Scottish Household Survey 2025 findings: Neighbourhoods and Communities

Social Isolation and Loneliness

Twenty-one percent of adults living in Scotland experienced feelings of loneliness ‘some of the time’, ‘most of the time’ or ‘all or almost all of the time’ in the past week (Table 45). [1] This is stable from 20% in 2024.

In 2025, 65% of adults in Scotland “meet socially with friends, relatives, neighbours or work colleagues” at least once a week (Table 43). This is a fall from 68% in 2024, and has fallen from 73% in 2018. This suggests there may be a longer term change in how frequently people are meeting socially.

Differences between places and sub-groups

Some groups are more likely to meet socially at least once a week. In 2025, 78% of 16 to 24 year olds said they meet socially at least once a week, compared to 56% of 35 to 44 year olds (Table 43). Sixty-seven percent of women met socially once a week, compared to 64% of men (Table 43). Disabled people were less likely (62%) than non-disabled people (67%) to meet socially once a week (Table 44). 

Loneliness varies by Local Authority (Figure 4, Table 45). The Local Authorities with the lowest levels of loneliness are shaded in dark blue on the map. Ten percent of adults in Renfrewshire, and 12% in Na h-Eileanan Siar experienced loneliness at least some of the time in the past week. This compares to 30% of adults in North Ayrshire.

Figure 4 Loneliness varies by Local Authority

Percentage of adults who experienced loneliness in the last week ‘all or almost all of the time’, ‘some of the time’, ‘most of the time’ 2025, Local Authority Areas in Scotland. [2]

Disabled people were over twice as likely (37%) to experience loneliness in the past week as non-disabled people (15%) (Table 45). Those living in the 20% most deprived areas were much more likely to experience feelings of loneliness (27%) as those living in the 20% least deprived areas (15%).

Single pensioners, single adults and single parents were also much more likely to experience loneliness in the last week compared to adults from other household types. Thirty-four percent of single parents, 36% of single adults, and 38% of single pensioners experienced loneliness in the past week. This compares to 11% of older smaller households, 14% of small families, and 17% of adults from large families (Table 46).

There are also differences by age. A quarter (24%) of those aged 75 and over, and 24% of 16 to 24 year olds, experienced loneliness over the last week. This compares to 19% of 45 to 59 year olds (Table 45 and Figure 5).

However, people from the youngest and oldest age groups were also more likely to meet others socially at least once a week. This suggests that factors other than the quantity of social interaction are involved in the higher reported levels of loneliness.

Figure 5 Loneliness is highest in the youngest and oldest age groups

Percentage of adults who report feeling lonely 'some of the time', or 'most, ‘almost all’, or ‘all of the time' in the past week, by age, 2025, Scotland. [3]