The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a stark warning on the growing global health crisis posed by loneliness, revealing that an estimated 871,000 people die each year as a result of loneliness and social isolation.
The UN health agency said on Monday, 31 June, 2025, that one in six people globally is currently affected by loneliness — a condition linked to a wide array of physical and mental health problems, including heart disease, strokes, diabetes, depression, anxiety, and suicide.
Beyond the personal toll, WHO noted the broader societal consequences, including billions in healthcare costs and reduced productivity due to job losses and lower educational achievement.
“Loneliness is a painful, subjective feeling that many of us experience when the relationships we need do not match the ones we have,” said U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, who co-chairs the WHO’s Commission on Social Connection. “Social isolation, on the other hand, is an objective state of having few social contacts.”
The report highlights alarming statistics: one in three older adults and one in four adolescents are socially isolated. Among teenagers, loneliness is associated with a 22% drop in academic performance. For adults, it significantly hampers job prospects and stability.
According to the WHO, contributing factors include poor education, low income, limited social opportunities, living alone, and overreliance on digital technologies.
Murthy underscored that while smartphones and social media offer some connectivity, they often replace more meaningful, face-to-face communication — which humans have used for millennia through facial expressions, tone of voice, and even silence.
The report praised Sweden’s proactive approach to combating loneliness. The country has launched a national strategy that includes fostering in-person social connections in public places and banning mobile phones in schools to increase student interaction. Swedish children and teens will also receive prepaid cards for group leisure activities to encourage social participation.
“Children sleep better and engage more when phones are set aside,” said Swedish Social Minister Jakob Forssmed. “They also get frustrated when parents are glued to their devices.”
The WHO emphasized that while digital technologies can be useful — especially for connecting across distances — it is crucial to carve out spaces in everyday life free from technological distractions.
“Creating environments where people can engage face-to-face, free from screens, is essential for rebuilding social bonds,” Murthy said.
The commission urged governments and communities worldwide to develop targeted policies to tackle what it now describes as a “public health threat” with far-reaching consequences.