Loneliness is the negative feeling arising from a discrepancy between the relationships someone has and the relationships someone wishes they had. Loneliness is a growing issue across Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries.  There are 38 OECD countries across the world, primarily those that are developed high-income nations. 

The 2025 report Social Connections and Loneliness in OECD Countries looks at how common loneliness is, who is most affected, and how things are changing. This is the first report which compares social connections across OECD countries.   

How common is loneliness in OECD Countries? 

• Across 25 OECD countries, about 6% of people feel lonely most or all of the time. 

• Around 10% have no one to rely on in times of need, and 8% have no close friends. 

Population groups of concern 

Older people 

• Older people are, on average, the loneliest age group in Europe. 

• 8.4% of people aged 65+ in 23 European OECD countries said they felt lonely most or all of the time (2022). 

• 31% of adults aged 65+ live alone across 30 OECD countries. 

• 11% of older adults never meet friends in person in an average year—more than double the overall population rate of 5%. 

Young people 

• Young people (16–24) have seen the fastest increase in levels of loneliness in recent years. 

• Loneliness rose from 3.3% to 4.3% (2018–2022). 

• They see friends in person less often and, unlike other age groups, did not increase online contact to compensate. 

Men, especially young men 

• Men saw a larger increase in loneliness (+0.5 percentage points) than women. 

• Young men (16–24) experienced the largest rise in loneliness and dissatisfaction with relationships of any age or gender group. 

• They also had the steepest drop-in meeting friends in person. 

Loneliness in Ireland 

• As stated, in most European countries, older adults are the loneliest group. However, Ireland is different — young people (16–24) are the loneliest group. 

• Ireland does not have a dedicated national loneliness strategy; the issue is addressed through wider mental health policies. 

This report also includes data on social connection, including inequalities and emerging trends, as well as analysis of social infrastructure and digitalisation as drivers of disconnection. It found that unemployment and low income are correlated with poor social connection, indicating the importance of addressing the social and structural determinants of social disconnection and loneliness. The report also detailed how social infrastructure (spaces that foster interaction) can enhance connection across groups and strengthen belonging, and the risks and benefits of social media use, especially amongst young people. 

Loneliness is a widespread and growing issue across OECD countries. Older adults are, on average, the loneliest age group and face higher risks of isolation due to living alone and reduced social contact. However other groups, such as young people and men, also require attention.  

The full report can be found here.