Loneliness Is an Epidemic — But Not for Everyone
A new international study co-led by a University of Virginia researcher challenges the popular idea of a global "loneliness epidemic," finding instead that loneliness is shaped by where people live and the social and economic conditions that surround them.
The research, published in the European Journal of Epidemiology, analyzed responses from more than 218,000 adults across 148 countries, making it one of the largest global studies of loneliness ever conducted. The authors found that more than one in five adults reported feeling lonely, but rates were substantially higher in lower-income countries than in wealthier nations.
David Leblang, the Ambassador Henry J. Taylor and Mrs. Marion R. Taylor Professor of Politics in UVA’s College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, co-authored the study with Dennis Wesselbaum of the University of Otago in New Zealand.
The findings suggest loneliness is more than an individual experience. It’s also a consequence of broader social and economic realities, including access to supportive relationships, employment, health care and stable communities.
"Someone can be surrounded by people and still feel lonely if those relationships lack trust or emotional support," Leblang said. "What matters most is not the number of social contacts people have but whether those relationships provide genuine connection and support."
On a global level, the researchers found that having someone to rely on in times of need was the strongest factor associated with lower levels of loneliness. Better health, employment, education and larger household size were also linked to lower loneliness, although those relationships varied from country to country.
The study also found loneliness carries significant consequences. People who reported feeling lonely consistently experienced lower life satisfaction and greater stress, worry, anger and physical pain. They were also more likely to say they intended to migrate permanently to another country, suggesting social disconnection may influence major life decisions as well as emotional well-being.
Examining data collected in 2023 and 2024 from 113 countries, the researchers found little evidence that loneliness is increasing worldwide. However, the trends they observed varied sharply by income level. Loneliness rose in low-income countries, remained relatively stable in middle-income countries and declined in high-income nations.
Those findings suggest strategies aimed at reducing loneliness and its impacts should be tailored to local conditions rather than relying on one-size-fits-all solutions, Leblang said.
"Loneliness tells us something important about how societies function," he said. "It reflects not only individual experiences but also the strength of the social fabric that connects people to one another."
