Loneliness in numbers

It is considered by many to be one of the largest public health challenges we face, these statistics describe why.

Loneliness is a part of life and something that most of us experience at some point. But when loneliness is severe or lasts a long time, it can have a negative impact on our health and well-being.

Recent studies suggest that long-term loneliness is one of the largest health concerns we face. It is as harmful as obesity or smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Feeling lonely can lead to depression, anxiety, disrupted sleep and stress. It can also be a factor in heart disease, increased blood pressure and degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Long-term loneliness has serious health implications

Loneliness is likely to increase your risk of death by 26%. [1]

Loneliness is worse for you than obesity. [2]

Loneliness is a risk factor for depression in later life. [3]

Loneliness and social isolation put individuals at greater risk of cognitive decline and dementia. [4]

Loneliness and social isolation have been linked to a 30% increase in the risk of having a stroke or coronary artery disease. [5]

Loneliness affects people of all ages

16-29-year-olds are twice as likely as those over 70s to experience loneliness [6]

Characteristics of people who are more likely to experience loneliness include those who are widowed, those with poorer health and those with long-term illness or disability. [3]

In 2023, a survey from Nextdoor in partnership with Marmalade Trust revealed that 85% of UK adults had experienced loneliness in the last 12 months. Almost half (44%) felt chronically lonely. [4]

Disconnected communities could be costing the UK economy £32 billion every year. [8]

The number of over-50s experiencing loneliness is set to reach two million by 2025/6. This compares to around 1.4 million in 2016/7 – a 49% increase in 10 years [9]

Half a million older people go at least five or six days a week without seeing or speaking to anyone at all [10]

Two fifths all older people (about 3.9 million) say the television is their main company [11].

References

[1] Holt-Lunstad, 2015. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25910392/

[2] Holt-Lunstad, 2010. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20668659/

[3] Courtin, E., & Knapp, M. (2017). Social isolation, loneliness and health in old age: a scoping review. Health & social care in the community, 25(3), 799-812

[4] Cacioppo, J.T. and Cacioppo, S., 2014. Older adults reporting social isolation or loneliness show poorer cognitive function 4 years later. Evidence-based nursing, 17(2), pp.59-60.

[5] https://heart.bmj.com/content/102/13/1009

[6] (Community Life Survey 2019-20) https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/community-life-survey-201920

[7] Nextdoor, Marmalade Trust. "The silent epidemic". (2023)

[8] Research commissioned by Eden Project initiative The Big Lunch - https://www.edenprojectcommunities.com/the-cost-of-disconnected-communities

[9] Age UK 2018, All The Lonely People

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/reports-and-publications/reports-and-briefings/loneliness/loneliness-report_final_2409.pdf

[10] Age UK 2016, No-one should have no one

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/Documents/EN-GB/No-one_Should_Have_No-one_Working_to_end_loneliness.pdf?dtrk=true

[11] Age, U.K., 2014. Evidence Review: Loneliness in Later Life. London: Age UK