Loneliness

Loneliness is the painful feeling that you do not have the closeness or company you want. Almost everyone feels it at some point. It is a signal, a bit like hunger, that tells you a basic need is not being met.

When loneliness lasts a long time, it can affect your mood, body and brain. But connection can be rebuilt, often in small steps. This page gives you the big picture and points you to our detailed pages.

Loneliness and social isolation: what is the difference?

These two words are often used as if they mean the same thing. They do not.

Isolation can lead to loneliness, but not always.⁷ Some people live alone and feel content. Others see family every day and still feel no one understands them.

Experts also talk about social connection. This covers how many people you have in your life, what those relationships do for you, and whether they feel good or bad.^1,4

How common is it?

• In 2023, the Surgeon General reported that about half of U.S. adults said they had felt lonely.¹
• A CDC survey from 2022 found that about 1 in 3 U.S. adults felt lonely, and about 1 in 4 said they lacked social and emotional support.³
• About 1 in 4 Americans aged 65 and older who live at home are socially isolated.⁵
• Around the world, about 1 in 6 people are lonely, according to a 2025 WHO report.²

Among adults aged 50 to 80, loneliness rose during the COVID-19 pandemic. By 2024 it was back near 2018 levels, but still high.⁶ Surveys ask different questions, so their numbers differ. If you feel lonely, you are far from the only one.

Who is more likely to feel lonely or isolated?

Anyone can become lonely. But some life situations raise the risk. The CDC and the National Institute on Aging point to these:^3,7

• Losing a spouse, divorce, or losing a job
• A long-term illness, disability, or depression
• Living alone, or in a rural area
• No reliable ride, or money worries
• Language barriers, including for immigrants
• Being treated unfairly, or caring for a family member

In a 2024 national poll, adults aged 50 to 80 who rated their mental or physical health as fair or poor were much more likely to feel lonely.⁶ For example, about 3 in 4 people with fair or poor mental health felt lonely.

Later life can bring several of these at once. Read more on Loneliness in later life, Losing a husband or wife and Retirement and mental health.

How loneliness affects health

When loneliness lasts for months or years, it can wear on the body. The Surgeon General's 2023 report found that poor social connection was linked to:¹

The report compared the effect of weak social ties on early death to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day.¹ The WHO estimates that loneliness is linked to more than 871,000 deaths worldwide each year. That is about 100 deaths every hour.² The WHO also says lonely people are about twice as likely to become depressed.²

What this means for you. These are averages across large groups. They show a link, not proof that loneliness alone causes illness. A few lonely weeks will not make you sick. But lasting loneliness deserves attention, like other health risks.

Good relationships can ease stress, bring practical help, and make healthy habits easier.⁴ Read the full picture on How loneliness affects health.

Hearing loss and loneliness

Hearing loss can quietly pull people away from others. When conversations are hard to follow, many people stop going to gatherings, stop using the phone, or nod along without joining in.

Since October 2022, adults 18 and older with mild to moderate hearing loss can buy hearing aids over the counter. No exam or prescription is needed. For more severe loss, or any warning signs listed on the package, see a doctor first.⁹

Read Hearing loss, loneliness and the brain and Hearing, vision and brain health.

What helps

There is no single fix. What works depends on why you feel lonely. Someone who just moved may need new places to meet people. Someone lonely among family may need deeper talks.

The 2025 WHO report also names simple daily steps. Reach out to a friend. Greet a neighbor. Put your phone away when someone is talking to you.²

You can find local senior centers, friendly-visitor programs, rides and more through the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116. It is a free service of the federal government.¹⁰ Your local Area Agency on Aging can also help.¹⁰ Experts urge doctors to ask older patients about loneliness and point them to senior centers, veterans' groups, volunteering and Area Agency on Aging services.⁶ Linking patients to community activities like this is sometimes called social prescribing.

See Ways to feel more connected. If you fear being judged, see Social anxiety. If you would like to meet people who share a struggle, see Support groups and peer support.

If you are worried about someone else

People who are isolated often do not ask for help. They may say "I'm fine" or "I don't want to be a bother." You do not need to fix everything. A steady weekly call, a ride to church or the store, or a shared meal can matter a lot. Read Helping someone who is isolated. Our care circle tool can help family and friends share the visits and calls.

Caregivers are at risk too. Caring for a loved one, especially one living with dementia, can shrink your world.⁷ See Caregiver stress and burnout and our caregivers page.

All loneliness pages

• How loneliness affects health: heart, brain, mood and lifespan
• Loneliness in later life: retirement, widowhood, giving up driving, living alone, moving to a new country
• Ways to feel more connected: senior centers, volunteering, classes, faith groups, visitor programs
• Hearing loss, loneliness and the brain: hearing aids, memory research and Medicare
• Helping someone who is isolated: noticing, reaching out, practical support

In this section

When to get help

Loneliness is not a mental illness. But it can go along with depression and anxiety, and it can make them worse.² Talk with your doctor or a counselor if:

• You have felt lonely, down or empty most days for two weeks or more
• You have lost interest in things you used to enjoy
• You are drinking more alcohol to cope
• You feel hopeless, or that no one would miss you

You can take our short, private check-in to think about how you are doing. Your doctor can also look for treatable problems, such as hearing loss or depression. See What Medicare covers for mental health.

Feeling alone can make it seem like nothing will change. It can, one small step at a time. See Getting help for more ways to reach out.

Education only. This page is general information written from the sources listed. It is not medical, legal or financial advice and does not replace a doctor, therapist or lawyer who knows your situation. How we write and check pages.