In an increasingly connected world, many people paradoxically feel more disconnected than ever. The OECD’s Social Connections and Loneliness in OECD Countries (2025) report shines a light on this pressing challenge – and offers inspiring insights for change. It reveals that while most people maintain regular social contact and support networks, significant pockets of loneliness and isolation persist. More importantly, social disconnection carries real consequences: loneliness has been linked to poorer health, higher mortality, and even economic and educational setbacks, whereas strong relationships boost well-being, job performance, and learning. These findings underscore a simple truth: social connection is not a luxury, but a foundation for thriving communities and happier lives.
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The good news? Around two-thirds of people across OECD countries interact with friends or family daily, and 90% have someone to rely on in times of need. This means the majority are socially connected and supported. Yet notable gaps remain: about 10% feel they have no support, 8% report having no close friends, and 6% experience loneliness “most or all of the time”. Frequent socializing is not enough if those interactions lack depth – high quantity does not guarantee high quality in relationships. As we seek to build happier cities, schools, and workplaces, we must address not only how often people connect, but also how meaningful those connections are.
The Loneliness Landscape: Key Insights from OECD 2025
The OECD report provides a comprehensive look at social connection trends, and several key insights stand out:
- In-Person Interaction Is Declining: The share of people meeting others face-to-face has been falling for over a decade, even as digital contact rises. Between 2006 and 2022, daily in-person interactions with friends and family dropped noticeably, while remote interactions (phone, online) increased. Worryingly, self-reported feelings of support and satisfaction in relationships have deteriorated since 2018, a trend likely exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Social connectedness has not fully rebounded to pre-pandemic levels in some countries, indicating a lasting impact of COVID-19 on our ability to feel connected.
- Young People and Men Are Increasingly Lonely: Surprisingly, young adults and men have emerged as new at-risk groups for loneliness. Historically, young people reported richer social lives than the elderly, and men reported less loneliness than women – but this has changed. Between 2018 and 2022, men experienced a sharper rise in loneliness and worse relationship quality than women, according to the OECD data. Those aged 16–24 saw the largest increase in feeling chronically lonely over this period, with many reporting dissatisfaction in their relationships and weaker social support networks. In fact, much of the recent decline in social well-being has been driven by young men, who are socializing in person less frequently than before. Understanding why the youngest generation – especially young males – are struggling to connect, and addressing their needs, should be a priority.
- Inequalities in Connection: Loneliness and isolation do not affect everyone equally – they often mirror wider socio-economic inequalities. Unemployment and low income are strongly associated with poor social connection: people who are out of work or in the lowest income bracket are around twice as likely to report feeling lonely compared to the general population. Living arrangements also matter. A growing number of people live alone, and those solo dwellers are about 1.5 times more likely to be dissatisfied with their personal relationships. The elderly, particularly those living alone, remain most at risk for social isolation – 11% of seniors report never meeting friends in person in a typical year, more than double the rate for the general population. With single-person households on the rise and societies aging, these findings sound a clear warning: we must pay special attention to those who are socially or physically on the margins.
- Social Infrastructure Makes a Difference: A striking insight from the OECD report is the importance of where and how we live our daily lives. Communities rich in social infrastructure – the public spaces, services, and institutions that bring people together – are better positioned to combat loneliness. Accessible libraries, parks, cafés, community centers, playgrounds, sidewalks, and other “third places” create natural venues for interaction and belonging. These shared spaces encourage casual encounters (chatting with a neighbor at the dog park or a stranger at the café) and help forge bonds across diverse social groups. In fact, social infrastructure can strengthen “bridging” ties (connections among people of different backgrounds) and “linking” ties (connections to resources and institutions), which in turn bolsters social cohesion and mobility. By lowering the barriers to socializing, well-designed infrastructure – from intergenerational community gardens to lively public squares – gives individuals of all ages a place to meet and engage, thereby nurturing a sense of community. The OECD report emphasises that improving access to high-quality social infrastructure is a promising community-level strategy to foster connection. In an era when many (especially younger generations) spend more time online, investing in real-world social spaces has become even more crucial.
