Loneliness is an unwelcoming feeling caused by a lack of companionship. Nearly, 1 in 4 adults experience loneliness worldwide. Although many people do not recognize loneliness as a serious concern, it’s important to know its effects can be extreme and wide-ranging. Around 52% of people in the United States are lonely, with young adults aged 18 to 24 being the loneliest. In this article, we will look at loneliness statistics worldwide in 2024 and the latest trends to understand the behavior and risks associated with lonely people. Many people are turning to technology solutions like the AI Girlfriend app or Sexting AI Platforms to combat feelings of loneliness.
Top Loneliness Statistics & Facts
- 52% of the people in the United States experience loneliness.
- One in four young people feels lonely globally.
- Brazil is the leading country with the highest number of people feeling lonely regularly.
- Young adults aged 18 to 24 are the loneliest age group.
- 65% of the parents and guardians are experiencing loneliness compared to non-parents 55%.
- Old adults aged 65 and above are the age group with the lowest number of lonely people.
- Social media usage is linked with increased feelings of loneliness.
- 77% of people who have poor physical health are lonely.
Distribution of feeling Loneliness among adults 2021 by Country
A global survey conducted in 2021 revealed that 33% of individuals worldwide feel lonely. Brazil is the leading country with 50% of people feeling lonely often regularly, while 28% of people hardly or never feel lonely. Turkey is ranked second in the list with 46% of people experiencing loneliness and India is in the third position with 43% of people experiencing loneliness. The survey also revealed that the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, and Russia were among the countries with the highest share of people who didn’t feel lonely.
Here is a breakdown of the countries with the highest number of respondents feeling lonely among adults:
| Countries | Often/Always feel lonely/ Some of the times | Hardly/Never feel lonely |
| Brazil | 50% | 28% |
| Turkey | 46% | 32% |
| India | 43% | 27% |
| Saudi Arabia | 43% | 37% |
| Italy | 41% | 29% |
| South Africa | 40% | 28% |
| Malaysia | 39% | 21% |
| South Korea | 38% | 28% |
| Chile | 38% | 37% |
| Peru | 37% | 35% |
| France | 36% | 39% |
| Argentina | 35% | 38% |
| Mexico | 34% | 40% |
| Great Britain | 34% | 39% |
| Global Average | 33% | 37% |
| Canada | 31% | 36% |
| United States | 31% | 41% |
| Singapore | 30% | 36% |
| Australia | 30% | 42% |
| Hungary | 29% | 49% |
| Belgium | 28% | 38% |
| Spain | 27% | 42% |
| Germany | 26% | 50% |
| China | 26% | 27% |
| Sweden | 25% | 42% |
| Russia | 25% | 49% |
| Poland | 23% | 38% |
| Japan | 16% | 48% |
| Netherlands | 15% | 55% |
Source: Statista
Share of individuals worldwide reporting feelings of loneliness in 2022
A survey was conducted in 2022 in 16 countries to understand the loneliness among people based on age group. It was revealed that young adults aged 18 to 24 were most likely to feel lonely by 59% and reported negative effects on wellbeing from feelings of loneliness. Age groups 25 to 34 were the second highest share of respondents that experienced loneliness. Surprisingly, older adults aged 65 and above had the lowest share of respondents experiencing loneliness, at 22%.
Below, we have mentioned a table showcasing the negative effects of well-being by loneliness reported by people in 2022:
| Age Group | Share of respondents |
| 18 to 24 | 59% |
| 25 to 34 | 54% |
| 35 to 44 | 47% |
| 45 to 54 | 39% |
| 55 to 64 | 32% |
| 65 and older | 22% |
Source: Statista
Distribution of People Feeling Lonely Worldwide by Gender
The percentage reporting loneliness men and women face is pretty much the same. According to a survey, 24% of men and women have reported feeling extremely lonely globally. Although, there are countries where the rate of self-reported loneliness is much higher for women in comparison to men.
Below, we have mentioned a table showcasing loneliness reported by people based on Gender:
| Gender | Very/Fairly lonely | A little lonely | Not at all lonely |
| Men | 24% | 27% | 49% |
| Women | 24% | 27% | 49% |
Although the statistics between men and women are relatively equal regarding loneliness. It is stated that men are a little more likely to report feeling lonely compared to women. Meanwhile, some of the circumstances reported by women for feeling loneliness are as follows:
- Chronic Diseases
- Widowhood
- Living alone away from family
- Some sort of Disability
One in Four Young People in the World Feels Lonely
A survey conducted across 142 countries revealed that around 24% of people aged 15 and above reported feeling very lonely or fairly lonely upon asking, “How lonely do you feel?”
