More than 13% of Americans are lonely: Louisiana leads the way

Key points

• Nationwide, 13% of people say they’re “always or usually lonely,” 28% say they’re “sometimes” lonely and 58% say they’re “rarely or never” lonely.
• Louisiana is the loneliest state with 20% of people saying they’re “always or usually” lonely.
• 60% of Americans who are “always or usually” say they get social or emotional support when lonely.

Millions of Americans are struggling with loneliness. We analyzed the latest U.S. Census Bureau data and found that nationwide, 13% of people say they are “always or usually” lonely, 28% say they “sometimes” feel lonely and 58% say they “rarely or never” feel lonely.

The good news is that many people who are dealing with loneliness are getting help. Nationwide, 60% of people who struggle with loneliness say they get social or emotional support.

The loneliest states in America

Louisiana is the loneliest state in America. Nearly 20% of respondents (1 in 5) say they “always or usually” feel lonely and 27% say they “sometimes” feel lonely. Louisiana isn’t alone when it comes to loneliness. Its neighbor to the east, Mississippi, is the second loneliest state with 18% of people saying they “always or usually” feel lonely and almost 28% saying they “sometimes” feel lonely.

Three northern states — Ohio, Iowa and Vermont — have the highest number of respondents who “sometimes” feel lonely. Though only around 12% “always or usually” feel lonely in Ohio, almost 33% “sometimes” feel lonely. Iowa and Vermont numbers are similar, with 12% “always or usually” feeling lonely, but close to 32% “sometimes” feeling lonely.

Rhode Island is the least lonely state in the U.S. Just under 9% of Rhode Islanders say they “always or usually” feel lonely. Hawaii follows closely, with 10% and Idaho has almost 11% of residents who say they “always or usually” feel lonely.

The loneliest cities in America

Atlanta is the loneliest major city in the U.S. We found that nearly 17% of people living in the Atlanta area “always or usually” feel lonely. Houston residents are not far behind, with almost 16% saying they “always or usually” feel lonely.

Boston, meanwhile, is the least lonely major U.S. city, with only about 10% saying they “always or usually” feel lonely. Miami residents have similar responses, with 11% saying the same. Both states, Massachusetts and Florida, also have among the highest number of respondents (61% and 60%) who say they are “rarely or never” lonely.

On average, 12.9% of people living in major cities say they “always or usually” feel lonely, which is slightly below the national average of 13.3%.

Getting help with loneliness

While millions of people in the U.S. struggle with loneliness, many are getting help. Nationwide, 60% of people who reported being lonely say they “always or usually” get social or emotional help for feelings of loneliness. Another 21% say they “sometimes” get help for loneliness and only 10% say they “rarely or never” get social or emotional help dealing with loneliness.

New Hampshire has the highest percentage of people who say they get help dealing with loneliness. Nearly 70% of people in New Hampshire say they “always or usually” get help when feeling lonely. Nevada, meanwhile, had the lowest percentage of people who get help for dealing with loneliness. Just over 50% of people in Nevada say they “always or usually” get social or emotional help for feelings of loneliness.

It’s worth noting that the loneliest states, Louisiana and Mississippi, are among the highest who “rarely or never” get social or emotional support (13.1% and 10.1% respectively). Meanwhile, the least lonely states are among the most likely to “always or usually” get social or emotional support — 69% in Rhode Island, 57% in Hawaii and 63% in Idaho.

Health insurance and loneliness

Health insurance can play a big role in helping people combat feeling lonely in America and safeguard their overall mental health. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), all Marketplace health insurance plans are required to cover behavioral and mental health-related issues.

Loneliness can also be a broader health issue. The United States Surgeon General issued a health advisory on loneliness in 2023. The advisory, titled “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation” found that loneliness is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression and premature death.

Here are some tips for dealing with loneliness, according to the National Institutes of Health:

• Find an activity you enjoy and join a group related to that activity.
• Join a cause and engage with your community.
• Schedule time each day to connect with family, friends or neighbors either in person or electronically.
• Stay physically active and participate in group exercise classes.

Mental health and health insurance

You should never have to suffer in silence. Over 50 million Americans have mental illness, with many going without mental health services as the cost can make it unaffordable. Having the best affordable health insurance plan in place is the easiest way to get affordable mental health services. And don’t worry if you already have pre-existing mental health or substance use disorders — health insurance companies can’t deny or delay coverage, nor can they charge higher premiums.

How to find the right health insurance for you

If you’re not sure what type of health insurance plan is right for you, use these steps to help you decide:

1. Where is coverage available? Some people can get employer-sponsored health insurance through their jobs. If you’re eligible, you usually only have one or two plans, making the choice easier. If not, head to the Health Insurance Marketplace to check out the available options in your state.
2. Choose your plan type: There are four different plan types. EPOs and HMOs only cover in-network providers. POS and PPO plans offer out-of-network care but typically cost more. You can save money on health insurance by choosing in-network provider plans.
3. Consider the metal tier categories: ACA health insurance plans all offer the same quality of care, but you can choose the tier: Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum. The Bronze and Silver plans are cheaper, but require higher out-of-pocket costs than the Gold and Platinum plans.
4. How much can you afford? It’s not enough to just consider the health insurance premium; you also have to consider your out-of-pocket costs for medical services. Some plans require a health insurance deductible and copays. Others may only require a copay, and the insurer will pay the rest. Consider your premiums and health care costs budget when choosing a health insurance policy.

Start budgeting for care: How much does health insurance cost in 2024?

Methodology

We analyzed survey data from the United States Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey, which was collected from Feb. 6 to March 4, 2024. States were ranked based on the number of people who said they “always or usually” felt lonely.