These findings paint a complex but ultimately hopeful picture. Loneliness is not an inevitable byproduct of modern life; rather, it is a challenge that can be addressed through intentional design of our environments and institutions. We are learning that happiness has a social architecture. With the right strategies, cities can be built to promote togetherness, schools can cultivate empathy and friendships, and workplaces can become communities – effectively creating “Cities of Happiness”, “Schools of Happiness”, and “Enterprises of Happiness” in practice. Below, we translate the OECD’s insights into actionable ideas for urban planners, educators, business leaders, and policymakers, to turn the tide on loneliness and strengthen social bonds.
From Insights to Action: Strategies for Connection and Happiness
Tackling loneliness requires coordinated action across different spheres of life. The OECD report makes clear that policy and design choices can shape social outcomes. Inspired by this knowledge, here are practical ways various leaders can build environments that champion connection and well-being:
Urban Planning – Building Cities of Happiness through Social Design
City planners and local leaders hold the keys to creating environments that either foster connection or fuel isolation. The OECD data urges urban planners to prioritize social infrastructure as core city infrastructure – as vital as roads or utilities. This means intentionally designing neighborhoods with plenty of shared public spaces where relationships can flourish. For example, ensuring every community has parks, plazas, walking paths, and libraries within easy reach can dramatically increase daily face-to-face interactions. Such spaces should be safe, inclusive, and appealing for all ages. Simple measures like benches, playgrounds, community gardens, and pedestrian-friendly streets invite people to linger and talk, converting routine activities into social encounters. Urban design can also promote mixing of different groups: vibrant marketplaces, cultural centers, and intergenerational facilities help bridge social divides, enabling young and old, rich and poor to interact as neighbors.
Importantly, planners must consider access and equity. The OECD report notes that those living alone or with lower incomes benefit immensely from nearby communal spaces – perhaps because they may lack private venues to socialize or the means to travel far. By investing in social infrastructure in less advantaged or isolated areas (e.g. outer suburbs, rural towns, aging neighborhoods), cities can reduce inequality in loneliness. A “City of Happiness” is one that consciously nurtures face-to-face connection at every turn: from community halls to sports facilities, from dog parks to public transit design that encourages casual chats. As urban planners, thinking of cityscapes as platforms for socializing can transform urban life. Every park bench and public square is a small antidote to loneliness. By building physical proximity and opportunities for interaction into the fabric of cities, we create the conditions for belonging and community to take root.
Education – Nurturing Schools of Happiness and Student Connection
Education isn’t only about academic achievement – it’s also about social development and emotional well-being. The OECD findings on youth loneliness send a clear message to educators and school administrators: schools must actively foster connection to help turn the tide for young people. This can start with something as fundamental as the school climate. Schools of Happiness put relationships at the center of their culture. Teachers and staff can be trained to spot signs of social isolation and to cultivate an inclusive environment where every student feels seen and supported. Simple initiatives like peer mentoring, buddy programs, and collaborative projects can ensure that students form supportive friendships across different backgrounds. Research cited in the OECD report shows that support from teachers and peers is linked to better academic performance – reminding us that connection amplifies learning.
Curricula can also incorporate social-emotional learning, teaching empathy, communication, and teamwork as core skills. By learning how to build and maintain healthy relationships, students gain tools to combat loneliness throughout life. Schools can serve as community hubs after hours – opening libraries, sports facilities, or arts spaces for youth groups and family activities – effectively extending social infrastructure to younger demographics. Given that much of young people’s interaction now happens online, educators should guide students in balancing digital life with real-world friendships. Schools of Happiness might, for instance, implement device-free social times or facilitate interest-based clubs where students meet in person around shared passions. The goal is to make school not just a place of learning, but a nurturing social community. When students feel they belong and are supported, they carry that resilience into adulthood, breaking the cycle of loneliness.
Workplace Culture – Fostering Enterprises of Happiness for Employees
For adults, a significant portion of life is spent at work – making the workplace a critical arena for social connection (or disconnection). Business leaders and managers can take cues from the OECD report to turn their organizations into true “Enterprises of Happiness.” This begins with recognizing that fostering social well-being among employees isn’t a distraction from productivity, but a driver of it. After all, positive relationships with coworkers are linked to greater job satisfaction and creativity, while loneliness at work correlates with poorer performance and higher turnover.
