Loneliness in the U.S. - Statistics & Facts

Feelings of loneliness reached new levels during the COVID-19 pandemic as lockdowns isolated friends and family from each other to curb the spread of the disease. This brought significant attention to the issue of loneliness, and even after the pandemic subsided, loneliness remains widespread in many parts of the world. A survey of 28 countries in 2021 found that the countries most likely to report feeling lonely often, always, or sometimes, included Brazil, Turkey, and India. At that time, around 31 percent of adults in the United States reported feeling lonely. A different survey from 2022 of U.S. adults found that a quarter thought loneliness in the country was a crisis, while 62 percent thought it was a problem, but not a crisis and only 11 percent thought it not a problem at all. Although loneliness may seem like a difficult, but harmless emotion, loneliness has been linked to an increased risk for several physical and mental health problems including heart disease, dementia, depression, anxiety, type 2 diabetes, addiction, and suicidal ideation.

What causes loneliness?

Loneliness is marked by feeling alone, disconnected from others, or lacking close or meaningful relationships. Loneliness is a state of mind and even people with many friends can feel lonely. There are many causes of loneliness; it can be situational, for example stemming from physical isolation or moving to a new location, or it can be a symptom of a mental health problem such as depression. Those who are marginalized, have a chronic disease, are unmarried or live alone, or are experiencing a major life transition like losing a job are also at increased risk of suffering from loneliness. In the United States, the number of close friends adults report having has decreased over the past few decades, which may contribute to feelings of loneliness. For example, in 1990, 33 percent of surveyed U.S. adults reported having 10 or more close friends and only three percent stated they had no friends. In comparison, in 2021, only 13 percent of respondents said they had 10 or more friends and 12 percent reported having no friends at all. Furthermore, people in the United States reported spending less time on social engagements in 2020 compared to 2003. Age is also associated with a higher risk of feeling lonely, with younger adults more likely to report feeling lonely than older adults.

The prevalence of loneliness in the United States

As of 2022, around 21 percent of adults in the United States stated they always or often felt lonely in the past 12 months. The share of U.S. adults reporting loneliness a lot of the day yesterday has decreased since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, 17 percent of adults still reported feeling loneliness a lot of the day yesterday as of February 2023. Those from lower-income households were more likely to report feelings of loneliness than higher income households from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic through the beginning of 2023. Women in the U.S. are also slightly more likely to report feeling lonely compared to men. Methods to prevent or combat loneliness include strengthening current relationships, joining a group and seeking people with similar interests, volunteering or helping the community, physical activity, and confiding in a loved one or a mental health professional.

This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.

Percentage of adults worldwide who stated over the last six months they became more lonely as of 2021: 41%

Percentage of U.S. seniors who reported feeling isolated often or some of the time as of 2021: 28%

Percentage of U.S. adults who felt a sense of loneliness and isolation as a result of stress in the last month as of 2022: 21%

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Percentage of adults worldwide who often/always/sometimes/hardly ever/or never felt lonely as of 2021

Mental Health & Substance Abuse

Frequency adults worldwide felt lonely as of 2021

Percentage of people worldwide who reported negative effects on wellbeing from feelings of loneliness in 2022, by age group

Mental Health & Substance Abuse

Share of individuals worldwide reporting feelings of loneliness in 2022, by age group

Prevalence of select physical and mental health conditions among lonely adults in the United States in 2021

Mental Health & Substance Abuse

Prevalence of select health conditions among lonely U.S. adults in 2021

Recommended statistics

Worldwide overview

Basic Statistic Frequency adults worldwide felt lonely as of 2021
Frequency adults worldwide felt lonely as of 2021
Percentage of adults worldwide who often/always/sometimes/hardly ever/or never felt lonely as of 2021
Basic Statistic Feeling of loneliness among adults 2021, by country
Feeling of loneliness among adults 2021, by country
How often do you feel lonely?
Basic Statistic Adults worldwide who became more/less lonely over last 6 months, 2021, by country
Adults worldwide who became more/less lonely over last 6 months, 2021, by country
Percentage of adults worldwide who stated over the last six months they became more or less lonely as of 2021, by country
Basic Statistic Share of seniors in select countries worldwide who reported feeling isolated in 2021
Share of seniors in select countries worldwide who reported feeling isolated in 2021
Percentage of seniors aged 65 years and older in select countries worldwide who reported feeling isolated often or some of the time as of 2021
Basic Statistic Share of individuals worldwide reporting feelings of loneliness in 2022, by age group
Share of individuals worldwide reporting feelings of loneliness in 2022, by age group
Percentage of people worldwide who reported negative effects on wellbeing from feelings of loneliness in 2022, by age group

