A recent Gallup survey has uncovered a troubling rise in loneliness among United States adults, with one in five now reporting daily feelings of isolation.
This represents the highest level of reported loneliness in the past two years, a slight increase from earlier in 2024, when 17% to 18% of respondents expressed similar sentiments.
While the current figures remain lower than the pandemic peak, when 25% of Americans felt disconnected during the height of COVID-19 (2019–2021), the upward trend is still concerning.
Notably, Gallup did not gather data on loneliness before the pandemic, so it’s unclear if the latest statistics reflect a return to pre-pandemic levels or signal an ongoing issue.
The COVID-19 crisis forced people into prolonged isolation, and social distancing became a way of life for many. As a result, this lingering sense of disconnection may point to a broader cultural shift.
In 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy warned that the country was in the midst of a “loneliness epidemic.”
According to Gallup’s estimates, this means around 52 million Americans still feel cut off from meaningful social connections.
Although the survey didn’t delve into the specific causes of this sense of isolation, Dan Witters, research director of Gallup’s National Health and Well-Being Index, believes the country’s political climate may be a factor.
“These are divided times,” Witters shared in an interview with ABC News. “As we get closer to the election, that’s going to drive people indoors to avoid areas of conflict.”
An associate professor of medical social sciences at Northwestern University, Eileen Graham, suggested that the pandemic fundamentally altered how people relate to each other.
“There are a lot of aspects of our lives during COVID that became a bit more normalized by tending toward more virtual workspaces,” she explained. “Even though there has been a return to work, there are still certain aspects that still have not returned to normal.”
The effects of social isolation extend beyond merely lacking casual interactions with neighbours or colleagues. Its impact on life satisfaction can be profound.
Individuals who reported loneliness within the past 24 hours were nearly five times more likely to describe their current quality of life as poor. Even as time passed, these individuals were still 2.5 times more likely to have a negative outlook on their future life satisfaction over the next five years.
For those struggling with loneliness, Witters offers a straightforward approach noting, “like what you do, build positive relationships, and cultivate a sense of accomplishment.” By focusing on these areas, he estimates that people are “greater than 75% less likely to experience loneliness.”
Beyond emotional well-being, addressing loneliness is critical for overall health. Research shows that socially isolated people face up to a 29% higher risk of premature death. Witters also notes that loneliness is linked to elevated rates of depression, anger, and mental health challenges.
The financial costs of loneliness are staggering, especially for older adults. According to the American Association of Retired Persons Policy Institute, isolated seniors add about $6.7 billion annually to Medicare costs, mainly through increased spending on hospital and nursing facility care.
Graham emphasizes the need for collective action to combat loneliness, “We have to reach out and cure it for each other,” she said, encouraging people to think about how they can make others feel “meaningfully connected.”
The MD, MPH, Dr. Itohan Omorodion, a contributor to this story and an internal medicine resident at George Washington University Hospital, echoed these sentiments, reminding us that loneliness is not just an individual issue but a societal one.
