Geneva, June 30, 2025 - The World Health Organization (WHO) released a report highlighting the global crisis of loneliness and social isolation.
The report reveals that one in six people worldwide experiences loneliness, contributing to approximately 871,000 deaths annually. Loneliness affects all ages, with a third of elderly people and a quarter of adolescents impacted.
In response, the WHO established the International Commission on Social Connection in November 2023, led by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, and the African Union Youth Envoy Chido Mpemba, along with 11 other experts.
The commission emphasizes promoting social connection as the primary solution, recommending awareness campaigns, infrastructure development for social interaction, and increased access to psychological care.
Sweden is highlighted as a positive example, implementing a national strategy against loneliness. The country is promoting social connections in various settings and plans to ban cell phones in public schools to increase social interaction and reduce virtual bullying.
The WHO stresses the importance of creating spaces for in-person interaction, recognizing that human communication extends beyond words, encompassing facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice, which are lost when relying solely on technology.
In conclusion, loneliness and social isolation pose a significant public health threat in 2025. The WHO, through the International Commission on Social Connection, is working to promote social connections and mitigate the negative impacts on physical and mental health.