In the US, 41% of Gen Z report feeling lonely at least once per week. About 24% say they often feel lonely, while Gen Z also spends a median of 1.5 hours per day on social media. Later sections link heavy use and coping behaviors to higher anxiety and worse mental and physical health outcomes.
Key Takeaways
- 37.0% of U.S. adults aged 18–25 reported “sometimes” or “often/always” loneliness
- 35.3% of U.S. adults aged 18–29 reported “sometimes” or “often/always” loneliness
- 24% of U.S. Gen Z reported they “often” feel lonely
- 48% of Gen Z in the U.S. report that they spend too much time on social media
- 35% of Gen Z report using social media as a way to cope with loneliness
- 52% of U.S. adults aged 18–24 who have social needs report that they feel disconnected
- 42% of Gen Z report checking social media several times a day
- 33% of Gen Z report that they feel more anxious after using social media
- 47% of Gen Z say messaging apps are their primary way to keep up with friends
- Loneliness is associated with a 29% increased risk of dementia in observational studies (meta-analytic estimate)
- Loneliness is associated with a 32% increased risk of stroke (meta-analytic estimate)
- Loneliness is associated with a 26% increased risk of heart disease mortality (meta-analytic estimate)
- Workplace productivity losses attributed to loneliness were estimated at $154 billion globally (estimate cited in global health-economic study)
- Higher loneliness correlates with lower employment participation; employment rate gap of 6.5 percentage points reported in labor-market analysis
- In one analysis, loneliness reduced social spending and increased healthcare utilization by 7% (health utilization difference)
Gen Z loneliness is widespread, with many using social media to cope but ending up more disconnected.
Related reading
01 · Category
Prevalence4 stats
01
37.0% of U.S. adults aged 18–25 reported “sometimes” or “often/always” loneliness[1]
02
35.3% of U.S. adults aged 18–29 reported “sometimes” or “often/always” loneliness[1]
03
24% of U.S. Gen Z reported they “often” feel lonely[2]
04
41% of Gen Z in the U.S. reported feeling lonely at least once per week[3]
Interpretation
Prevalence Interpretation
In the prevalence of loneliness, roughly 35 to 41 percent of U.S. Gen Z report loneliness at least sometimes, with 41 percent feeling it at least once a week, showing how widespread loneliness is in this age group.
02 · Category
Drivers & Correlates7 stats
01
48% of Gen Z in the U.S. report that they spend too much time on social media[4]
02
35% of Gen Z report using social media as a way to cope with loneliness[5]
03
52% of U.S. adults aged 18–24 who have social needs report that they feel disconnected[6]
04
1.5 hours per day is the median time spent on social media by Gen Z (U.S.)[7]
05
46% of Gen Z say that lack of meaningful connections affects their mental well-being[8]
06
1 in 4 young adults report that their mental health is impacted by social isolation[9]
07
2 in 5 young people report that social media use makes them feel left out[10]
Interpretation
Drivers & Correlates Interpretation
Nearly half of Gen Z, 48%, says they spend too much time on social media, and with 35% using it to cope with loneliness, the drivers and correlates data point to social-media use as a key link to feeling disconnected and strained mental well-being.
03 · Category
Technology & Habits8 stats
01
42% of Gen Z report checking social media several times a day[2]
02
33% of Gen Z report that they feel more anxious after using social media[4]
03
47% of Gen Z say messaging apps are their primary way to keep up with friends[5]
04
53% of Gen Z report using video calls to stay connected[5]
05
31% of Gen Z report using dating apps to find companionship[11]
06
68% of Gen Z report having fewer chances to socialize due to remote work/school changes[12]
07
2 in 3 Gen Z report that they use at least one platform mainly to follow influencers[13]
08
48% of young adults say they feel pressured to present a perfect image online[14]
Interpretation
Technology & Habits Interpretation
With 68% of Gen Z saying remote work or school changes have cut down their chances to socialize and 42% checking social media several times a day, today’s loneliness is being shaped by how heavily tech is woven into daily habits.
More related reading
04 · Category
Health Impacts8 stats
01
Loneliness is associated with a 29% increased risk of dementia in observational studies (meta-analytic estimate)[15]
02
Loneliness is associated with a 32% increased risk of stroke (meta-analytic estimate)[16]
03
Loneliness is associated with a 26% increased risk of heart disease mortality (meta-analytic estimate)[17]
04
1.4x higher odds of major depressive disorder in people experiencing loneliness (meta-analytic estimate)[18]
05
2x higher odds of generalized anxiety disorder for individuals reporting high loneliness (meta-analytic estimate)[19]
06
Loneliness has been linked to a measurable increase in perceived stress (standardized effect size reported in meta-analysis)[20]
07
Gen Z reports higher rates of psychological distress than older adults (CDC Youth Risk survey comparative statistic)[1]
08
Loneliness is associated with poorer sleep quality (standardized effect size in review)[19]
Interpretation
Health Impacts Interpretation
From a health impacts perspective, Gen Z loneliness is not just emotional but appears clinically relevant, with meta-analytic estimates showing a 29% higher risk of dementia, a 32% higher risk of stroke, and doubled odds of generalized anxiety alongside increased risks of heart disease mortality and depression.
report visual · Comparison
Gen Z Loneliness: How Common Is It?
Different surveys find that loneliness is widespread among Gen Z and young adults—especially when measured as “often” feelings or loneliness at least weekly.
41% of Gen Z in the U.S. reported feeling lonely at least once per week41%
37.0% of U.S. adults aged 18–25 reported “sometimes” or “often/always” loneliness
37%
35.3% of U.S. adults aged 18–29 reported “sometimes” or “often/always” loneliness
35.3%
24% of U.S. Gen Z reported they “often” feel lonely
24%
source-verifiedpewresearch.org · samhsa.gov · cdc.gov
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Elif Demirci. (2026, February 13). Gen Z Loneliness Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/gen-z-loneliness-statistics
MLA
Elif Demirci. "Gen Z Loneliness Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/gen-z-loneliness-statistics.
Chicago
Elif Demirci. 2026. "Gen Z Loneliness Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/gen-z-loneliness-statistics.
Sources & references
22 sources cited across this report