The recent Meta-Gallup Global State of Social Connections survey has revealed a surprising trend: while almost a quarter of the world's population reported feeling very or fairly lonely, the loneliest group was not the elderly, as one might expect. Instead, young adults aged 19 to 29 reported the highest rates of loneliness, at 27%. This finding challenges the common assumption that loneliness is an issue primarily affecting the elderly. The survey, which covered 142 countries and areas, found that majorities of adults aged 45 and older did not feel lonely, while fewer than half of those under 45 could say the same. This age pattern held across a sample representing about 77% of the world's adult population, making it hard to dismiss as noise.
One explanation for this trend is the constant rearrangement and life changes that young adults experience. From moving for work or study to forming and dissolving households, young adults are constantly rebuilding their social circles, which can be challenging. A 2025 study in PLOS One by Jeffrey Hall and colleagues supports this idea, suggesting that young people are learning how to hold onto friends while adapting to frequent life changes. However, a competing explanation is the way young adults connect online, with a cultural shift from having confidants to having followers.
The survey's finding does not mean that young adults are abandoned or that older adults have it easy. Instead, it highlights the fact that, on average and at one point in time, young adults are more likely to describe themselves as lonely. However, the data cannot settle the direction of travel, and it remains an open question whether the loneliness young adults report is a phase that eases as lives stabilize or whether this cohort will carry a higher baseline forward as it ages.
One thing is clear: loneliness is not just a problem of aging. It's a problem that can affect everyone at any age. If you're struggling with loneliness, it's essential to seek support from a qualified counsellor or therapist. Reading about a pattern is not the same as getting support for your own experience of it. Personally, I think that this survey highlights the importance of addressing loneliness as a global issue, and it's crucial to continue researching and understanding the factors that contribute to it.
