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Loneliness is impacting one in six people worldwide, with significant impacts on health and wellbeing, according to a new report from the .

The Commission on Social Connection report found that loneliness and isolation was connected to an estimated 100 deaths every hour and more than 871,000 deaths each year. In comparison, those who described themselves as having a strong social connection were more likely to have improved health and live a longer life.

The findings suggest that loneliness is affecting people of all ages, especially adolescents and people living in low- and middle-income countries. Between 17–21% of individuals aged 13 to 29 reported feeling lonely, with the highest rates among teenagers. About 24% of people in low-income countries reported feeling lonely, which is twice the rate reported in high-income countries (around 11%).

Data on social isolation was found to be more limited, but it may affect up to 1 in 3 older adults and 1 in 4 adolescents.

Social connection was found to improve long-term health, and was linked to a reduction in inflammation and a lower risk of serious health problems. In contrast, loneliness and social isolation was found to correlate with an increase in disease risk, including stroke and cognitive decline, and also negatively impacted mental health.

The WHO report says that loneliness and social isolation may be influenced by numerous factors including poor health, low income and education, living alone, and the use of digital technologies. It also calls for vigilance around the effects of excessive screen time or negative online interactions on the mental health and wellbeing of young people.

Professor Shereen Hussein, Professor of Health and Social Care Policy at the ������app of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), contributed to the report as a member of the WHO Commission’s technical advisory group. As part of the Centre for Care Research and Policy at LSHTM, Professor Hussein is a leading expert on ageing and long-term care, and helps to develop inclusive social care policies.

Commenting on the report, Professor Hussein said: “I’m proud to have contributed to this flagship report from the WHO Commission on Social Connection, which highlights social connection as a vital determinant of health and wellbeing.

“As someone deeply engaged in research on ageing and long-term care, it’s especially concerning to see such clear evidence that older people and their families, who often have fewer social connections, are disproportionately affected by loneliness and isolation worldwide.

“The impact of social disconnection extends beyond individual health, with research estimating that loneliness costs employers around US$ 3.2 billion annually, due to reduced productivity and staff turnover.

“Emerging UK evidence also suggests that loneliness may be causally linked to at least six diseases, including hypothyroidism, asthma, depression, psychoactive substance misuse, sleep apnoea, and hearing loss. The UK stands out as one of the few high-income countries to have already embedded actions against loneliness and social isolation into national policy, and we hope that its continued impacts can be used as positive examples for other countries to implement their own.

“This report serves as a critical call to action. It underscores the urgent need for evidence-based policies and interventions that foster meaningful social connections across the life course. Social connection is not a luxury—it is a health imperative that must be embedded in all levels of policy, care, and community life.”