U.S. overview

Basic Statistic Share of U.S. adults who thought select health issues were a crisis 2022
Share of U.S. adults who thought select health issues were a crisis 2022
Percentage of adults in the United States who thought select health issues were a crisis in the country as of 2022
Basic Statistic Number of close friends had by adults in the U.S. in 1990 and 2021
Number of close friends had by adults in the U.S. in 1990 and 2021
Number of close friends had by adults in the United States in 1990 and 2021
Basic Statistic Annual daily average in minutes spent on social engagements in the U.S. 2003-2020
Annual daily average in minutes spent on social engagements in the U.S. 2003-2020
Annual daily average in minutes that people in the U.S. spent on social engagements in 2003 and 2020
Basic Statistic Share of U.S. adults with select impacts from stress in past month 2022
Share of U.S. adults with select impacts from stress in past month 2022
Percentage of adults in the United States who experienced select impacts as a result of stress in the last month as of 2022
Basic Statistic Anxiety, depression, loneliness among U.S. adults, 2022
Anxiety, depression, loneliness among U.S. adults, 2022
Percentage of adults in the United States who stated they always or often felt anxious, depressed, or lonely in the past 12 months as of 2022
Basic Statistic Anxiety, depression, loneliness among U.S. adults, 2022, by income
Anxiety, depression, loneliness among U.S. adults, 2022, by income
Percentage of adults in the United States who stated they always or often felt anxious, depressed, or lonely in the past 12 months as of 2022, by household income
Premium Statistic Anxiety, depression, loneliness among U.S. adults, 2022, by LGBT identity
Anxiety, depression, loneliness among U.S. adults, 2022, by LGBT identity
Percentage of adults in the United States who stated they always or often felt anxious, depressed, or lonely in the past 12 months as of 2022, by LGBT identity

Prevalence of loneliness

Basic Statistic Share of U.S. adults who felt lonely a lot of the day yesterday from 2020 to 2023
Share of U.S. adults who felt lonely a lot of the day yesterday from 2020 to 2023
Percentage of adults in the U.S. who experienced loneliness a lot of the day yesterday from March 2020 to February 2023
Premium Statistic Share of U.S. adults who felt lonely a lot of the day yesterday 2020-2023, by income
Share of U.S. adults who felt lonely a lot of the day yesterday 2020-2023, by income
Percentage of adults in the U.S. who experienced loneliness a lot of the day yesterday from March 2020 to February 2023, by annual household income
Basic Statistic Share of U.S. adults who felt lonely a lot of the day yesterday as of 2023, by region
Share of U.S. adults who felt lonely a lot of the day yesterday as of 2023, by region
Percentage of adults in the U.S. who experienced loneliness a lot of the day yesterday as of February 2023, by region
Basic Statistic Frequency U.S. adults felt lonely before the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021, by gender
Frequency U.S. adults felt lonely before the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021, by gender
Percentage of adults in the United States who felt lonely with select frequency before the COVID-19 pandemic as of March 2021, by gender
Basic Statistic Frequency U.S. adults felt lonely before the COVID-19 pandemic 2021, by region
Frequency U.S. adults felt lonely before the COVID-19 pandemic 2021, by region
Percentage of adults in the United States who felt lonely with select frequency before the COVID-19 pandemic as of March 2021, by region
Basic Statistic Share of U.S. adults who felt lonely December 2021, by gender
Share of U.S. adults who felt lonely December 2021, by gender
Percentage of adults in the United States who reported feeling lonely as of December 2021, by gender

