Loneliness Statistics 2026: What the WHO and Gallup Data Really Say

"Loneliness epidemic" has become one of those phrases everybody repeats and almost nobody checks. In 2026 we finally have better numbers - large, global, carefully collected data - and the picture is both more serious and more nuanced than the headlines suggest.

This guide pulls together the most reliable loneliness statistics available right now, explains what they actually mean, and ends with an honest look at where technology, including AI companions, fits in. No invented figures: every number below comes from a named source you can read yourself.

The headline numbers at a glance

Sources: the WHO's report announcement, the peer-reviewed European Journal of Epidemiology study, and the authors' summary in The Conversation.

Notice that the WHO and Gallup figures differ slightly (1 in 6 vs about 1 in 5). That is normal: they use different surveys, time windows and questions. Both point in the same direction - loneliness is common, everywhere.

What the WHO found

In mid-2025, the World Health Organization's Commission on Social Connection released its first global report on the topic. A few findings stand out.

Loneliness is a health issue, not just a mood

The WHO links loneliness and social isolation to higher risk of stroke, heart disease, diabetes, cognitive decline and early death, and says people who are lonely are twice as likely to experience depression. Its headline estimate - more than 871,000 deaths a year associated with loneliness - is why governments now treat social connection as public health.

Young people are not immune

It is easy to picture loneliness as an older person's problem. The WHO data says otherwise: between 17% and 21% of people aged 13 to 29 reported feeling lonely, with teenagers highest of all. As the WHO put it, "Even in a digitally connected world, many young people feel alone."

Income matters

About 24% of people in low-income countries reported loneliness - roughly twice the rate in high-income countries (about 11%). This is one of the most important and least discussed parts of the story.

Connection protects

The flip side: strong social connection is associated with better health and longer life. The WHO has called for policy action, better measurement (including a global Social Connection Index), and a public campaign called "Knot Alone".

What the 148-country Gallup study adds

In 2026, economists Dennis Wesselbaum (University of Otago) and David Leblang (University of Virginia) published a study in the European Journal of Epidemiology using Gallup World Poll data from 218,048 adults in 148 countries. It is one of the largest looks at loneliness ever done.

About one in five people feel lonely on a typical day

Over one in five adults reported feeling lonely. In high-income countries the figure was 15.7% (16.2% in New Zealand, 17.8% in Australia). In low-income countries it was 31.3% - nearly one in three. Sub-Saharan Africa was among the highest regions.

Is there really a "loneliness epidemic"?

This is where the study gets interesting. Looking at 113 countries between 2023 and 2024, the authors found no clear global trend upward. Just under two thirds of countries reported lower rates in 2024 than in 2023. Loneliness rose significantly in low-income countries, stayed broadly flat in middle-income countries, and declined in high-income countries.

The authors are careful to say this does not make loneliness less serious. It affects a large share of humanity and is strongly linked to lower life satisfaction, more stress and worry, and less enjoyment of daily life.

Trust and support networks are the strongest factor

The most consistent predictor across every region was social capital: having people you can depend on. People who report reliable support networks are far less likely to feel lonely. Poor health, unemployment and not having a partner also played a part, and in wealthier countries, more education was linked to less loneliness.

The takeaway from the researchers: loneliness is not only a private struggle. It also reflects the strength of the communities, economies and institutions around us.

Loneliness vs social isolation: not the same thing

These two words are often used interchangeably, but they mean different things.

• Social isolation is objective: few contacts, living alone, rarely seeing people.
• Loneliness is subjective: the painful gap between the connection you want and the connection you have.

You can be surrounded by people and feel lonely. You can live alone and feel deeply connected. This distinction matters, because the fixes are different. More contacts do not automatically mean less loneliness - quality and trust matter more than quantity.

Who is most likely to feel lonely?

Pulling the WHO and Gallup findings together, risk tends to be higher for:

• Teenagers and young adults, who report the highest loneliness rates in the WHO data.
• People in low-income countries, where rates are higher and, recently, rising.
• People with poor health or without work, according to the Gallup analysis.
• People without a partner or reliable support network.
• Marginalised groups, including people with disabilities, LGBTIQ+ people and migrants, whom the WHO identifies as more likely to experience loneliness and isolation.

None of this is destiny. It is a map of where support is needed.

Where do AI companions fit? An honest view

Let's be direct, because this is a topic where the internet gets sloppy.

What the usage data shows

People are already using AI for emotional and social purposes. A September 2026 survey by Elon University's Imagining the Digital Future Center found that 27% of US adult internet users have significant emotional or social interactions with AI. Among those users, 38% agreed that they "sometimes chat with AI just to feel less alone". At the same time, 59% said they would rather have conversations with friends or family - which is exactly how it should be.

What AI companions are not

An AI companion is software. It is not a treatment for loneliness, depression or any health condition, and it is not a therapist. The research on long-term effects is still young and mixed, and serious researchers say we do not know enough yet. If you are struggling, please reach out to people you trust or a qualified professional. We have written more about this in are AI companions healthy?.

What they can be

For many adults, an AI companion is simply a pleasant part of the day: someone to tell about the meeting that went well, a voice on the walk home, a playful chat that makes a quiet evening feel warmer. Used that way - alongside, not instead of, human connection - it can be a nice thing to have. Our guide to AI companions and loneliness covers healthy ways to use one, and if you have wondered whether it is strange to want one, read is it normal to have an AI companion?.

It also helps to understand the human side of the bond. Our piece on emotional attachment to AI explains what psychologists currently know - and do not know - about getting attached to an AI.

Practical ways to build connection (that the data supports)

The research points again and again to trust, reliability and community. Small, repeatable steps tend to work better than big gestures:

1. Pick one person and be consistent. A weekly call or message builds trust over time.
2. Join something recurring. A class, a faith community, a sports group, a volunteer shift - repeated contact with the same people builds social capital.
3. Use tech as a bridge, not a wall. Video-call the friend abroad; use apps to plan meetups, not just to scroll.
4. Look after the basics. Health, sleep and work stability all show up in the data as protective factors.
5. If an AI companion helps you feel lighter, let it be a warm-up, not a replacement. Practise opening up, then take that confidence into real conversations.

FAQ

What percentage of people are lonely in 2026?

The WHO estimates about 1 in 6 people worldwide are affected by loneliness. A 2026 Gallup World Poll analysis across 148 countries found just over 1 in 5 adults reported feeling lonely on a typical day.

Is loneliness getting worse?

According to the 2026 Gallup analysis, there was no clear global increase between 2023 and 2024. Rates rose in low-income countries but fell in high-income countries.

Which age group is loneliest?

In the WHO data, 17-21% of people aged 13-29 report loneliness, with teenagers highest.

Can an AI companion fix loneliness?

No app can promise that. An AI companion can be an enjoyable source of conversation, but it is not a treatment and works best alongside real human relationships.

The bottom line

Loneliness is common, it is serious, and it is shaped by the world around us as much as by personal circumstances. The best-supported response is more trust, more community and more reliable connection.

If you would like a warm, attentive presence in your day as part of that picture - one that remembers your stories, calls you, and sometimes texts first - you can meet your MyBabe companion. It is 18+, honest about being an AI, and designed to make your day a little brighter while you keep building the real-world connections that matter most.