1 in 6 people suffer from loneliness, isolated in a hyper-connected world

One in six people in the world suffers from loneliness and this condition has a strong impact on physical and mental health. 871,000 people die from its consequences every year in the world, equal to about 100 every hour. This is stated in the report of the Social Commission of the World Health Organization 'From health to social connections', which emphasizes: "strong social bonds increase life expectancy".

"We live in an age of endless connections, but more and more people feel isolated, and this generates enormous costs in health, education and employment," says WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The phenomenon affects all age groups, but especially young people and people in low-income countries. Among adolescents (13-29 years), 17-21% feel lonely. In low-income countries, the rate reaches 24%, more than double that of richer countries.

Some groups, such as the elderly, migrants, people with disabilities and LGBTQ+, are particularly vulnerable, but the causes of loneliness are many, including poor health, low income, poor education or living alone. Technology also plays a role, warns Chido Mpemba, co-chair of the Commission: "If poorly managed, it can weaken human relationships, rather than strengthen them."

The effects of loneliness are profound: it increases the risk of stroke and heart disease by 30%, the risk of cognitive decline by 50%, and the risk of premature death by 25%. It doubles the risk of depression, increases anxiety and suicidal thoughts. It compromises learning and employability: lonely children are 22% more likely to fail in school, while adults may have difficulty finding a job.

Finally, the impact is also reflected in communities: loneliness undermines social cohesion and costs billions in lost productivity and health costs. For this reason, the WHO report recommends that "social connection be integrated into policies on health, education, work and digital access".