Social Connections and Loneliness in OECD Countries

What it found

This OECD flagship report presents cross-country data on social connectedness across OECD countries, finding that on average 10% of people feel unsupported, 8% report no close friends, and 6% experienced loneliness most or all of the past four weeks. In-person meeting frequency has declined over a longer period, while self-reported connection has worsened more recently, with men and young people -- previously considered lower risk -- showing some of the largest deteriorations. The report also examines social infrastructure and digitalisation as drivers, and discusses measurement implications, building on the OECD's How's Life? 2024 work.