Loneliness increased in Finland after 2018, particularly among working-age adults

A study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Public Health examined loneliness trends in Finland using seven representative cross-sectional surveys conducted between 2013 and 2024. The analysis included 199,229 adults aged 20 years or older. Researchers assessed loneliness prevalence over time and used multiple imputation to project prevalence through 2040.

Between 2013 and 2018, loneliness prevalence remained stable among men and declined slightly among women, reaching approximately 8.2% and 8.5%, respectively. After 2018, prevalence increased across all age groups. Over the following six years, it rose by 6.2 percentage points among adults aged 20–39 years and 6.9 percentage points among those aged 40–54 years. Increases were smaller in older age groups. The projected prevalence for the overall adult population was approximately 18% by 2040.

The findings highlight a growing public-health concern, particularly among working-age adults. The authors call for national loneliness reduction programmes recommended by the WHO Commission on Social Connection. However, repeated cross-sectional surveys describe population trends rather than individual trajectories or causes. The 2040 estimate is a projection, not an observed outcome. Only the abstract was available, limiting assessment of measurement methods, projection assumptions and statistical uncertainty.