The share of respondents with the highest percentage of loneliness was surprisingly young adults between the ages of 19 and 29 (27%). Meanwhile, the older individuals were reportedly less lonely than the young audience. The lowest percentage of respondents experiencing loneliness was those between 65 and above. The survey conducted was an excellent reminder that loneliness is not an issue caused by aging and it can affect anyone regardless of a person’s age.
Here is a breakdown of the loneliness statistics based on Age group:
| Age Group | Very/Fairly lonely | A little lonely | Not at all lonely |
| 15 to 18 | 25% | 30% | 45% |
| 19 to 29 | 27% | 30% | 43% |
| 30 to 44 | 25% | 27% | 48% |
| 45 to 64 | 22% | 25% | 53% |
| 65 and above | 17% | 25% | 57% |
The study, “The Global State of Social Connections,” was conducted by Gallup and Meta to understand the loneliness faced by people. 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%. Apparently, older adults 65 and above have the lowest ratio in terms of loneliness (17%). 57% of old adults do not feel lonely at all.
Loneliness Statistics in USA
- 52% of Americans report feeling lonely
- 47% of Americans report their relationships with others are not meaningful
- 57% Single or not, 57% of Americans report eating all meals alone
- 59% of Americans say they have a best friend, but 12% say they feel they don’t have any close friends.
- Las Vegas, Washington, D.C., and Denver are the three loneliest cities in the U.S. Loneliness is 3 times higher than the national average in those cities.
- Wyoming is the loneliest state of all per capita.
- Wisconsin is the least lonely state in America per capita.
- 58% of Americans sometimes or always feel like no one knows them well.
- 61% of all U.S. adults reported feeling lonely, which is up 7% from last year
Percent of U.S. adults who are lonely, shown as demographics:
- Gen Z: 79%
- Millennials: 71%
- Boomers: 50%
- Men: 46%
- Women: 45%
Loneliness Statistics By Race
Race can also play a primary role in unique ways that can make a person feel lonely. Reports suggest that racial minorities can often lead to a person feeling lonely significantly. Here are some of the loneliness statistics by race:
- A study by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, suggests that Black Americans are more likely to feel lonely in comparison to white Americans. 44% of Black adults in the U.S. have reported feeling lonely while 37% of white adults have stated feeling lonely.
- According to a study by Cigna, it is reported that Hispanic or Latino people have a higher rate of feeling lonely in comparison to non-Hispanic individuals. Some of the common reasons behind Hispanic or Latino people feeling more lonely can be caused by discrimination, language barriers, and lack of social support.
- Similar to Hispanic or Latino people, Asian Americans are also likely to feel more lonely due to various cultural aspects like collectivism. According to a study conducted by the National Asian American Survey, it was revealed that Asian Americans who are facing discrimination have a higher chance of reporting loneliness.
It’s highly important to address loneliness faced by people across all different aspects including racial groups to highlight essential needs and challenges faced by the people. By recognizing the differences and discrimination people face, we can work towards creating a more inclusive and supportive space for all communities.
Loneliness Statistics by Income
Income can play a significant role in a person’s life and influence loneliness at a large scale. Reports suggest that people who earn more are more likely to spend time alone and experience loneliness. However, many good-earning individuals don’t feel lonely daily despite spending most of their time working and less socializing with close ones.
Instead, individuals with lower incomes are reported to be lonely compared to people with higher incomes, regardless of socializing more. 10% of people earning less than $40,000 yearly are likely to feel lonely most days, while 5% report feeling lonely all the time.
People earning $80,000 or higher yearly are less likely to feel lonely as only 3% report feeling lonely.
Overall, income does play a crucial role in determining whether a person is feeling lonely or not.
Parents and Guardians More Likely to Be Lonely than Non-Parents
A Poll was conducted during the pandemic by KFF Health Tracking to study the negative mental health impacts of adults and it was found that households with children are more likely to experience loneliness compared to non-parents in general. In addition, it was also revealed that mothers were more likely to experience mental health issues and loneliness compared to fathers. Below, we have mentioned statistics showcasing loneliness faced by parents and non-parents:
- Reports show that 65% of the parents and guardians are experiencing loneliness, which is 10% higher compared to non-parents (55%).
