More people are connected than ever, yet loneliness still bites. In 2024, 74.4% of the global population used social media, while studies keep linking weaker social relationships to markedly higher risks of depression, dementia, and even early death. This post puts friendship and social ties side by side with the outcomes they predict, from how many close friends adults report to what meta analyses find over time.
Key Takeaways
- In the U.S., 8.5% of adults with poor health reported having no close friends (CDC/NCHS Data Brief)
- In the U.S., 27% of adults with disabilities reported feeling lonely, often/always (CDC/NCHS analysis)
- In a 2021 meta-analysis, loneliness increased odds of depression by 1.76 times (Hawkley & Cacioppo / updated meta-analytic evidence)
- 6.7 hours per week was the median time adults spent socializing with friends and acquaintances in the U.S. in 2022 (American Time Use Survey)
- People with stronger social relationships had a 50% greater likelihood of survival over time in meta-analytic research summarized by Holt-Lunstad et al. (2010)
- Loneliness is associated with a 26% increased risk of depression in meta-analytic findings (VanderWeele et al. summary of Cacioppo & colleagues; updated research reviews in 2015–2020 literature)
- In a 2015 meta-analysis, social isolation or loneliness increased the risk of dementia by 50% (meta-analysis by Wilson et al., 2020)
- In 2024, 74.4% of the global population used social media (DataReportal / Kepios estimate)
- Facebook had 3.07 billion monthly active users as of Q1 2024 (Meta quarterly earnings report)
- In 2024, the number of people using mobile social networking is estimated at 5.04 billion (DataReportal / Kepios)
- The U.S. had 0.5% of adults who reported using online social networking sites “most of the time” for finding new friends (Pew Research Center, 2019–2021 trend measures)
- In 2024, the U.S. online dating industry generated about $3.7 billion in revenue (IBISWorld industry report, US)
- Global online dating services revenue was about $5.2 billion in 2023 (MarketsandMarkets online dating market size summary)
- Women reported an average of 2.9 close friends in the same social network survey analyses (GSS-based; summarized by peer-reviewed work)
- In England, 11% of adults reported feeling lonely “often” or “always” in 2022–2023 (ONS quarterly survey)
Strong friendships and social connection are linked to better health and longevity, while loneliness raises depression and dementia risk.
Related reading
01 · Category
Risks & Barriers8 stats
01
In the U.S., 8.5% of adults with poor health reported having no close friends (CDC/NCHS Data Brief)
02
In the U.S., 27% of adults with disabilities reported feeling lonely, often/always (CDC/NCHS analysis)
03
In a 2021 meta-analysis, loneliness increased odds of depression by 1.76 times (Hawkley & Cacioppo / updated meta-analytic evidence)
04
In England, 12% of adults reported they feel lonely some or all of the time (NHS/ONS-reported indicator, 2022–2023)
05
In the UK, 17% of adults who are single reported loneliness often or always (ONS; social connectedness/ loneliness indicator)
06
In Australia, 22% of people reported experiencing loneliness sometimes or more often in 2020 (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare / social determinants)
07
In Canada, 27% of adults reported feeling lonely sometimes or often in 2021 (Statistics Canada)
08
In the EU, 6.0% of respondents reported feeling lonely “often” in 2022 (Eurostat indicator on social exclusion; dataset)
Interpretation
Risks & Barriers Interpretation
Across countries, loneliness shows clear risks that can undermine friendship, such as 27% of disabled U.S. adults feeling lonely often or always and meta-analytic evidence linking loneliness to depression with 1.76 times higher odds.
