The World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed that loneliness claims the lives of approximately 871,000 people globally every year.

According to the WHO Commission on Social Connection, one in six people worldwide suffers from loneliness, a condition that along with social isolation can significantly impact physical and mental health.

The report states that loneliness increases the risk of serious health issues including strokes, heart attacks, diabetes, depression, anxiety, and even suicide. It also affects academic and professional outcomes: lonely teenagers are 22% more likely to receive lower grades, while adults facing loneliness struggle more to find or retain employment.

Beyond the personal toll, the societal impact is immense, costing healthcare systems billions and leading to widespread productivity losses.

Vivek Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General and co-chair of the commission, defines loneliness as “a painful, subjective feeling that many of us experience when the relationships we need do not match the relationships we have.” In contrast, he describes social isolation as “an objective state of having few relationships or interactions.”

The report estimates that one in three older adults and one in four adolescents are socially isolated. Contributing factors include illness, limited education, low income, lack of social opportunities, living alone, and excessive reliance on digital technologies.

Murthy also emphasized the decline in meaningful communication, noting that humans have historically expressed themselves not only through words but also via facial expressions, body language, tone, and silence all of which are diminished by mobile phone and social media dependence.

Sweden was spotlighted as a leading example of national intervention. The country has adopted a strategy to combat loneliness, recognizing it as a societal, not just individual, issue. Swedish Social Minister Jakob Forssmed shared several initiatives, including:

  • Encouraging social interaction in public places like shops, restaurants, neighborhoods, and clubs

  • Distributing prepaid cards to children and teenagers for group leisure activities

  • Planning a ban on mobile phones in public schools to foster face-to-face communication

Forssmed noted that this approach has improved student sleep patterns, reduced cyberbullying, and helped children disengage from screens during free time. He also highlighted concerns about children feeling neglected when their parents are preoccupied with their phones.

While acknowledging the benefits of digital technologies such as enabling long-distance video calls the WHO stressed the importance of maintaining real-world human interaction.

“Having places and spaces in our lives where we can engage face-to-face without the distraction of technology is very important,” Murthy concluded.