One in six people worldwide suffered from loneliness in the last decade

The new report from the World Health Organization (WHO), titled From Loneliness to Social Connection, highlights that one in six people worldwide suffers from loneliness, which can have serious consequences for both health and society. According to the document, loneliness and isolation are linked to the deaths of 100 people per hour, amounting to over 871,000 deaths annually.

This report—the most comprehensive on the subject to date—has three main goals:

• Explain what we know about loneliness, isolation, and social connection, and their impact on health.
• Identify interventions that have proven to be effective.
• Provide a practical roadmap for governments to take global action.

Based on scientific research, expert advice, and real-life testimonies, the report argues that social connection—understood as the various ways we relate to and interact with others—serves as a powerful protective factor against physical and mental health issues throughout life. Moreover, social connection strengthens the fabric of communities, making our societies more resilient in the face of crises and disasters.

The WHO proposes a global roadmap for progress in this field, focused on five key areas: public policy, scientific research, effective interventions, the development of new measures (such as the Global Social Connection Index), and active citizen engagement.

After years of studying the high costs of loneliness and social isolation, the report also acknowledges the enormous benefits of social connection: without strong social bonds, we will not be able to tackle challenges such as population aging, mental health, or growing inequalities.

From Loneliness to Social Connection represents a fundamental shift in approach: moving away from isolated or purely individual-focused measures, and toward systemic, preventive, and long-term policies that place human relationships at the center.

This WHO report reminds us of something essential: we are social beings by nature. It is not just about how many people surround us, but the quality of those relationships. A meaningful conversation, a kind word or the simple gesture of greeting a neighbour can have a huge impact on our health and social cohesion. Social disconnection is not just a painful individual experience, it is a public health issue that affects well-being, academic performance, employment and life expectancy. And it affects young people most of all: one in four adolescents in the world say they feel lonely.

The good news is that there are solutions. We know what works: campaigns that make the problem visible, public policies that prioritise social connection, community spaces that facilitate encounters and psychological support for those who need it. A commitment to human connection is an urgent necessity and an investment in physical and mental health. We are at a key moment: if we want stronger societies with a future, we must place social connection at the heart of our collective decisions, from the design of cities to digital strategies.