The World Health Organization, WHO, has revealed that at least 871,000 people die globally die each year globally die to loneliness, warning that the condition is a growing public health threat with wide-reaching implications.
In a report published on Monday June 30, 2025, the WHO Commission on Social Connection stated that one out six people worldwide experiences loneliness, while social isolation is also on the rise.
Both issues are linked to increase risk of a range of serious health conditions.
According to WHO, loneliness teenagers are 22 percent more likely to underperform academically, while adults who experience loneliness face greater challenges securing and retaining employment.
According to WHO, strong social ties are vital to well-being and longevity, while the absence of these connections significantly raises the risk of serious health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, mental illness, and premature death.
The impact of loneliness extends beyond the Individual, with economic costs mounting in the form of heath care spending and lost productivity in the work force.
According to WHO data, one in three older adults and one in four adolescents are estimated to be socially isolated.
Contributing factors include poor health, low income, living alone, inadequate education, and a lack of opportunities for meaningful social interaction. Increasing reliance on digital technologies is also listed as growing concern.
Co-chair of the Commission and youth advisor to Africa Union, Dr. Chido Moemba, said the findings reflect a disturbing paradox while digital connectivity is expanding, many young people still feel emotionally disconnected.
