Massive global poll finds 31% of the world expects to feel lonely this year

A massive new survey conducted in 31 countries reveals that millions appear to be resigned to loneliness.

“Three in ten (31 percent) think they will feel lonely for most of 2019, even higher in China (43 percent), Saudi Arabia (43 percent), and up to three in five (57 percent) in Turkey. Even at its lowest level in Israel and Serbia, loneliness was still a concern for one in five (20 percent). In Britain, where a Minister for Loneliness was appointed in 2018, a quarter (25 percent) predicted feeling lonely throughout 2019,” noted the Ipsos Global Advisor poll of 21,141 adults, which was released on Friday.

In the U.S., 27 percent predict they will be lonely — exactly the same percentage as found in France, Italy and Colombia. A third of Russians, Swedes, Indians, Czech and Polish citizens also expect to be lonely. Mexicans, Germans, Dutch and Germans are among the least lonely, their percentages at 23 percent.

Among many other things, the poll also found that on average, 55 percent of the world’s population are concerned about public unrest in their country — though 53 percent also predict the global economy will be stronger in 2019 than last year. Half of them worry their personal data will be leaked on the internet while 28 percent say they will use social media less.

“Three in four (75 percent) are optimistic that 2019 will be better than last year, particularly across South America where this sentiment was near unanimous in Peru (94 percent), Colombia (92 percent) and Mexico (90 percent). Whereas only half in France (50 percent) were as positive, and even fewer in Japan (42 percent),” the poll said.

The IPSOS Global Advisor survey was conducted Dec. 21, 2018-Jan. 9 and released Friday. The survey nations were Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and the U.S.