Loneliness Statistics In India

Loneliness has risen worldwide, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, and India is no exception. Traditionally, India has been known for its joint family and collectivistic culture; however, in recent years, people have been migrating from rural areas to cities for better economic opportunities, leading to a rise in nuclear families, which can further contribute to loneliness. This article takes a deep dive and presents a statistical overview of rising loneliness in India.

Understanding Loneliness

  While loneliness is quite subjective, loneliness can be generally defined as feeling socially isolated, even when surrounded by others. Loneliness can be a result of physical isolation, but it is often a result of a lack of meaningful connections. Loneliness can have a significant impact on one’s physical and mental well-being, leading to conditions such as depression and anxiety as well as physical health issues such as heart disease and weakened immune systems.  

Loneliness in India

  While there are no exact numbers to identify the extent of loneliness in India, research conducted over the past 5 years suggests that loneliness is on the rise in this country. Let’s have a look at what research has to say:  

• Loneliness And The Youth

While we may want to assume that loneliness shouldn’t be a problem for the youth, especially in times of social media, the statistical data tells a different story.    A study conducted in the city of Chandigarh reported that almost 62% of the research sample, comprised of adolescents, felt lonely. Another study published by the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 1 in 4, that is, 25% of Indian children aged between 13 and 15, suffer from depression, which is often a result of isolation or loneliness. Similarly, a meta-analysis published in 2020 reviewed 13 studies with over 3000 combined participants and found that 24% of the Indian youth struggle with loneliness.   Another study conducted in 2022 found that almost 30% of people between the ages of 18 and 29 felt lonely during COVID-19 times, and almost 57% of the population reported feeling lonely at least sometimes. The study also found that social isolation or being alone during COVID-19 was the major reason for youth loneliness.   

• Loneliness In Urban And Rural Population

Like youth, loneliness seems to be on the rise in both urban and rural populations as well. A global study conducted in 2021 reported that 43% of Indians living in urban areas experience some form of loneliness. While there isn’t much research available on loneliness in rural populations, loneliness has been rising among older adults in rural areas. Multiple studies suggest that 48–65% of older adults aged above 45 experience some form of loneliness.  When it comes to rural and urban youth, a report from 2012 found that almost 9.5% of adolescents report feeling lonely as compared to 17.3% of urban adolescents, which indicates that loneliness may be prevalent more in urban youth.

• Loneliness In Older Adults

If there is a population that is most susceptible to loneliness, it seems to be older adults above the age of 45. Multiple research studies indicate that older adults in both rural and urban areas are at risk of feeling lonely. A study published in 2020 found that almost 48% of older adults feel lonely. Another study published in 2024 reported that the prevalence of loneliness in older adults in rural areas was 66.4%, indicating that older adults might need more support.    Another study on 77000 participants in 2017-18 revealed that almost 20.5% of older adults experience moderate loneliness, while 13.e% of older adults above 45 experienced severe loneliness. Lastly, another study published in 2022 found that the prevalence rate of loneliness among older adults was between 7% and 21%. This research also found that females were more likely to report feelings of loneliness as compared to males and that health conditions and chronic diseases also influenced the feelings of loneliness in participants. 

Conclusion:

In summary, there isn’t enough data to chart the exact prevalence of loneliness in India. However, the present data indicates that loneliness is on the rise in urban as well as rural youth and that older adults are most susceptible to feeling lonely. Thus, more research, targeted support and interventions are the need of the hour to combat loneliness among the Indian population   

References:

 

1. Prevalence and correlates of loneliness in India: A systematic review. (n.d.). Retrieved November 14, 2024, from https://advance.sagepub.com/users/718006/articles/703309-prevalence-and-correlates-of-loneliness-in-india-a-systematic-review
2. Prevalence of and risk factors for loneliness in rural older adults—Chokkanathan—2020—Australasian Journal on Ageing—Wiley Online Library. (n.d.). Retrieved November 14, 2024, from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ajag.12835
3. Prevalence of Loneliness in Older Adults in Rural Population and Its Association with Depression and Caregiver Abuse—Aseem Mehra, Arun Agarwal, Mohammad Bashar, Ajit Avasthi, Rahul Chakravarty, Sandeep Grover, 2024. (n.d.). Retrieved November 14, 2024, from https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/02537176241231060?icid=int.sj-abstract.citing-articles.234
4. Srivastava, P., & Srivastava, M. (2023). Prevalence and correlates of loneliness in the later life—Insights from Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) Wave-1. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 65(9), 914. https://doi.org/10.4103/indianjpsychiatry.indianjpsychiatry_594_22
5. Standard, B. (2017, April 7). One in four Indian children in 13-15 age group suffers from depression: WHO. https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/one-in-four-indian-children-in-13-15-age-group-suffers-from-depression-who-117040601158_1.html
6. Urban Isolation: Why Urban Indians Are Growing Increasingly Lonely and Potential Solutions | HerZindagi. (n.d.). Retrieved November 14, 2024, from https://www.herzindagi.com/society-culture/urban-isolation-why-urban-indians-are-growing-increasingly-lonely-and-potential-solutions-article-291328
7. Yadav, V., Chauhan, S., & Patel, R. (2022). What causes loneliness among household heads: A study based in primary setting in Mumbai, India. BMC Public Health, 22(1), 730. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13108-w