One in ten Brits have no close friends, as new report links loneliness to life satisfaction, work, and politics 

• The 2025 Belonging Barometer is the first study to track how loneliness impacts people’s sense of belonging – including work satisfaction, political representation, and sense of purpose 
• 29% of UK adults report feeling lonely at least some of the time, with students (50%) and unemployed people (44%) are most affected 
• Lonely individuals are twice as likely to have no hobbies and less likely to spend time outside home and work 
• The Belonging Forum is calling for urgent action to improve social connection, leading to the development of the world’s first Charter for Belonging 

London, UK, 5 March 2025 – A major new study has, for the first time, revealed that loneliness is shaping the way people experience work, politics, and daily life, with one in ten Brits (10%) reporting they have no close friends. 

The 2025 Belonging Barometer, published today by the Belonging Forum, surveyed over 10,000 UK adults and is the first time the impact of loneliness has been tracked across multiple dimensions of a person’s life and sense of belonging. 

The report found that loneliness is a growing crisis – with nearly a third of the population (29%) reporting feeling lonely always, often, or at least some of the time. This rose to 44% among the unemployed and 50% among students. 

While three in four people feel a sense of belonging in their life, this drops sharply to just 36% among those who often or always feel lonely. 

The data further highlights the impact of social connections on belonging. Only 22% of those who frequently experience loneliness report a strong sense of belonging, compared to 61% of those who rarely feel lonely. 

Similarly, people with no close friends are far less likely to feel they belong (20%) than those with ten or more close friends (65%). Men aged 55-64 are the most adversely affected, with 15% reporting they have no close friends. 

The survey also shows that loneliness impacts people’s connection to their local place and community. While 56% of the general population feel a sense of belonging to their neighbourhood, this rises to 66% among those who rarely feel lonely. 

Additionally, those who often or always feel lonely are far less likely to feel connected to the UK (48% vs. 75% among those who rarely feel lonely). 

The findings reveal seldom recognised links between social connection, civic engagement and overall public trust. The research found that loneliness correlates with distrust in 

political representation with just 15% of lonely people feeling represented by their local councillor, compared to 22% of the general population. 

Correspondingly, only 17% of those who feel lonely often or always feel well represented by their MP, compared to 24% of the general public. 

Loneliness also undermines people’s sense of purpose, particularly in their jobs. People who rarely feel lonely are more likely to find their jobs interesting (69% vs. 52%) and they are also more likely to feel part of a team (70% vs. 53%). 

Beyond work, the Belonging Barometer also shows that loneliness reduces engagement in social life. People who often or always feel lonely are twice as likely to have no hobbies (16% vs. 8%). They are also less likely to spend time in public spaces outside home and work. 

Only 4% of the UK population reported having both zero life satisfaction and zero happiness yesterday, but this jumps to 17% among those who frequently feel lonely. 

While the report highlights serious challenges, it also identifies practical solutions to combat loneliness and strengthen belonging. The majority of the population supports more shared green spaces (79%), independent shops (77%), and community centres (75%) in their local area to help foster connections. The findings underscore that the opportunity to build a practical, cross-sector agenda for belonging. 

Kim Samuel, Founder of the Belonging Forum and author of On Belonging: Finding Connection in an Age of Isolation, said: 

“Creating social connection at both individual and societal levels is the most pressing issue of our time, because it underlies our capacity to solve all other challenges we face. 

“Our first-of-its-kind research highlights the urgent need to address loneliness in particular, showing that it doesn’t just affect emotional wellbeing, but also shapes people’s connection to work, politics and their communities. 

“Loneliness and social isolation are deeply intertwined with mental and physical health. Studies show loneliness increases the risk of depression, and depression in turn increases loneliness. A lack of meaningful social contact has even been linked to weaker immune systems, heightened stress responses, and higher mortality rates. 

“If we want to build a world where everyone belongs, we must act now to tackle the growing crisis of loneliness and social isolation. This requires decisive action across the public, private, and third sectors – which is why we are launching the world’s first Charter for Belonging, creating lasting solutions to strengthen social connection.” 

Loneliness is a significant component of the broader issue of social isolation, which erodes feelings of belonging and can lead to poverty, inequality and discrimination.1 Belonging can be defined as the experience of meaningful connections to people, to communities, to the natural world, to a sense of purpose and to social, political and economic decision-making. 

1 On Belonging: Finding Connection in an Age of Isolation (Abrams Press 2022) by Kim Samuel 

Insights from the 2025 Belonging Barometer will inform this Charter for Belonging, a first-of-its-kind initiative setting out guiding principles and best practices to combat social isolation and foster belonging at individual, community, and systemic levels. 

ENDS 

NOTES TO EDITOR 

For media inquiries and interviews, or further information, please contact: communications@belongingforum.org. 

About the Belonging Barometer: 

• The research was carried out by Opinium on behalf of the Belonging Forum and surveyed a nationally representative sample of 10,000 UK adults. The survey was conducted between 27 November and 9 December 2024. 
• The polling analysed figures from the general population and broken down by demographics including gender, age, socioeconomic status, and working status. 
• The research used multi-level regression and post-stratification (MRP) polling analysis of several questions, giving insights into them at a parliamentary constituency level across the UK. 
• The full findings of the second edition of the Belonging Barometer can be viewed here. 
• The first edition results for 2024 are available to view here. 

About the Belonging Forum: 

The Belonging Forum is dedicated to understanding and collaborating to create practical solutions that combat isolation and foster belonging. Our research from around the world shows that interconnected, inclusive communities are the foundation of a thriving society, where everyone feels at home. We envision a world in which everyone can realise their right to belong through the experience of meaningful connections to people, to communities, to the natural world, to a sense of purpose and to social, political and economic decision-making. 

About Kim Samuel: 

Kim Samuel is an author, educator, and movement-builder. As founder of the Belonging Forum, formerly the Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness, she leads research, advocacy, and action to combat social isolation and build belonging around the world. Kim is a Research Fellow at the Oxford Poverty and 

Human Development Initiative, University of Oxford, and an Associate Fellow at Green Templeton College, Oxford. She is the author of On Belonging: Finding Connection in an Age of Isolation.