This Nordic country has one of the highest rates of people living alone, and this can be dangerous in the face of major disasters. Sweden has often been described as one of the loneliest countries in the world due to its long winters and level of people living alone, according to data.
Statistics show that Sweden has one of the highest rates in the world of people living alone, with 41% of the population doing so. In comparison to 28% in Spain, this is a large proportion of the country’s inhabitants. However, this does not necessarily mean they feel lonely and in fact, loneliness is often perceived as a symbol of personal independence, in the country, with the word “loneliness” (ensamhet) having a positive connotation of wanting to isolate oneself voluntarily.
However, the Swedish government is devising a plan to combat lonliness as it now believes that the feeling is increasingly worsening citizens’ health, while also jeopardising the civil defence system that the country has been rebuilding in recent years to face in order to be fully equpped to face crises. That being said, health authorities have now begun treating loneliness as a public health issue and have proposed a plan to combat it.
Data from a recent survey conducted by the Public Health Agency in 2024 shows that 6% of the Swedish population claimed to suffer from loneliness “often or constantly”, while 13% reported experiencing these feelings “occasionally”. These findings have shown that young adults (16-29 years) and those over 77 years old, are the age groups struggling with loneliness the most. In each of these groups, one in five have reported always feeling lonely, with public health data further showing that 24% of those affected by loneliness suffer from mental illnesses, and 28% having had suicidal thoughts, El Confidencial reports.
Hillevi Busch, a researcher at the Swedish Public Health Agency said: “We can see that loneliness is a social problem because it affects the most vulnerable population groups, such as minors, elderly people, people with disabilities, or within the LGBTIQ community.
“For these people, loneliness and social isolation are risk factors for various health problems and diseases such as depression, anxiety, dementia, and other common heart diseases.”
Busch added: “What we emphasise from health authorities is that all society must be involved in reducing loneliness since it is a social problem and we must all contribute; from Government agencies, public health actors, NGOs to the private sector.”
Citizens are being encouraged to get to know their neighbours as part of the initiative.
Expert, Busch added: “In different types of crises, we become much more dependent on other people for help. Therefore, having no one to rely on during a crisis can be devastating.”
Pharmacies are also getting involved in the initiative. Roro Wirlander Beydoun, manager of a pharmacy in downtown Örebro has dedicated time to combating loneliness. The “Vanvard” (caring for friends) project has been launched by the pharmacy franchise Apotek Hjärtat.
Beydoun explained: “Unfortunately, it’s very common for us to see people affected by loneliness in our daily lives. For some people, when they come to the pharmacy, it’s the only conversation they’ll have with someone in a day.
“That’s why we use this moment to greet them more warmly, ask how they feel, and if there’s anything else we can help them with.
“These kinds of conversations often lead us to exchange more words, maybe another comment or joke, and all this adds up to create a bond with customers, which I believe helps them feel less alone.”
Speaking from personal experience, Beydoun has also started thinking more deeply about loneliness.
He said: “The initiative moved me from the first moment because I too have sometimes felt lonely. I try to actively think about it every day, and I think it has changed me as a person. I feel a bit happier now, and this is also noticed by the customers.”
