People who experience prolonged social isolation have a 35% higher chance of dying compared to those who maintain regular social connections.

We analyzed the available evidence and found that 64 studies suggest people who experience prolonged social isolation have a 35% higher chance of dying compared to those who maintain regular social connections [1]. This pattern appears consistently across the studies we reviewed, with no studies contradicting this finding. Social isolation here means having little to no contact with family, friends, or community over a long period — not just feeling lonely, but actually being physically or emotionally disconnected from others. The 35% increase refers to the relative risk of death over time, not a guaranteed outcome. It means that, on average, isolated individuals in these studies were more likely to die during the observation period than those with stronger social ties. We don’t know exactly why this link exists. It could be related to stress, reduced physical activity, poorer sleep, or less access to medical care — but the evidence we’ve reviewed doesn’t pinpoint a single cause. What we’ve found so far is a strong, repeated association across many different groups of people, in different countries and over many years. The studies included in our analysis didn’t test whether fixing isolation reduces risk — they only observed patterns over time. So while the connection is clear, we can’t say whether improving social contact would lower that risk. What this means for everyday life: staying connected with others — even through phone calls, texts, or small gatherings — may be as important to long-term health as diet or exercise. If you or someone you know is spending long periods alone, reaching out could matter more than we’ve realized.