Loneliness trends in the Netherlands affect youth and adults

New data and expert observations highlight a growing trend of loneliness in the Netherlands, affecting various demographics. According to research by Statistics Netherlands (CBS), approximately 10.1 percent of people aged 15 and older reported feeling strongly lonely in 2025, a figure that has remained relatively stable since 2021.

Loneliness is particularly prevalent among individuals aged 35 to 55, migrants, and social benefit recipients. Specifically, 13 percent of those aged 35 to 45 and 12 percent of those aged 45 to 55 reported strong loneliness. Migrants also report higher rates of social loneliness; 27 percent of European migrants reported feeling strongly socially lonely, compared to 13 percent of those with Dutch heritage.

Lifestyle coach Lisette de Jong notes that loneliness is increasingly prevalent among youth, with one in five teenagers aged 13 to 17 feeling lonely. She emphasizes that digital connectivity often fails to provide meaningful human connection, noting that high numbers of social media contacts do not equate to real friendship. De Jong suggests that overcoming isolation requires seeking real-world community engagement and prioritizing presence during face-to-face interactions.