According to a global survey, about 33 percent of adults experienced feelings of loneliness worldwide. Brazil had the highest percentage of people experiencing this, with 50 percent of respondents declaring that they felt lonely either often, always, or sometimes. Turkey, India, and Saudi Arabia followed, with 43 percent to 46 percent of respondents having experienced loneliness at least sometimes. On the contrary, the Netherlands, Japan, Germany, and Russia registered the largest share of interviewees which did not feel lonely.
Coping with loneliness during the pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has suddenly cut off people from all over the world from their social life, and the lack of companionship has been a difficult situation for many to cope with. In the United States, people who experienced lack of company were, unsurprisingly, individuals living alone, and unemployed, disabled, or unemployed people. In relation to mental health, Americans who reported more symptoms of depression were by far more likely to feel lonely.
Impact of mental health
According to a survey conducted in 2021 among G7 countries, about seven in 10 people experienced a worsening of their psychological health during the pandemic. A study on clinician-reported changes in selected health behaviors in the United States showed that during the pandemic patients have suffered more from feelings of loneliness, depression or anxiety, and burnout. Also nutrition and other habits have been impacted. The study reported an increase in alcohol consumption, smoking cigarettes, poor nutrition, and use of other substances.
How often do you feel lonely?
Characteristic
Often/Always/Some of the times
Hardly ever/Never
Brazil
50%
28%
Turkey
46%
32%
India
43%
27%
Saudi Arabia
43%
37%
Italy
41%
29%
South Africa
40%
28%
Malaysia
39%
21%
South Korea
38%
28%
Chile
38%
37%
Peru
37%
35%
France
36%
39%
Argentina
35%
38%
Mexico
34%
40%
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Share of respondentsOften/Always/Some of the timesHardly ever/NeverBrazilTurkeyIndiaSaudi ArabiaItalySouth AfricaMalaysiaSouth KoreaChilePeruFranceArgentinaMexicoGreat BritainGlobal averageCanadaUnited StatesSingaporeAustraliaHungaryBelgiumSpainGermanyChinaSwedenRussiaPolandJapanNetherlands
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The source adds the following information:
"The sample consists of approximately 1,000 individuals in each of Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, mainland
China, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Spain and the U.S., and 500 individuals in each of Argentina, Chile, Hungary, India, Malaysia, Mexico, the
Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, and Turkey."
and
"The samples in Brazil, Chile, mainland China, India, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, and Turkey are more urban,
more educated, and/or more affluent than the general population. The survey results for these markets should be viewed as reflecting the views of the more
“connected” segment of their population."
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Ipsos. (February 28, 2021). How often do you feel lonely? [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved February 19, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1222815/loneliness-among-adults-by-country/
Ipsos. "How often do you feel lonely?." Chart. February 28, 2021. Statista. Accessed February 19, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1222815/loneliness-among-adults-by-country/
Ipsos. (2021). How often do you feel lonely?. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: February 19, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1222815/loneliness-among-adults-by-country/
Ipsos. "How Often Do You Feel Lonely?." Statista, Statista Inc., 28 Feb 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1222815/loneliness-among-adults-by-country/
Ipsos, How often do you feel lonely? Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1222815/loneliness-among-adults-by-country/ (last visited February 19, 2025)
How often do you feel lonely? [Graph], Ipsos, February 28, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1222815/loneliness-among-adults-by-country/
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