Mumbai, June 15:
In an increasingly hyperconnected world shaped by social media and technology, reports suggest that loneliness is emerging as a major public health concern.
A recent global survey by digital entertainment platform JB.com ranked India as the world’s second loneliest country among 36 nations surveyed.
Turkey topped the list, followed by India, while Brazil, South Africa and South Korea rounded out the top five. The study found that 37 per cent of Indians frequently experience sadness, the highest among the five countries, pointing to deeper emotional distress.
Perhaps the most striking finding was that loneliness in India persists despite relatively strong family structures.
“This suggests loneliness in India is emotional rather than physical,” the report noted.The “loneliness score” survey examined emotional well-being and social isolation across 36 countries using seven factors, including loneliness, isolation, sadness and happiness levels, household composition (single-person households and average house size), and depression rates.
The combined scores were used to assess the overall risk of loneliness.
India exists even though most people live with family members. Only 3.7 per cent of households in the country consist of a single person, and the average household has more than four members.
This indicates that loneliness in India is driven more by emotional factors than by physical isolation, as people can still feel disconnected while living with others. Turkey, which ranked first, recorded 61 per cent of people reporting loneliness and 45 per cent saying they feel isolated.
Around 31 per cent of respondents in the country said they frequently experience sadness. Although one in five Turkish households is made up of a single person, the study suggests that emotional disconnection remains a major contributor to loneliness there as well.
Brazil secured the third position with a loneliness score of 78. The report found that 53 per cent of Brazilians feel lonely, while 43 per cent experience isolation. At the same time, Brazil showed relatively higher levels of life satisfaction among the top five countries, highlighting that people can feel lonely even when they generally consider themselves happy.
South Africa ranked fourth. While 65 per cent of respondents reported loneliness—the highest proportion among the top five countries—only 18 per cent said they feel isolated. The study noted that this gap suggests loneliness and social connectedness do not always move together. At the opposite end of the ranking, Uzbekistan and the Netherlands were identified as the least lonely countries.