New analysis of more than 218,000 Gallup World Poll responses finds about 1 in 5 people report feeling lonely on a typical day, but rates vary sharply by income: 31.3% in low-income countries versus 15.7% in high-income countries. Social capital — trust and dependable support networks — is the strongest consistent protector against loneliness. Trends from 2023–24 across 113 countries show no clear global rise: loneliness increased in low-income countries, was stable in middle-income countries, and fell in high-income countries. Policy responses should combine individual supports with social and economic reforms.
Is There a Global Loneliness Epidemic? New Analysis Reveals a More Nuanced Reality
Justin Paget/Getty Images
Loneliness is one of the most widely felt — and least clearly understood — human experiences. More than a passing sadness or the subject of countless songs, loneliness is tied to poorer mental and physical health, lower wellbeing and a higher risk of premature death.
What the Data Shows
To clarify global patterns, researchers analysed responses from more than 218,000 people across nearly 150 countries in the Gallup World Poll. Overall, about one in five respondents reported feeling lonely on a typical day. But that global average conceals a sharp divide by national income.
In high-income countries, 15.7% of people reported loneliness (for example, 16.2% in New Zealand and 17.8% in Australia). In low-income countries, nearly one in three people — 31.3% — reported feeling lonely.
Key Drivers: Social Capital and Personal Circumstances
The findings challenge the idea that loneliness is purely a private, individual problem. Instead, loneliness also reflects social conditions: economic circumstances, institutional strength and the vibrancy of community life.
Social capital — trust and dependable support networks — stood out as the strongest and most consistent protector against loneliness across regions. Other important risk factors included poor health, unemployment and not having a partner. Education was linked to lower loneliness in middle- and high-income countries but showed a weaker relationship in low-income settings.
Trends From 2023 To 2024
To test whether loneliness is rising globally, the study examined changes in 113 countries between 2023 and 2024. There was no clear global increase: just under two-thirds of those countries reported lower rates in 2024 than in 2023. Trends were uneven by income group — loneliness rose significantly in low-income countries, stayed roughly stable in middle-income countries, and declined in high-income countries.
Consequences And Policy Implications
Loneliness is strongly associated with lower life satisfaction, greater emotional distress (stress, worry, anger), more frequent physical pain and less enjoyment in daily life. These links were consistent across world regions.
There is no single remedy. In low-income countries, reducing poverty, strengthening health systems and expanding social protection can help people form and sustain connections. In wealthier countries, investments in community organisations, public spaces and programs that foster trusted relationships may be as important as expanding clinical mental health services. Broadly, treating loneliness as both an individual experience and a reflection of social structures can improve wellbeing, productivity and social cohesion.
Data source: Gallup World Poll (218,000+ respondents across ~150 countries). Authors: Dennis Wesselbaum (University of Otago) and David Leblang (University of Virginia).
Funding and disclosures: David Leblang receives support from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. National Science Foundation; Dennis Wesselbaum reports no relevant commercial affiliations.
Help us improve.