- 42% of parents experiencing loneliness are more likely to feel a sense of being left out compared to 24% of non-parents experiencing loneliness.
- 69% of mothers experience loneliness which is 7% higher in terms of fathers who experience loneliness by 62%.
- 77% of single parents particularly struggle with loneliness.
Family Connections Impact Feelings of Loneliness
There is no surprise that family relationships can have a major impact on people experiencing loneliness. People who deal with loneliness are less likely to share or discuss their emotions and feelings with others or go for support from their family members or close people.
- 34% of adults have reported feeling “quite a bit” while talking to their family members or families regarding their feelings or emotions, which is half the rate of non-lonely people (68%).
- 65% of the parents or guardians experiencing loneliness might have stronger family support compared to non-parents who are lonely. Half of the lonely parents stated their family has supported them in life compared to 43% of non-parents experiencing loneliness.
- 45% of lonely adults stated their family has supported them in life compared to 78% of non-lonely adults.
Physical and Mental Health Associated with Loneliness
According to research, people suffering from poor physical or mental health have shown more signs of experiencing loneliness in their lives. It doesn’t state that one issue is a reason for another but instead, it suggests that there are associations between physical and mental health with loneliness.
- People suffering from any physical health problems are about 50% more likely to experience loneliness in comparison to people with stable or good physical health.
- 77% of people who have fair or poor physical health are lonely. Half of the people (50%) who have good or excellent physical health are encountering loneliness; this showcases a difference of 27% among people with different physical health.
- Adults who are classified as lonely are more likely to be diagnosed with a range of health issues such as weight problems, sleeping disorders, substance use, and more.
- Americans with mental health issues are twice as likely to encounter loneliness compared to those with good or strong mental health.
- 1 in 4 adults are classified as having poor mental health and among these 85% are experiencing loneliness compared to 42% of adults with good mental health.
- 1 in 3 lonely adults (33%) is diagnosed with medical treatment for mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and more.
Impact of loneliness in the workplace
Loneliness can cause a considerable change in the employee’s behavior such as lower productivity, decline in performance, lack of engagement with others, and more. Data showed that lonely employees are twice as likely to issue sick leave compared at work to non-lonely adults. The report also suggests that lonely employees are 5 times more likely to miss work due to stress issues than non-lonely people. They are also three times more likely to admit they are less productive than other employees.
- Loneliness can become a hurdle in an employee’s productivity. 47% of the lonely employees reported they can work efficiently and best with the best abilities compared to two-thirds of the non-lonely employees who are 64% likely to work efficiently with excellent abilities.
- 42% of employees encountering loneliness say they feel they are “mentally somewhere else” while working compared to non-lonely workers (18%).
- People experiencing loneliness have a higher chance of feeling dissatisfied with their job. Lonely employees are 3 times more likely to stay unhappy with their job by 21% compared to non-lonely workers who are experiencing dissatisfaction with their job by 7%.
- 3 in 10 employees suffering from loneliness stated they are not feeling well while working in the past 3 months compared to 14% of non-lonely workers.
- Lonely employees are more likely to report that their physical, emotional, and mental health barged into their working space and affected their performance. Nearly 1 in 5 lonely employees stated their mental health was causing major interference in their work within the last month alone.
Sexting as a coping mechanism for loneliness:
In the digital age, as loneliness prevails among various age groups, many turn to the internet for connection. One prevalent activity is sexting, which can be a double-edged sword. While it may provide a temporary feeling of connection and intimacy, it’s crucial to understand its implications fully.
AI Girlfriend as a solution to loneliness
With advancing technology, artificial intelligence offers new ways to combat loneliness. The concept of an AI girlfriend, which simulates emotional and conversational interactions, is gaining popularity. This technology aims to provide companionship without the complexities of human relationships.
Conclusion
The percentage of individuals experiencing loneliness is pretty high with nearly 1 in 4 young adults worldwide feeling lonely. Although anyone can experience loneliness regardless of their age group, various aspects such as demographics, physical health, mental health, financial status, and more can have a significant role in whether a person is feeling lonely or not. Above we have mentioned top statistics on loneliness to provide you with a better understanding of its impact and challenges.