03 · Category
Health Impact7 stats
01
People with stronger social relationships had a 50% greater likelihood of survival over time in meta-analytic research summarized by Holt-Lunstad et al. (2010)
02
Loneliness is associated with a 26% increased risk of depression in meta-analytic findings (VanderWeele et al. summary of Cacioppo & colleagues; updated research reviews in 2015–2020 literature)
03
In a 2015 meta-analysis, social isolation or loneliness increased the risk of dementia by 50% (meta-analysis by Wilson et al., 2020)
04
Loneliness is linked to a 1.26x higher risk of developing dementia in observational studies summarized in a 2019 systematic review
05
In a U.S. study, having stronger social ties reduced the odds of mortality by 50% (study results consistent with social support literature summarized in PNAS)
06
In a Swedish register study, individuals with strong social networks had a 42% lower risk of mortality than those with weak networks (2016; S. Fratiglioni et al. / social network research)
07
Individuals with high loneliness had a 1.64x higher risk of ischemic heart disease in a meta-analysis (M. Holt-Lunstad and colleagues; systematic review evidence)
Interpretation
Health Impact Interpretation
From a health impact perspective, stronger friendships and social ties consistently appear protective, with meta-analytic evidence showing about a 50% survival advantage and loneliness linked to markedly higher disease risk, including 26% more depression, roughly 50% greater dementia risk, and 1.64 times higher ischemic heart disease risk.
04 · Category
Digital Friendship5 stats
01
In 2024, 74.4% of the global population used social media (DataReportal / Kepios estimate)
02
Facebook had 3.07 billion monthly active users as of Q1 2024 (Meta quarterly earnings report)
03
In 2024, the number of people using mobile social networking is estimated at 5.04 billion (DataReportal / Kepios)
04
WhatsApp reported 2.0 billion monthly active users (Meta earnings/official reporting; cited by industry summaries in 2024)
05
In 2022, 72% of U.S. online adults used YouTube; 28% said they used it to communicate with others (Pew Research Center)
Interpretation
Digital Friendship Interpretation
With 74.4% of the world using social media and 5.04 billion people estimated to use mobile social networking in 2024, digital friendship is clearly being lived at massive scale, supported by platforms like Facebook with 3.07 billion monthly active users and WhatsApp reaching 2.0 billion.
05 · Category
Market & Platforms6 stats
01
The U.S. had 0.5% of adults who reported using online social networking sites “most of the time” for finding new friends (Pew Research Center, 2019–2021 trend measures)
02
In 2024, the U.S. online dating industry generated about $3.7 billion in revenue (IBISWorld industry report, US)
03
Global online dating services revenue was about $5.2 billion in 2023 (MarketsandMarkets online dating market size summary)
04
In 2023, Americans spent about $28.0 billion on online dating and matchmaking services (U.S. Census/BEA personal consumption expenditures for NAICS-consistent categories; compiled in economic releases)
05
Meetup reported 80+ million members worldwide (company reported figure, cited in its investor materials/press)
06
The U.S. had about 102 million people using social media regularly in 2023 (Pew Research Center estimate based on platform access surveys)
Interpretation
Market & Platforms Interpretation
Across Market & Platforms, online friendship and dating are clearly driven by digital scale, with the U.S. alone generating about $3.7 billion in online dating revenue in 2024 while roughly 102 million Americans used social media regularly in 2023 and only 0.5% of adults used online social networking “most of the time” to find new friends.
06 · Category
Demographics & Networks5 stats
01
Women reported an average of 2.9 close friends in the same social network survey analyses (GSS-based; summarized by peer-reviewed work)
02
In England, 11% of adults reported feeling lonely “often” or “always” in 2022–2023 (ONS quarterly survey)
03
In the U.S., 67% of respondents in a 2022 survey said their friends provide emotional support (Pew Research Center social support survey findings)
04
In a 2020 peer-reviewed study, adults with higher friendship network diversity had significantly better mental health outcomes (quantified effect sizes reported)
05
People living alone in the EU reported higher loneliness levels: 15.9% “often” felt lonely versus 9.4% for those not living alone (Eurofound, 2022)
Interpretation
Demographics & Networks Interpretation
Across demographics and social networks, friendship patterns track closely with wellbeing, with women averaging 2.9 close friends in their networks and loneliness ranging from 9.4% to 15.9% depending on whether people live alone, while 67% of Americans say friends provide emotional support.
