 2024, 30% of adults say they have experienced feelings of loneliness at least once a week over the past year, while 10% say they are lonely every day. Jul 29, 2021 · Social isolation and loneliness are increasingly being recognised as a priority public health problem and policy issue for older people. Find out what causes loneliness here and how we can help tackle the problem. In this article, we explore data on loneliness and social connections and review available evidence on the link between social connections and well-being. Many people tend to associate loneliness with older age, so Oct 24, 2023 · The new survey, taken across 142 countries, found 24% of people age 15 and older self-reported feeling very or fairly lonely in response to the question, “How lonely do you feel?”. Sep 14, 2021 · The emergence and development of data and statistics on loneliness is a credit to the hard work of the responsible statisticians. [1,2,3,4 Sep 5, 2023 · Loneliness can cause depression in old age. Feb 27, 2020 · Approximately one-quarter (24 percent) of community-dwelling Americans aged 65 and older are considered to be socially isolated, and a significant proportion of adults in the United States report feeling lonely (35 percent of adults aged 45 and older and 43 percent of adults aged 60 and older). The data reveals that a significant proportion of men experience feelings of loneliness regularly, with varying degrees of severity. The survey Share of individuals worldwide reporting feelings of loneliness in 2022, by age group Mental Health & Substance Abuse Prevalence of select health conditions among lonely U. Nearly twice as many adolescents displayed high levels of loneliness in 2018 compared to 2012, an increase similar to that previously identified in clinical-level depression in the U. May 15, 2020 · Key facts on elderly loneliness. Using those data, we analysed the frequency of loneliness reported by 46,054 participants aged 16–99 years, living across 237 countries, islands, and Jul 23, 2023 · These loneliness statistics show: More than 80 percent of young people under the age of 18 report feeling lonely. Our work is underpinned by evidence and data. Feelings of hopelessness, meaninglessness, and anhedonia often accompany loneliness. → For more, read: Loneliness Statistics: By Country, Demographics & More Dec 5, 2023 · Murthy's report also cites a meta-analysis that found that the risk of premature death due to loneliness increased by 26% and 29% due to social isolation. Jul 25, 2021 · 1. According to statistics, the national average “loneliness score” is 44, with scores ranging from 20 to 80 possible. 2: Percentage of children and young people often or always feeling lonely, by mental health of child or young person and age, 2022 Jan 16, 2020 · Declared as a global epidemic by former U. ” Not surprisingly, loneliness appears to have increased substantially since the outbreak of the global pandemic. Countries where the highest proportions of people have become lonelier include: Turkey (54%), Brazil (52%), Belgium (51%), Canada (50%) and Great Britain (49%). This article was first published in February 2020 and last updated in March 2024. 76, df = 1, p < 0. The older population is projected to further increase to 31% in 2036 and 37% in 2066 . 1. households consisting of one person has more than doubled. Men had, on average, higher scores than women (26. Those aged 75 or over are 63% less likely to report loneliness than those aged 16 to 24 years. For adults, meta-analysis was conducted for the European region only, and a consistent geographical pattern was shown for all adult age groups. 2% (95% confidence interval 6. These include social skills training, community and support groups, befriending, and cognitive behavioural therapy. 3% of the population 50 years of age and older reported feeling lonely in 2020/2021. S. 2 The rising prevalence of loneliness is indeed a major cause of concern, as many studies over the past 2 decades have shown that loneliness is reported a higher prevalence of loneliness in care homes (28). 4% (12. Sep 23, 2021 · The COVID-19 global pandemic and subsequent public health social measures have challenged our social and economic life, with increasing concerns around potentially rising levels of social isolation and loneliness. This paper is based on cross-sectional online survey data (available in 10 languages, from 2 June to 16 November 2020) with 20,398 May 3, 2023 · There were differences by age group in feelings of loneliness, with people aged 16-24 more likely to say they feel lonely often/always (10%) than every other age group (3 to 6%) aside from those Jun 9, 2023 · Loneliness is one of the known stressors experienced by people at risk of suicide (Stravynski and Boyer 2001). The study also identified several risk factors for heightened loneliness across the whole Figures extrapolated by Age UK to national population using ONS Population Estimates 2017. 6) and the highest amongst those aged 65 to 74 (26. Loneliness and social isolation are key risk factors for mental health conditions in later life. 2b of the Excel data tables . Others suggest a steady decrease in loneliness through Mar 7, 2024 · The 2020 U. Americans aged 23–37 (Millennials) have a score of 45. Experiences of loneliness can vary, but its effects can be profound and wide-ranging. Feb 9, 2022 · Across measures, the prevalence of loneliness was identified for adolescents in 77 countries or territories, young adults (18-29 years) in 30 countries, middle aged adults (30-59 years) in 32 countries, and older adults (≥60 years) in 40 countries (supplementary table S4). Approximately 14% of adults aged 60 and over live with a mental disorder. In countries all over the world, millions of people experience loneliness in their daily lives. By contrast, middle-aged adults in Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands Jun 18, 2024 · The statistics presented clearly highlight the prevalence and impact of loneliness among men across different countries and age groups. There was evidence of how painful this irreplaceable void was for people. And it is young people most affected by social Mar 11, 2024 · Together, loneliness and social isolation have become a substantial burden marked by physical and mental health consequences, including increased risk for developing a range of cardiometabolic and throughout the pandemic, people aged 18–24 years were more likely than other age groups to report the highest levels of loneliness. People with a migration background are often considered to be more vulnerable to loneliness due to a range of migrant-specific risk factors, including limited proficiency in the host country's language, experiences of discrimination, a weak sense of belonging to the destination country, and cultural Introduction. The heat map shows the relative risk of loneliness across 32,844 neighbourhoods in England. adults in 2021 In recent years, loneliness has been recognized as a growing public health concern, with studies revealing alarming statistics about its prevalence and impact. Feb 19, 2021 · A new report by Harvard University researchers finds that 36 percent of Americans are experiencing “serious loneliness,” and some groups, such as young adults and mothers with small children, are especially isolated. Creating more age-friendly communities by improving access to transportation and information Jun 28, 2020 · Loneliness at epidemic levels in America. 4 million people) feel lonely often (Age UK, 2018a). This survey shows adults over 18 reporting they felt lonely some or all of the time in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2014, by age group Oct 3, 2021 · Across all survey years, those aged 15 years reported the highest rates of loneliness (mean sample reporting loneliness: age 11 years: 6. This is more than double the levels of loneliness reported in a similar survey conducted in 2016. [1] Approx. A. Loneliness in later life - the size and cause of the challenge, and what works in tackling the issue. Loneliness was associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide. cx wi ld sj wd ly gr am mx rc