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Rising social isolation in Europe

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2026-09-19 08:02 UTC → 2026-09-22 05:46 UTC · added removed

Research in England and the Netherlands indicates a growing trend of social isolation and loneliness across various age groups. In England, data from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) shows a significant rise in youth loneliness. One in twenty individuals aged 11 to 24 reports having no close friends, a sharp increase from one in one hundred a decade ago. The percentage of 16 to 21-year-olds with at least three close friends also fell from 85% in the 2012–2014 period to 72% during 2023–2025. Contributing factors include economic pressures, the digital environment, and a lack of dedicated youth spaces. In the Netherlands, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports that approximately 10.1 percent of people aged 15 and older felt strongly lonely in 2025. While loneliness is prevalent among those aged 35 to 55 and certain migrant groups, experts note a rising trend among teenagers, with one in five aged 13 to 17 reporting feelings of loneliness. Experts Recent data from 2026 highlights even higher levels of isolation among young adults in both regions suggest specific Dutch regions. In Almere and Lelystad, nearly one in three young adults aged 16 to 25 report feeling strongly lonely, exceeding the national average of 23 percent. In other areas like Veendam-Oude Ae, approximately one in five adults report strong feelings of loneliness. Researchers note that digital connectivity youth loneliness is often fails “invisible,” as young people may avoid discussing these feelings to provide meaningful human connection and emphasize avoid the need for real-world community engagement and physical spaces for stigma of being perceived as a “personal failure,” even when participating in social interaction. activities like school or sports.

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  1. 2026-09-22 05:46 UTC Rising social isolation in Europe
  2. 2026-09-19 08:02 UTC Rising social isolation in Europe

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