A recent global survey by digital entertainment platform JB.com has ranked India as the world’s second loneliest country out of 36 nations surveyed, with Turkey topping the list. The study, which combined seven measures of emotional well‑being and social isolation, found that loneliness in India is widespread despite low levels of physical isolation, suggesting emotional disconnection rather than living alone as the primary driver.
The “loneliness score” measured loneliness, isolation, sadness and happiness levels, household composition (share of single‑person households and average household size) and depression rates. JB.com used these combined factors to assess each country’s overall risk of loneliness across the 36 countries included in the survey.
The report highlights a striking contrast in India: only 3.7 percent of households are single‑person homes and the average household has more than four members, yet 37 percent of Indians said they frequently experience sadness-the highest rate among the five countries discussed. “This suggests loneliness in India is emotional rather than physical,” the report noted.
Turkey, which ranked first, recorded 61 percent of people reporting loneliness and 45 percent saying they feel isolated; about 31 percent of respondents there said they frequently experience sadness. The study also noted that roughly one in five Turkish households is made up of a single person, but emotional disconnection remains a major factor in loneliness even where physical isolation is higher.
Brazil placed third with a loneliness score of 78: 53 percent of Brazilians reported feeling lonely and 43 percent reported feeling isolated. The survey found that Brazil also showed relatively higher levels of life satisfaction among the top five countries, underscoring that people can report loneliness even when overall life satisfaction is comparatively high.
South Africa ranked fourth, with 65 percent of respondents reporting loneliness-the highest share among the top five-while only 18 percent said they felt isolated. The study pointed out that this gap indicates 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 in the survey. (Agencies)
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2026/06/14/india-ranked-second-among-the-worlds-loneliest-nations/
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Publish Date: 2026-06-14 02:56:00
