Global Prevalence
One in Six People Worldwide Experience Loneliness
The World Health Organization's Commission on Social Connection estimated that 15.8% of people globally experienced loneliness during the 2014–2023 period — approximately one person in six.
Source: WHO Commission on Social Connection, 2025 .
Loneliness Is Associated With More Than 871,000 Deaths Annually
WHO reports that loneliness was associated with more than 871,000 deaths annually, based on evidence covering 2014–2019. WHO describes this as approximately 100 deaths every hour.
This is an association reported by WHO, not a claim that every death was directly caused by loneliness.
Source: WHO, Loneliness and isolation – the hidden threat to global health .
Social Isolation Affects Vulnerable Populations
Loneliness and social isolation are related but different concepts. Loneliness describes a subjective feeling of insufficient connection, while social isolation concerns the objective availability or frequency of social relationships.
Regional and Income Disparities
Low-Income Countries Report More Than Twice the Rate of High-Income Countries
WHO estimates that loneliness is more common in countries with lower income levels. The estimated prevalence is 24.3% in low-income countries compared with 10.6% in high-income countries.
| Country income group | Estimated loneliness prevalence |
|---|---|
| Low-income countries | 24.3% |
| Lower-middle-income countries | 19.3% |
| Upper-middle-income countries | 12.1% |
| High-income countries | 10.6% |
Source: WHO, Social connection .
OECD Countries: 8% Have No Close Friends
The OECD's 2025 international report found that, across 22 European OECD countries, 8% of respondents reported having no close friends.
Across 23 OECD countries, 6% of respondents reported feeling lonely most or all of the time during the previous four weeks.
Source: OECD, Social Connections and Loneliness in OECD Countries, 2025 .
Loneliness by WHO Region
WHO's 2025 global estimates also show substantial differences between WHO regions.
| WHO region | Estimated prevalence |
|---|---|
| African Region | 24.3% |
| Eastern Mediterranean Region | 21.0% |
| South-East Asia Region | 18.3% |
| Region of the Americas | 13.6% |
| Western Pacific Region | 11.0% |
| European Region | 10.1% |
Who Is Most Affected?
Adolescents and Young Adults Have the Highest Estimated Rates
WHO's global analysis found that loneliness is most prevalent among adolescents and young adults, rather than being concentrated only among older adults.
| Age group | Estimated loneliness prevalence |
|---|---|
| 13–17 years | 20.9% |
| 18–29 years | 17.4% |
| 30–59 years | 15.1% |
| 60+ years | 11.8% |
Source: WHO Commission on Social Connection, 2025 .
Young People Have Experienced Deteriorating Social Connection
OECD analysis found that people aged 16–24 experienced the largest increase in reported loneliness between 2018 and 2022. Many of the deteriorations in social support and relationship quality were driven by younger men.
The OECD also reports that, across its available countries, young people experienced changes in social support and relationship satisfaction during this period that warrant continued monitoring.
Source: OECD, Social Connections and Loneliness in OECD Countries, 2025 .
Men Are an Emerging At-Risk Group in OECD Data
WHO estimates that overall loneliness prevalence is broadly similar between females and males. However, OECD trend data show that men experienced larger deteriorations in some measures of relationship quality and social support between 2018 and 2022, with many of these changes driven by younger men.
Living Alone Is Associated With Greater Social Disconnection
OECD data show that people living alone are 3.9 times more likely than people living with others to report feeling lonely most or all of the time over the previous four weeks (14% versus 4%).
They are also 1.8 times more likely to be dissatisfied with their personal relationships (6% versus 3%).
Source: OECD, 2025 .
Health Impacts
Loneliness and Social Isolation Are Associated With Major Health Risks
WHO's review of the evidence links loneliness and social isolation with increased risks across physical and mental health.
- Stroke Loneliness and social isolation are associated with increased stroke risk.
- Heart disease Social disconnection is associated with cardiovascular health risks.
- Diabetes Loneliness and social isolation are associated with increased risk.
- Cognitive decline Social disconnection is associated with poorer cognitive outcomes.
- Depression Lonely people are estimated to be about twice as likely to develop depression.