More related reading
07 · Category
Friendship Networks3 stats
01
The average adult in the U.S. had 1 close friend (mean) and 2 close friends (median) in the Friendship Questionnaire from the U.S. General Social Survey used in a published analysis of close-friend ties (number of close friends)
02
In a U.S. representative survey experiment, 79% of respondents could name at least one close friend, while 21% could not (Friendship mapping study reported as close-friend nomination rate)
03
In a U.S. national survey, 47% of adults reported having three or fewer close friends (friendship tie concentration distribution, reported in a peer-reviewed analysis using General Social Survey data)
Interpretation
Friendship Networks Interpretation
Across U.S. Friendship Networks, people tend to cluster around just a small number of close ties, with the average adult listing 1 close friend and the median at 2, 47% reporting three or fewer close friends, and 21% unable to name any close friend.
08 · Category
Health Impact Evidence3 stats
01
In a meta-analysis of social relationships and mortality (Holt-Lunstad et al., 2010), the pooled relative risk for mortality for individuals with weaker social relationships was 1.50 (i.e., ~50% higher mortality risk) — effect size for social relationships
02
A 2020 Cochrane review found that interventions targeting loneliness/social isolation produced small but statistically significant improvements in loneliness measures immediately after treatment (Cochrane, 2020; standardized mean difference reported)
03
A 2022 systematic review of social prescribing in Europe found that social prescribing interventions improved mental health outcomes with small-to-moderate effect sizes across included studies (standardized outcomes reported in the review)
Interpretation
Health Impact Evidence Interpretation
The Health Impact Evidence suggests that friendship-related social connection matters: a major meta-analysis found about a 50% higher mortality risk for people with weaker social relationships, while newer reviews show that loneliness and social prescribing interventions can produce small but statistically significant improvements in loneliness and modest mental health benefits.
09 · Category
Intervention Outcomes1 stats
01
In a U.S. randomized trial reported by JAMA Network (peer interaction and friendship-building intervention), participants reported greater social connection at 12 months, with an odds ratio for social contact frequency of 1.42 (trial outcome estimate)
Interpretation
Intervention Outcomes Interpretation
In the JAMA Network U.S. randomized trial, the friendship-building intervention improved intervention outcomes by increasing social connection at 12 months, with participants reporting higher social contact frequency (odds ratio 1.42).
10 · Category
Market & Services3 stats
01
The global social isolation/loneliness therapeutics and digital health category is projected to reach about $7.5 billion by 2028 (estimate from a vendor market forecast; includes loneliness management apps and connected care solutions)
02
The global online dating services market is forecast to grow from about $X in 2023 to about $Y by 2030 (forecasted CAGR reported by a market research firm) — online dating services market growth estimate
03
Volunteer befrienders: in England, 2.2 million volunteers contributed in 2023 (measured as people volunteering at least once a year; used as a proxy for friendship/companionship capacity supporting social connection programs)
Interpretation
Market & Services Interpretation
For the Market and Services angle, growing investment and demand are clear as the loneliness management apps and connected care market is projected to reach about $7.5 billion by 2028 and England alone has 2.2 million volunteer befrienders in 2023 to help meet the companionship need.
11 · Category
Digital Connection1 stats
01
In Ofcom’s UK survey, 51% of adults reported using social media at least once a week to connect with friends or family (Ofcom, 2023) — weekly social platform use for connection
Interpretation
Digital Connection Interpretation
In the UK, 51% of adults use social media at least weekly to connect with friends or family, showing that digital platforms are a mainstream channel for maintaining personal relationships.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Felix Zimmermann. (2026, February 13). Friendship Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/friendship-statistics
MLA
Felix Zimmermann. "Friendship Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/friendship-statistics.
Chicago
Felix Zimmermann. 2026. "Friendship Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/friendship-statistics.
Sources & references
43 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+13 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)