Map reveals the loneliest countries in the world… and America’s shocking standing

Loneliness has typically been associated with seniors, as they grow less social the older they get.

However, in the US, it’s not the elderly who experience the highest rates of loneliness – it’s middle-aged adults, aged 50 and up.

Scientists from Emory University in Georgia studied loneliness rates across 29 countries among individuals 50 to 90 years old.

Dr Robin Richardson, a professor in the study of social causes of mental health issues at Emory University, said: ‘There is a general perception that people get lonelier as they age, but the opposite is actually true in the US where middle-aged people are lonelier than older generations.’

Emory researchers, in collaboration with colleagues at Columbia University in New York, McGill University in Canada, and the Universidad Mayor in Santiago, Chile, analyzed data from more than 64,000 people from countries in North America, Europe, and the Middle East.

They aimed to investigate the prevalence of loneliness and its relationship to factors such as age, gender, and health. The aim was to identify the factors that influence loneliness in older age.

The US had a substantially higher prevalence of loneliness among middle-aged adults than every other country in the study except one – the Netherlands. 

Researchers calculated loneliness scores (0–6) using standardized questions from three major aging surveys. The US ranked 25th with a score of 1.4. 

Being unmarried, not working, depression, and poor health were major drivers of loneliness in middle age, while in other countries, those things resulted in more loneliness among older adults.

The US had a substantially higher prevalence of loneliness among middle-aged adults, a pattern shared with only one other country, the Netherlands

Adults in Denmark reported the lowest levels of loneliness, while those in Greece and Cyprus reported the highest levels overall.

Researchers devised loneliness scores based on large, nationally representative surveys, including the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe covering 27 European countries and Israel (2019-2020), the US Health and Retirement Study, and the Mexican Health and Aging Study. 

The scores came from standarized survey questions embedded in each study, asking respondents, ‘How often do you feel you lack companionship?’, ‘How often do you feel left out?’, and ‘How often do you feel isolated from others?.’ 

Responses were scored from 0 (hardly ever), 1 (some of the time), 2 (often), then summed to generate a score ranging from zero to six.  

Nordic and Western European nations report the lowest levels of loneliness, with Denmark (0.4), Switzerland (0.5), and Austria (0.5) leading the way. 

The researchers pointed out that countries like Denmark have more robust social safety nets – free universal healthcare, subsidized childcare, guaranteed pensions, paid parental leave, disability care, and housing benefits, all of which create less stress and more trust in the larger institutions in power.

Denmark also maintains a culture of Hygge, which prioritizes warmth, comfort, and connection, as well as emphasizing family time and a work-life balance. 

Denmark’s relatively small population, which shares similar cultural norms, creates a sense of mutual trust.

Southern and Eastern Europe show the highest loneliness, particularly Greece and Cyprus (both 1.7), followed by Slovakia (1.5) and Italy (1.3). 

Economic instability, weaker social safety nets, and declining family support structures may contribute.

The lack of a robust safety net and not working drove higher levels of loneliness in middle-aged people in the US. 

The researchers used a tool called a Concentration Index (COIN) to see how loneliness changes as people age from 50 to 90. It generated a graph showing whether loneliness is more common among middle-aged adults (50s–60s) or older adults (70s and above).

Their results were published in the journal Aging & Mental Health. 

In the US, many people rely on workplaces for friendships and a sense of purpose. Without work, people’s social circles shrink.

Many middle-aged Americans also experience a sense of stigma tied to unemployment. America’s ‘hustle culture’ generates a feeling of shame about perceived lack of productivity and contribution to society, which can exacerbate feelings of isolation.

The U.S. score (1.4) is 3.5× higher than Denmark’s (0.4), marking one of the largest gaps in the study. In the US, loneliness peaks in 50s–60s. In Denmark, no group stands out

Dr Esteban Calvo, Dean of Social Sciences and Arts at Universidad Mayor in Chile, said: ‘Our findings show that loneliness is not just a late-life issue. In fact, many middle-aged adults—often juggling work, caregiving, and isolation—are surprisingly vulnerable and need targeted interventions just as much as older adults.

‘Globally, we must extend depression screenings to middle-aged groups, improve support for those not working or unmarried, and adapt these efforts to each country’s context—because a one-size-fits-all approach will not solve this worldwide problem.’

Former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy deemed loneliness an ‘epidemic’ in the US, noting its ties to addiction and violence.

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He said: ‘Loneliness is far more than just a bad feeling—it harms both individual and societal health. It is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death.

‘The mortality impact of being socially disconnected is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and even greater than that associated with obesity and physical inactivity.

‘And the harmful consequences of a society that lacks social connection can be felt in our schools, workplaces, and civic organizations, where performance, productivity, and engagement are diminished.’

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