- Premature death Loneliness and social isolation are associated with increased mortality risk.
Source: WHO Commission on Social Connection, 2025 .
Mental Health: Approximately Double the Depression Risk
WHO reports that people experiencing loneliness are approximately twice as likely to develop depression. Loneliness is also associated with anxiety and thoughts of suicide or self-harm.
Educational and Employment Consequences
The effects of loneliness extend beyond health. WHO reports that teenagers who felt lonely were 22% more likely to obtain lower grades or qualifications.
WHO also notes that adults experiencing loneliness or social isolation may have greater difficulty finding or maintaining employment and may earn less over time.
Source: WHO, Social connection linked to improved health and reduced risk of early death, 2025 .
Economic Costs
Spain: Approximately €14 Billion Per Year
Research cited by WHO estimates that loneliness in Spain costs around €14 billion per year, equivalent to approximately 1.17% of GDP in 2021. The estimate includes health costs and productivity losses.
WHO's 2025 report presents this figure as approximately US$15.2 billion using the exchange rate applicable to its analysis.
Sources: WHO Commission on Social Connection and the underlying Spanish cost study.
Australia: 24% Reported Feeling Very Lonely in 2024
Relationships Australia's 2024 research found that 24% of Australians, equivalent to approximately 5.1 million people, reported often feeling very lonely.
The survey also found that 37.7% of Australians reported social loneliness and 22.7% reported emotional loneliness.
Source: Relationships Australia, Relationship Indicators 2024 .
Key Statistics Summary
| Metric | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Global loneliness prevalence | 15.8% | WHO (2025) |
| People globally experiencing loneliness | 1 in 6 | WHO (2025) |
| Annual deaths associated with loneliness | 871,000+ | WHO (2025) |
| Low-income country loneliness rate | 24.3% | WHO (2025) |
| High-income country loneliness rate | 10.6% | WHO (2025) |
| Adolescents aged 13–17 | 20.9% | WHO (2025) |
| Young adults aged 18–29 | 17.4% | WHO (2025) |
| Adults aged 30–59 | 15.1% | WHO (2025) |
| Older adults aged 60+ | 11.8% | WHO (2025) |
| OECD respondents with no close friends | 8% | OECD (2025) |
| OECD respondents lonely most/all of the time | 6% | OECD (2025) |
| Loneliness and depression | ~2× risk | WHO (2025) |
| Lonely teenagers and lower grades/qualifications | +22% | WHO (2025) |
| Australians often feeling very lonely | 24% | Relationships Australia (2024) |
Cite This Page
If you use these statistics in an article, report, presentation or research project, you can cite this page as follows:
Suggested citation
Sources
World Health Organization
From Loneliness to Social Connection: Charting a Path to Healthier Societies
Report of the WHO Commission on Social Connection, June 2025.
View the WHO report →World Health Organization
Social connection linked to improved health and reduced risk of early death
WHO news release, 30 June 2025.
View the WHO article →OECD
Social Connections and Loneliness in OECD Countries
OECD Publishing, October 2025.
View the OECD report →Relationships Australia
Relationship Indicators 2024
National Australian survey examining relationships, loneliness, social connection and wellbeing.
View the Relationships Australia research →How to Read These Statistics
Loneliness is a subjective experience and is not the same thing as social isolation. Different studies use different questions, measurement scales, age ranges, countries and survey periods.
For that reason, figures on this page should not automatically be compared as though they came from the same survey. The WHO global estimates cover data from 2014–2023, while many OECD indicators are based primarily on data collected in 2022–2023. The Australian figures come from Relationships Australia's 2024 survey.
Where a statistic represents an association rather than a causal relationship, it is described as an association. This distinction is important when interpreting health, education and mortality findings.
Why These Numbers Matter
Loneliness is not restricted to a single age group, country or demographic. The latest international evidence shows substantial variation by age, income and living circumstances, while also showing that social connection is relevant to physical health, mental health, education, employment and wellbeing.
This page brings together major recent datasets and reports in one place so that journalists, researchers, students, organisations and writers can quickly find the underlying evidence.