The conventional image of loneliness-an elderly person in a quiet house-may be misleading. A 2023 global survey by Meta and Gallup challenges that assumption.
The study, spanning 142 countries, found that 24% of adults globally feel lonely. The loneliest group was not the oldest. Adults aged 19 to 29 reported loneliness at 27%, the highest rate. Those 65 and older reported the lowest, at 17%.
Research suggests the cause isn't a lack of friends. A 2025 study in PLOS One found young adults score high on loneliness while also scoring high on social well-being. The authors point to "rapid life changes and a lack of relational permanence and routine" as key factors.
A separate eight-country analysis from Washington University researchers supports this, finding nearly half of adults aged 18 to 24 report loneliness. The outdated mental image directs resources toward older adults, potentially overlooking the demographic most affected.