Age differences

Basic Statistic Anxiety, depression, loneliness among U.S. adults, 2022, by age
Anxiety, depression, loneliness among U.S. adults, 2022, by age
Percentage of adults in the United States who stated they always or often felt anxious, depressed, or lonely in the past 12 months as of 2022, by age
Basic Statistic Share of U.S. adults who felt lonely a lot of the day yesterday 2020-2023, by age
Share of U.S. adults who felt lonely a lot of the day yesterday 2020-2023, by age
Percentage of adults in the U.S. who experienced loneliness a lot of the day yesterday from March 2020 to February 2023, by age
Basic Statistic Frequency U.S. adults felt lonely before the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021, by age
Frequency U.S. adults felt lonely before the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021, by age
Percentage of adults in the United States who felt lonely with select frequency before the COVID-19 pandemic as of March 2021, by age
Basic Statistic Share of younger and older U.S. adults who felt lonely December 2021
Share of younger and older U.S. adults who felt lonely December 2021
Percentage of younger and older adults in the United States who reported feeling lonely as of December 2021
Basic Statistic Share of older U.S. adults who felt isolated from others 2018-2023
Share of older U.S. adults who felt isolated from others 2018-2023
Percentage of older adults in the United States who felt isolated from others some of the time or often from 2018 to 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic and loneliness

Basic Statistic Coronavirus impact on body and mind of women in the United States 2021
Coronavirus impact on body and mind of women in the United States 2021
What changes in your body and mind have you noticed since the beginning of the pandemic?
Basic Statistic U.S. adults who felt more lonely since the COVID-19 pandemic began 2021, by gender
U.S. adults who felt more lonely since the COVID-19 pandemic began 2021, by gender
Percentage of adults in the United States who felt more or less lonely than usual since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic as of March 2021, by gender
Basic Statistic U.S. adults who felt more lonely since the COVID-19 pandemic began 2021, by age
U.S. adults who felt more lonely since the COVID-19 pandemic began 2021, by age
Percentage of adults in the United States who felt more or less lonely than usual since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic as of March 2021, by age
Basic Statistic Frequency U.S. adults felt lonely since the COVID-19 pandemic began, 2021, by gender
Frequency U.S. adults felt lonely since the COVID-19 pandemic began, 2021, by gender
Percentage of adults in the United States who felt lonely with select frequency since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic as of March 2021, by gender
Basic Statistic Frequency U.S. adults felt lonely since the COVID-19 pandemic began, 2021, by age
Frequency U.S. adults felt lonely since the COVID-19 pandemic began, 2021, by age
Percentage of adults in the United States who felt lonely with select frequency since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic as of March 2021, by age
Basic Statistic U.S. adults who felt lonely yesterday 2020, by relationship status
U.S. adults who felt lonely yesterday 2020, by relationship status
Percentage of adults in the U.S. who experienced loneliness a lot of the day yesterday as of April 2020, by relationship status
Basic Statistic Loneliness among older U.S. adults before vs during the COVID-19 pandemic, June 2020
Loneliness among older U.S. adults before vs during the COVID-19 pandemic, June 2020
Percentage of older adults in the U.S. who reported feeling lonely or isolated before and during the COVID-19 pandemic as of June 2020
Basic Statistic Health issues U.S. adults were worried will impact the lives of teenagers, 2022
Health issues U.S. adults were worried will impact the lives of teenagers, 2022
Percentage of adults in the United States who stated they were very or somewhat concerned about the following negatively impacting the lives of teenagers as of 2022
Premium Statistic Struggles with working remotely worldwide 2020-2023
Struggles with working remotely worldwide 2020-2023
Struggles with working remotely worldwide from 2020 to 2023

Miscellaneous

Basic Statistic Prevalence of select health conditions among lonely U.S. adults in 2021
Prevalence of select health conditions among lonely U.S. adults in 2021
Prevalence of select physical and mental health conditions among lonely adults in the United States in 2021
Basic Statistic Share of lonely U.S. adults trying to improve their mental health 2021, by condition
Share of lonely U.S. adults trying to improve their mental health 2021, by condition
Percentage of lonely adults in the United States trying to improve their mental health in 2021, by condition
Basic Statistic Share of older U.S. adults who felt isolated from others 2018-23, by physical health
Share of older U.S. adults who felt isolated from others 2018-23, by physical health
Percentage of older adults in the United States who felt isolated from others some of the time or often from 2018 to 2023, by physical health status
Basic Statistic Share of older U.S. adults who felt isolated from others 2018-23, by mental health
Share of older U.S. adults who felt isolated from others 2018-23, by mental health
Percentage of older adults in the United States who felt isolated from others some of the time or often from 2018 to 2023, by mental health status