One in six people worldwide suffers from loneliness, which kills about 100 people every hour and causes more than 871,000 deaths annually, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported this week. The WHO Commission on Social Connection released a global report showing that loneliness has become a major health crisis. It has serious impacts on physical and mental well-being. Strong social connections can lead to better health and longer life, but millions of people are struggling with isolation despite living in an increasingly connected world.
Young people and those in poorer countries are hit hardest by loneliness. Between 17-21% of people aged 13-29 reported feeling lonely. Teenagers show the highest rates. About 24% of people in low-income countries feel lonely—twice the rate in wealthy countries. People with disabilities, refugees, LGBTQ+ individuals, and ethnic minorities face extra barriers that make social connection harder.
Dr Vivek Murthy, co-chair of the WHO commission and former US Surgeon General, said the report pulls back the curtain on loneliness as a defining challenge of our time. The commission created a roadmap for building more connected lives and showed how this can improve health, education, and economic outcomes. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that despite endless possibilities to connect, more people are finding themselves isolated and lonely.
Loneliness doubles the risk of depression. It also raises the chances of stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and early death. Lonely teenagers are 22% more likely to get lower grades, and lonely adults struggle to find jobs and earn less money. At the community level, loneliness costs billions in lost productivity and healthcare.
WHO wants all countries, communities, and individuals to make social connection a public health priority. Solutions range from changing national policies to building better social spaces like parks and libraries. People can also take simple steps like reaching out to friends or volunteering.
