For years, loneliness has often been pictured the same way: an older person sitting alone, far removed from friends, family, or community. A global survey suggests that picture may not tell the whole story. The Meta-Gallup Global State of Social Connections survey, conducted across 142 countries and areas and published in 2023, found that nearly one in four people worldwide reported feeling very or fairly lonely. But the group most likely to say they felt lonely was not older adults. It was people in their twenties. According to the survey, 27% of adults aged 19 to 29 reported feeling very or fairly lonely, the highest rate among all age groups measured. Adults aged 65 and older reported the lowest level, at 17%. The finding flips one of the most common assumptions about loneliness on its head. Are young adults really lonelier than older people? According to the survey, yes. While loneliness exists across every stage of life, young adults were the most likely to describe themselves as feeling lonely. Older adults, meanwhile, were the least likely to do so. The survey also found that majorities of people aged 45 and older reported not feeling lonely at all. Among those younger than 45, fewer than half said the same. That does not mean older adults never experience loneliness. It does suggest, however, that loneliness may be affecting a much broader range of people than many imagine.Why do many people assume loneliness is mainly an older-person problem? Part of the reason is visibility. Retirement, bereavement, health challenges, and reduced mobility are experiences often associated with later life. These changes can affect social connections, making loneliness among older adults easier for people to recognise. What is less visible are the disruptions that often define a person's twenties. This is the period when many people leave school, move cities, start jobs, navigate relationships, build new friendships, and repeatedly adjust to changing social circles. The survey itself does not explain why younger adults reported higher loneliness levels. It simply shows that they did.Why might people in their 20s feel lonely despite being constantly connected? Researchers have explored several possible explanations. One idea is that early adulthood is a period of constant transition. Friendships that once formed naturally through school or college often require more effort to maintain. Social circles can change rapidly as people relocate for work, education, or personal reasons. A 2025 study published in PLOS One and led by researcher Jeffrey Hall suggested that many young people may not be struggling to make friends as much as they are trying to maintain them while their lives keep changing. Hall described loneliness among some young adults as potentially reflecting "growing pains" rather than permanent isolation. Others have pointed to broader shifts in how people connect. Former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has previously argued that modern social life can sometimes prioritise the quantity of connections over their depth, describing a shift "from having confidants to contacts" and "from having friends to followers." The survey itself does not identify any single cause for the age gap.Does this mean most people in the world are lonely? No. One of the less-discussed findings in the survey is that nearly half of respondents — 49% — said they were not lonely at all. That represents roughly 2.2 billion people across the countries and areas included in the research. At the same time, the survey found that loneliness remains a reality for a significant share of the global population, affecting more than a billion people worldwide.What does the survey actually measure? The survey measures how people describe their own feelings. Participants were asked about loneliness, and those who reported feeling "very" or "fairly" lonely were included in the 24% figure. That is important because loneliness is a feeling, not a medical diagnosis. People's experiences can change over time and can be shaped by personal circumstances, culture, relationships, and life events. The survey also did not include China, meaning the results represent about 77% of the world's adult population rather than the entire global population.What is the biggest takeaway from the findings? Perhaps the most striking lesson is that loneliness does not belong to one age group. The stereotype that loneliness is mainly an issue of old age does not fully align with what respondents reported in this survey. Instead, the highest levels were found among people who are often assumed to be surrounded by opportunity, activity, and connection. For many, adulthood begins with building a life from scratch: finding a place in the world, creating new relationships, and trying to hold on to old ones at the same time. The survey suggests that process can feel lonelier than it looks from the outside. If feelings of loneliness are affecting your daily life or wellbeing, speaking with a qualified mental health professional, counsellor, or therapist may help. Survey findings can describe broad patterns across populations, but they cannot explain an individual's personal experience.(Disclaimer: This story is for educational purposes alone and should not be considered as professional medical advice and does not substitute any medical advice.)