Youth loneliness rises in England according to IPPR report

A report from the UK-based Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) highlights a significant rise in loneliness among young people. Data indicates that one in twenty young people in England aged 11 to 24 reports having no close friends, a sharp increase from one in one hundred a decade ago.

Among those aged 16 to 21, the proportion of individuals with at least three close friends has dropped from 85% during the 2012–2014 period to 72% between 2023 and 2025. Contributing factors cited include the impact of social media, the aftermath of the pandemic, and the decline of youth centers and other social spaces.

Experts suggest that the foundations of friendship are built in early childhood through social skills like sharing, listening, and conflict resolution. Addressing loneliness requires early intervention, as parental protective instincts can sometimes unintentionally hinder the development of these essential social skills.