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Altogether 29.7 per cent of persons aged 16 or over experienced loneliness in 2022

Release related to topics:Population and societyWork, wages and livelihoodHealth and social protection
release | Statistics on living conditions 2022

Correction

An error was detected in the data describing loneliness and feeling happy, for which reason the data published on 31 March 2023 were corrected in the release and database tables.
Read more about the correction

Change

New tables have been added and some tables have been archived in the statistics on living conditions.
Read more about the change

According to Statistics Finland, 29.7 per cent of persons aged 16 or over felt lonely all the time, most of the time or sometimes in 2022. The share of persons experiencing loneliness grew in all age groups from 2018, when the share was 21.2 per cent. Persons aged 85 or over experienced loneliness most, persons aged 16 to 24 second most.

Key selections

  • Experiences of loneliness have become more common. Nearly 30 per cent of persons aged 16 or over felt that they were lonely most of the time, all the time or sometimes in 2022, while the share was around 21 per cent in 2018.
  • Despite loneliness becoming more common, the share of those feeling happy has remained very high. More than nine out of ten persons felt happy most of the time, all the time or sometimes in 2022.
  • Fifteen per cent of those aged 16 or over felt left out. Feeling left out is more common among the elderly population. Persons with activity limitations also felt left out more often than the rest of the population.
  • The feeling of being left out was measured by asking to what extent the respondent agreed with the following statement: “I feel left out.” The respondents were asked to consider their experiences of social inclusion, social relationships, working life and access to services.

Change

New tables have been added and some tables have been archived in the statistics on living conditions.
Read more about the change

Database tables

Pick the data you need into tables, view the data as graphs, or download the data for your use.

Updated database tables
11z9
Classifications used:
  • Age
  • Lonely
Reference period cycle:
irregular
Updating frequency:
irregular
Statistics:
Updated:
11zc
Classifications used:
  • Household's life-cycle
  • Lonely
Reference period cycle:
irregular
Updating frequency:
irregular
Statistics:
Updated:
11wp
Classifications used:
  • Age
  • Happy
Reference period cycle:
irregular
Updating frequency:
irregular
Statistics:
Updated:
11ub
Classifications used:
  • Socio-economic group
  • Satisfaction with household's financial situation
Reference period cycle:
irregular
Updating frequency:
irregular
Statistics:
Updated:
New database tables
13xl
Classifications used:
  • Age
Reference period cycle:
irregular
Updating frequency:
irregular
Statistics:
Updated:
13yc
Classifications used:
  • Age
  • Disability status
Reference period cycle:
irregular
Updating frequency:
irregular
Statistics:
Updated:
13xt
Classifications used:
  • Age
  • Satisfaction with personal relationships
Reference period cycle:
irregular
Updating frequency:
irregular
Statistics:
Updated:
Removed database tables

Future releases

Documentation

Description of the production, used methods and quality of the statistics.

Go to documentation of the statistics

Referencing instructions

Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Statistics on living conditions [online publication].
Reference period: 2022. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [Referenced: 28.4.2025].
Access method:

Statistical experts

Inquiries primarily

Service email
toimeentulo.tilastokeskus@stat.fi
Kaisa-Mari Okkonen
Senior Statistician
029 551 3408

Head of Department in charge

Hannele Orjala
Head of Department in charge
029 551 3582