Over 21 million people in the UK say they are less connected to the country since lockdown

• The 2026 Belonging Barometer found an estimated 21.5 million adults (39%) feel less connected to the UK since 2020
• 86% of the UK population reported that an economic factor has made it harder to build connections since the pandemic
• The Belonging Forum found three in four (74%) people think their local area has experienced some form of change since the pandemic
• Around a quarter report fewer opportunities to meet, less community, and less pride in their area since lockdown

London, UK, 17 March 2026 — UK adults are significantly more likely to be disconnected from the country than at the start of the decade, a major new study published today (17 March 2026) by the Belonging Forum has found.

The 2026 Belonging Barometer, the third annual report based on a national representative survey of 10,000 UK adults conducted by Opinium, examines how life since 2020 has impacted social connection in the UK.

The report found that around 21.5 million people (39%) report being less connected to the UK than before the pandemic – almost three times as many as those who feel more connected (14%).

More than one in five (22%) say they do not really belong or do not belong at all in the UK.

The report explores different aspects of belonging, including meaningful connections to people, place, power, and purpose. With the Covid-19 Inquiry now bringing renewed attention to the pandemic’s legacy, the findings suggest it was a major turning point in the forces shaping belonging in the UK.

People with disabilities are the most affected, with almost half (47%) saying they are less connected to the UK and over a third (34%) reporting they do not really or at all belong.

Everyday financial pressures emerged as the primary cause limiting people’s ability to participate in social and community life. Over 47 million UK adults (86%) reported that at least one economic factor has made it harder for them to build connections since 2020.

The rising cost of living is the most commonly cited economic challenge, with 58% pointing to higher household bills and utilities as a barrier. Housing affordability follows, with 34% saying rising rents or mortgage payments have made it harder to be settled and connected. A third (32%) say the cost of travel, activities and socialising also limits opportunities for people to spend time together.

Concern about the cost of living intensifies through midlife. The proportion identifying it as a key barrier to belonging rises from 48% among 25–34-year-olds to 56% among 35–44s and 61% among 45–54s.

Political polarisation also stood out as a key factor weakening social connection since 2020, with 46% saying political developments have made people feel less connected, compared with 14% who say they have made people more connected. Views on specific political changes are more mixed, pointing to a broader sense of strain and fragmentation in public life rather than a single clear driver.

Change at a local level, whether perceived positively or negatively, has been widely reported in the post-pandemic era. The Belonging Forum’s report uncovered that around 40.7 million people (74%) think their local area has experienced some form of change since 2020.

The most commonly seen local changes are to shops and high streets (37%), local services such as GP surgeries, schools or public transport (34%), and housing or housing costs (31%). People aged 65 and over are the most likely to report seeing shops and high streets, and local services, change since 2020.

Between these factors, the availability of local services is the most common reason for people saying they are less connected to their local community (65%) – with people in Northern Ireland feeling most affected out of any region in the UK (76%).  

This comes as a third (33%) say they are less confident in local decision-making and local leadership.

Views on migration levels are closely tied to how people experience community cohesion. Around two-thirds (65%) say that changes in the number of migrants and refugees arriving have made them feel less connected, while 14% report these changes have made them feel more connected. Younger people, LGBT+ respondents and people of faith are among those most likely to describe these positively.

A reported decline in everyday community life may explain perceived issues with cohesion. Around a quarter of UK adults report fewer opportunities to meet new people (27%), have less sense of community (26%), and less pride and ownership in their local area (24%).

The 2026 Belonging Barometer also found that loneliness remains widespread across the UK, with 54% of people feeling lonely at least some of the time. Younger adults are particularly affected, with 42% of 18–24-year-olds feeling lonely often or some of the time.

While the report highlights serious challenges, it also identifies local community life as a key solution to strengthen belonging. Community activities and events are more likely to make people report being more connected than less (39% vs 28%), highlighting the important role of shared local experiences.

Knowing neighbours, feeling safe and having access to local spaces also contribute to people feeling more connected to where they live. Around three in five say they feel strongly attached to their neighbourhood, with stability – particularly homeownership – strengthening local ties.

The research underscores the urgent need to build a practical, cross-sector agenda to drive belonging in the UK.

Kim Samuel, Founder of the Belonging Forum, said:

“Belonging in the UK hasn’t disappeared, but it has frayed since the pandemic. Social connection has become harder and more costly for millions. The bonds that tie people to the country, as a nation and an idea, appear to be loosening – with real consequences for people’s sense of belonging.

“The strain falls most on those who are already marginalised – including people with fewer relationships, people with disabilities, renters, and young adults.

“Locally, community spirit is proving more resilient – and that matters. But we cannot ignore the bigger picture if we want to push back against division and rebuild belonging.

“In moments of upheaval, from lockdowns to economic shocks to rapid technological change, it is easy to retreat into ourselves. We should do the opposite.

“We should invest in affordable ‘third spaces,’ the places where people from different walks of life can meet, mix, and build bridges. Because the health of society depends on whether people have places to meet, connect, and feel they belong.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

For media inquiries and interviews, or further information, please contact: press@belongingforum.com

About the 2026 Belonging Barometer:

• The 2026 Belonging Barometer is the Belonging Forum’s third annual report examining belonging in the UK, looking at people’s connections to others, to the places they live, to the institutions and systems that shape their lives, and to meaning and purpose in everyday life.
• The research was carried out by Opinium on behalf of the Belonging Forum and surveyed a nationally representative sample of 10,001 UK adults. The survey was conducted between 1^st and 17^th December 2025.
• Estimates of the number of people affected are based on the latest mid-year population estimates, which put the UK adult (18+) population at 55,022,253.
• Estimated population figures are therefore calculated by applying survey percentages to the latest UK mid-year adult population estimates, and are indicative estimates based on the nationally representative sample.
• The polling analysed figures from the general population and broken down by demographics including gender, age, socioeconomic status, and working status.
• The full findings of the third edition of the Belonging Barometer can be viewed here.

About the Belonging Forum

The Belonging Forum is a global non-profit advancing the right to belong – a birthright that connects us to one another, to the places we call home, to the systems that shape our lives, and to a shared sense of purpose.

We bring together research, advocacy, and action to ensure belonging is embedded in policies, institutions, and everyday life. Through collaboration with thought leaders, community builders, and changemakers around the world, we turn ideas into impact and build a world where everyone can flourish.

The Belonging Forum was founded by Kim Samuel, activist, author, educator, and leading voice in the global movement for belonging.