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Young American men report highest loneliness in wealthy nations

A new report from Gallup finds that young men in the United States are experiencing daily loneliness at rates significantly higher than both their peers abroad and other Americans. In 2023–2024 survey data, one in four U.S. men under 35 said they felt “a lot of loneliness” the previous day.

This number is well above the U.S. national average of 18% and matches no other age-gender demographic domestically. The figure also outpaces young women in the U.S., who report loneliness at the same rate as the overall average (18%).

U.S. outlier among wealthy nations

The data covers 38 nations in the OECD — a group of mostly high-income, democratic countries — and shows that the U.S. stands alone in the severity of loneliness among young men.

  • Across the OECD, a median of 15% of young men report feeling lonely.
  • In nine other countries, at least 20% of young men say they feel lonely — including Türkiye (29%), France (24%), Ireland (23%), and Canada (22%).
  • However, in nearly all other nations, younger men’s loneliness closely tracks the national average. The U.S. uniquely shows a large gap between young men and the rest of the population.

Only Iceland and Denmark show a similar trend — but with a far smaller disparity. In Iceland, 15% of young men feel lonely compared to 10% of other adults. In Denmark, it’s 15% versus 9%. In the U.S., the gap is eight percentage points: 25% for young men versus 17% for all other adults.

Daily stress and worry compound the problem

Gallup’s data also reveals that young American men are more likely than others to report daily stress and worry:

  • 57% report feeling stressed daily (compared to 48% of other U.S. adults).
  • 46% say they experienced worry the previous day (vs. 37% of other adults).

This pattern of heightened negative emotions sets U.S. young men apart from peers both domestically and internationally. By contrast, OECD averages show equal worry levels (36%) between young men and older adults.

Emotional well-being at risk

Loneliness — particularly when experienced daily — is strongly linked to poorer well-being. According to Gallup, lonely Americans:

  • Are significantly less likely to smile or laugh often.
  • Report lower satisfaction with personal freedoms and social connections.
  • Are half as likely to be classified as “thriving” in their life evaluation scores.

Notably, while lonely individuals maintain similar views on national leadership, elections, and economic opportunity, their personal satisfaction and hope for the future suffer markedly.

Young men and mental health challenges

This report adds context to broader concerns about young men’s mental health in the U.S. Studies in recent years show higher rates of “deaths of despair” — including suicide and overdose — among young men than women. Persistent loneliness, worry, and stress may be underlying factors contributing to these outcomes.

Why it matters

Gallup began tracking global loneliness in 2023, and early findings already show concerning trends for American men. While many people worldwide experience loneliness, the disproportionate burden among U.S. young men is unique among advanced economies.

Efforts to address mental health and social connection may need to pay particular attention to this demographic — especially as public health experts warn of a growing loneliness epidemic.

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