Practical steps for companies: Create spaces and opportunities for employees to interact in meaningful ways. This could mean designing offices with inviting common areas – like lounges, coffee corners, or open collaborative zones – that encourage casual conversations and teamwork. In an age of remote and hybrid work, companies should invest in regular in-person gatherings, team-building retreats, or social events to reinforce bonds that Zoom calls can’t fully replace. Mentorship programs and cross-department projects can connect people who might not ordinarily meet, building a web of support within the organization. It’s also important to cultivate an inclusive culture where everyone – regardless of gender, age, or background – feels comfortable reaching out and forging connections. Given the report’s finding that young men are increasingly isolated, workplaces (especially in male-dominated industries) could encourage participation in affinity groups, sports or volunteering clubs, where camaraderie can develop. Leadership should model and reward empathy and team cohesion, not just individual output. By viewing employees not just as units of labor but as social beings, companies can reduce burnout and loneliness. An Enterprise of Happiness treats employee social health as a key aspect of organizational health – leading to a more engaged, loyal, and innovative workforce.
Public Policy – Championing Connection as a Societal Priority
Finally, policymakers have a pivotal role in scaling these solutions and addressing loneliness at the societal level. Encouragingly, many governments have begun to heed this call. In recent years, countries from the UK to Japan have appointed Ministers or commissions for loneliness, and several OECD nations (Germany, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Spain and more) have launched national loneliness strategies. In 2025, the World Health Assembly even declared social connection an essential public health priority worldwide. These actions recognize that combating loneliness is not just a personal issue but a collective responsibility – much like promoting public health or education.
Policymakers can support urban, educational, and workplace initiatives through funding, frameworks, and coordination. For instance, governments can invest in social infrastructure projects (libraries, parks, community centers) particularly in underserved areas, and provide incentives for “friendly” housing design (co-housing, senior-friendly neighborhoods, student housing that encourages community). Education policy can embed well-being metrics in school evaluations or provide resources for mental health and counseling programs that support student connectedness. Labor and economic policies might encourage work-life balance (so people have time to socialize with family and community) and promote corporate practices that value employee well-being. Importantly, at a national level, measurement and monitoring of social connection should be improved. The OECD report calls for better evidence and regular tracking of loneliness and social support, to know what works and to whom help should be targeted. By developing robust indicators (just as we do for economic output or academic achievement), policymakers can identify vulnerable groups and ensure accountability for progress in reducing loneliness.
Crucially, a policy approach to social connection should be holistic and preventive. Rather than only treating the symptoms of loneliness (for example, funding help lines or therapy for lonely individuals), governments can address root causes – like community fragmentation, lack of public meeting spaces, or social stigma. Policies that encourage civic engagement, volunteerism, and intergenerational activities can weave the social fabric tighter. The OECD evidence suggests community-level solutions have great promise. It’s about creating an ecosystem – a society – where the default is to be connected. When city planning, education, business, and health policy all align toward that goal, loneliness stands little chance.
Conclusion: Toward a Connected and Happy Society
The challenge of loneliness in modern life is real, but it is far from insurmountable. The OECD’s landmark 2025 report has not only diagnosed the trends – from rising youth loneliness to the importance of social infrastructure – but it also offers a vision of hope. We are reminded that social bonds are a powerful antidote to many of society’s ills, and that each sector has a role to play in strengthening these bonds. Cities can be redesigned as Cities of Happiness, pulsing with communal life. Schools can evolve into Schools of Happiness, where emotional learning and connection are treated as fundamental as math or science. Workplaces can transform into Enterprises of Happiness, where colleagues form supportive teams and no one is just “clocking in” in isolation.
Above all, the fight against loneliness calls for imagination and commitment. It asks leaders at every level to consider the human heart as part of the infrastructure of our world. When we plan a park, a curriculum, an office layout, or a national policy, we should ask: How will this help people connect? Each decision can be a chance to design for belonging. By implementing the insights from the OECD report – investing in social spaces, prioritizing at-risk groups, and innovating to bring people together – we can gradually weave a society where no one feels alone and everyone has a community to lean on. The result will be not just less loneliness, but more flourishing: healthier citizens, more supportive schools, more productive and creative workplaces, and ultimately, happier lives for all. It’s an inspiring journey from loneliness to connection, and the time to act is now. Together, we can build the connected, compassionate future we all deserve.
Let’s make social connection a cornerstone of our planning and policies – because a connected society is a happier society.
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